Pacific Coast Section 2, Netarts, Three Capes Scenic Route, Cape Meares

[jbeaston]

After a long closure of the Three Capes route between Cape Meares and Oceanside due to a landslide, the new re-routed road (called Cape Meares Loop on GMaps) is open. The new road is nicely paved but has 12% grades. The good news is that the old road (now called Bayshore Dr on GMaps) is also open but for bikes/peds only. The landslide is still there but it is easily passable by bike. The old road is not signed but is accessible via the 2nd yellow gate beyond the water tower. I would recommend the old road since it is car-free, less steep and is more direct to visit the Cape Meares lighthouse.
-John
Manzanita WarmShowers

[amywally]

Hi John, thanks for posting.

Can you give some more information about riding on the old road? Where exactly is the 2nd yellow gate beyond the water tower? Is this access from the north end or the south end? Is it legal to ride bikes on the old road? What is the landslide section like, do you need to walk your bike around it?

Thanks so much. We are updating this map right now and I'd like to ensure that we have the most up-to-date information! Thanks!

[jbeaston]

Hello Amy. Here's a RWGPS route that includes POI marking the north entrances to the old road, the landslide area, and the south entrance. You can see the new road adjacent. The old road is open for hiking and there are no restriction signs. Here's an image of the landslide area. It has been filled in with a section of rideable/walkable gravel about 50 yards wide. The rest of the old road is old asphalt paving with several years worth of forest debris. It should be rideable for most loaded touring bikes.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44326655

Cheers! If you need more info, let me know. I'm down that way frequently.
-John
Manzanita, OR

[amywally]

Fantastic, thanks so much for the detailed response. Very helpful.

A couple more questions:

Which portion of the old road is closed to vehicles? My understanding is that cars can still access the Cape Meares Lighthouse via the old road from the south entrance?

Is there any signage at either of the north entrances to the old road? Something like, "Road closed, pedestrians/bicycles OK"? Is it signed as Bayshore Drive on the ground? Is it easy to tell where to turn to access the old road? Is there a gate (is it easy to get a bicycle around)?

Is there any signage at the south entrance to the old road?


Thank you!

[jbeaston]

Ah, I rechecked my RWGPS and found that I had put the south entrance at the wrong location. Sorry about that. I fixed that POI. The south entrance (closed gate) to the old road is at the turn-off into the Cape Meares Lighthouse. The north entrance (closed gates) to the old road is where I've indicated with POIs.

Sadly, the only signage is "No Hunting" on the south and north gates. There are at least two signed hiking trails within the closed portion but there is no indication from outside the gates. The trails are on some maps but are otherwise local knowledge. If you know that you're looking for an old gated road on the right beyond the water tower, it is pretty obvious.

It's a pretty confusing area map-wise. Sometimes the road is referred to as Bayshore Rd and sometimes as Cape Meares Loop. (And there are still some small detour signs indicating the road is closed.) I'll check with the county road folks to see if there are any plans to sign the old road and clean up the detour signage.

-John

[amywally]

So I was able to find Google Streetview imagery of the south entrance from Sept 2023 and there is a sign that says "No foot or bike traffic allowed, road closed to public access". Has this sign been removed?

Also, where exactly is the water tower? Is it at the south or north entrance?

Is it easy to get a loaded touring bicycle around the closed gates?

Thanks for dealing with all my questions!!

[jbeaston]

Yes, those signs were removed when the new portion opened in Nov2023. They were there since portions of the old road were used for construction vehicle access.

The water tower is just north of the north entrance, on the west side of Bayshore Rd. It is visible on GMaps satellite view.

Yes, it is easy to walk a loaded touring bike around the closed gates.

I contacted the director of Tillamook County roads about signage for the gated-off section and he said, "The old road is an active slide zone and is officially closed.  We don't endorse using the old road (as signs would imply), but we are not forbidding its use."

In a somewhat separate matter, he also happened to mention that Bayocean Rd NW (which connects to Bayshore Rd) will be closed for a month sometime during the summer for a bridge repair. That is a bummer since their vehicle detour will direct folks to Hwy 131 which is awful for biking (high speed, curvy, narrow, no shoulder). I would recommend that cyclists use Elkhoff Rd to bypass the most awful section of Hwy 131. That detour can be seen on

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44349299

-John