Short Beach: Agate & Jasper Rockhounding in Tillamook County, Oregon

Updated August 2026

Short Beach is a mapped rockhounding spot in Tillamook County, Oregon. Reported finds include agate, jasper. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Tillamook County
State: Oregon
Nearest road: Radar Road
Postcode: 97141
Coordinates: 45.47321, -123.96934

Geology at Short Beach

This spot sits on Columbia River Basalt Group; Grande Ronde Basalt, mapped as basalt conglomerate, hyaloclastic breccia, cementation: clays, zeolites, clacite; lithology: palagonitic, carbonaceous mudstone, mineralogy: micaceous, carbonaceous sandstone, pillow breccia, basalt flows, dark to light gray; lithology: tholeiitic, pillow flows, and dark to light gray; lithology: tholeiitic basalt that formed roughly 23 to 5 million years ago. Volcanic ground like this is where agate, jasper, and other chalcedony typically form, filling old gas pockets and fracture seams in the flow rock.

Mapped unit: Columbia River Basalt Group; Grande Ronde Basalt
Age: 23–5 Ma (Miocene)
Rock types: basalt conglomerate, hyaloclastic breccia, cementation: clays, zeolites, clacite; lithology: palagonitic, carbonaceous mudstone, mineralogy: micaceous, carbonaceous sandstone, pillow breccia, basalt flows, dark to light gray; lithology: tholeiitic, pillow flows, and dark to light gray; lithology: tholeiitic basalt
Elevation: 80 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Best time to visit Short Beach

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 52°F in winter to 67°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, TILLAMOOK station (6 mi away).

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

State guidance last verified: April 1, 2026

BLM Oregon/Washington — Rockhounding & mineral material
Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI)
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department — beach collecting rules
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Short Beach

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Short Beach.

Across the state line from Short Beach

Short Beach is close enough to the Oregon border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Short Beach FAQ

Where is Short Beach?+

Short Beach is in Tillamook County, Oregon, at 45.47321, -123.96934. Nearest road: Radar Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Short Beach?+

Short Beach is reported to produce Agate, Jasper.

Is collecting allowed at Short Beach?+

Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Short Beach?+

Most agate and jasper is surface float: bring a spray bottle, a pick or small shovel, and a sturdy bag. Wet stones show their banding and translucence.

When is the best time to visit Short Beach?+

Short Beach is workable year-round.

How do I get to Short Beach?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 45.47321, -123.96934 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Radar Road.

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