From Garibaldi North
The first stop is 1.5-miles north of Garibaldi at Barview County Park, where you will find the North Jetty and the start of Rockaway Beach. From the mouth of the bay at the North Jetty you will be able to see Twin Rocks and the 7-mile-long Rockaway Beach. Further north you can see the beach running from the mouth of Nehalem Bay up toward Cape Foulweather and Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain.
Drive back out to U.S. Hwy. 101 and head north through the Twin Rocks area and into Rockaway Beach. You may want to make a quick stop in town and explore the central beach area and view Twin Rocks from that perspective.
Head north again on Hwy. 101 and soon you will be driving alongside Nehalem Bay through the town of Wheeler, across the bridge into Nehalem and up the hill past Manzanita. Just north of Manzanita, Hwy. 101 climbs up along the edge of Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain, where there are numerous viewpoints and turnouts you can take advantage of them as you work your way north.
From Garibaldi South
Start with a short 1.5-mile jog north to Barview County Park, where you will find the North Jetty and the start of Rockaway Beach. Looking south from the mouth of the bay at the North Jetty, you will be able to see the area of Cape Meares, where you will be heading after driving around much of the bay.
Drive back out to U.S. Hwy. 101 and head south along the bay into Tillamook. Turn right at Third Street and follow the signs along State Route 131 through Netarts to Oceanside. Take the right fork Just before you get to downtown Oceanside, take the right fork and head up the hill on Cape Meares Loop until you get to the parking lot for the historic Cape Meares Lighthouse. (Note: Cape Meares Loop is blocked north of that point because of the danger of landslides.) The crown jewel of Cape Meares is its historic lighthouse. In addition, there is an informational kiosk, the Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge, nature trails and the Octopus Tree, an Oregon Heritage Tree. This is a key stop on the trip and deserves at least an hour, if not its own half-day.
Heading out, take Cape Meares Loop south to Oceanside and turn left onto State Route 131. Then drive through Netarts and turn right on Netarts Bay Drive. Follow this scenic road, which leads you to Cape Lookout.
From Cape Lookout, you can either turn back to Hwy. 101 via Sandlake Road or continue south to Cape Kiwanda and Pacific City.
From there, you can return to Hwy. 101 for your return trip to Garibaldi.
On Hwy. 101 and soon you will be driving alongside Nehalem Bay through the town of Wheeler, across the bridge into Nehalem and up the hill past Manzanita. Just north of Manzanita, Hwy. 101 climbs up along the edge of Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain, where there are numerous viewpoints and turnouts you can take advantage of them as you work your way north.