Are you or someone you know interested in operating a boat ferry for Oregon Coast Trail hikers?
For Oregon Coast Trail purposes, the terms “water taxi” or “boat ferry” refer to services that offer a shuttle by boat across a large bay or river mouth, allowing hikers to avoid what would otherwise be a road walk (often several miles, and often along the shoulder of US 101)). To date, this service has been offered only by private outfitters, though it is possible that it could be offered by a state agency (or a contractor for that agency) as part of a recreational program associated with a state park.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR PROSPECTIVE WATER TAXI OUTFITTERS:
SEASON: The core OCT hiking season is mid-June through September. Some hikers start earlier in the spring, particularly on the northern half of the trail; a few hike into October.
SCHEDULING: Typically, hikers should plan to call ahead to reserve a ride, especially when tides or other local conditions limit when rides can be offered, or where demand is limited enough that the outfitter cannot guarantee a ferry will be available on call or all day. To protect both the hiker and the outfitter, TKO recommends that outfitters arrange payment in advance; this gives hikers confidence that the boat will arrive as scheduled, and it gives outfitters confidence that the hiker will arrive (and pay) as scheduled.
If the outfitter wishes to offer rides on a regular schedule, it is important to determine what the likely rhythms of hikers are at this site. Most OCT hikers travel southbound. If the river or bay is just north of a popular campground, ferry requests will likely be concentrated at the end of the day. If a popular campground is just north of the river or bay, expect hikers to request an early shuttle for an early start to their hiking day.
COST: A quick shuttle (such as at Nehalem Bay) may charge per person ($10 as of summer 2026), regardless how many hikers are shuttled at one time. Most outfitters charge a set fee per trip covering the first two hikers, with an additional charge per person on the same trip (for example, $50 for the first two and $10 per person for additional hikers).
HISTORY AND SUGGESTIONS FOR THE FUTURE
Most large bays (those too large to wade) are easily crossed on highway bridges with sidewalks without requiring hikers to veer far off the OCT beach or trail route, as with Alsea Bay and Yaquina Bay. The following large bays currently have, or have had, and may in the future have a water taxi operation that would significantly improve the safety and enjoyment of the OCT hiking experience.
NEHALEM BAY: Jetty Fishery has offered hiker shuttles across the mouth of the Nehalem Bay for at least 30 years, from the beach at Nehalem Spit to the dock at the marina. Shuttles are typically available by last-minute request virtually all day, every day, spring through fall, from 7 am to at least 4 pm. Jetty Fishery, 503-368-5746.
TILLAMOOK BAY: Garibaldi Marina has for decades offered hiker shuttles across Tillamook Bay from their dock at the Port of Garibaldi to the beach at what’s known as Crab Harbor (or vicinity) on Bayocean Spit. Due to the more challenging conditions (tide, current, wind, fog) on the wide bay crossing, boat ferries here require at least 24 hours’ notice and can only be provided during optimal tide and weather conditions, which does not always align with hikers’ needs/schedules. (Alternatively, hikers can walk many miles around the bay to the beach at the community of Cape Meares, or take a public bus from Garibaldi to transit center in Tillamook, then a second bus from Tillamook to near Netarts.) Garibaldi Marina, 503-322-3312.
NETARTS BAY: In the past, a private outfitter (Big Spruce RV Park) has sometimes offered hikers shuttles from the boat ramp at Netarts to the beach at the end of Netarts Spit. This service is no longer available because of the outfitter’s unwillingness to offer it. Due to the very shallow bay and seasonally shifting channels, such a boat ferry across this bay should be safely undertaken only at high tide by an experienced outfitter. (Alternatively, hikers walk from Netarts to the entrance of Cape Lookout State Park on Whiskey Creek Road, which is not very busy with vehicle traffic, but its shoulder varies in width).
SIUSLAW RIVER: There has never been a boat shuttle here, and there isn’t likely to be one in the future, due to the lack of safe launching and landing spots on the north and south jetties. Instead, southbound hikers walk a side road into Florence, cross the Siuslaw River on the US 101 bridge, and follow roads a short distance to return to the beach.
UMPQUA RIVER: Salmon Harbor Tackle and Charter Service offers crossings, which may be booked in advance. 541-361-6256.
COOS BAY (BLM North Spit Boat Ramp to Charleston or Empire): There have occasionally been outfitters willing to shuttle hikers from the BLM North Spit boat ramp to the marina at Charleston, but there has never been a regular service hikers can depend on. This could be a lucrative service for an outfitter. Most hikers end their day on the spit and will want a ride in the afternoon, allowing them to access campgrounds at Bastendorff Beach or Sunset Bay after a relatively short road walk. A water taxi service could be piloted by a fishing outfitter by offering a once-day shuttle from Charleston, to the BLM boat launch, then to Empire, and back to Charleston at the end of a fishing charter. This would serve both hikers who want to go to North Bend/Coos Bay (via Empire) to resupply or take a day off in a motel, as well as hikers who want to go straight to Charleston to access camping and lodging options.
COQUILLE RIVER:
A water taxi operated briefly between Bullards Beach State Park boat ramp and downtown Bandon but shut down after 2025. The only real benefit was allowing hikers to avoid walking a 0.7-mile highway shoulder stretch (including a short highway bridge with no sidewalk): apparently most hikers would rather take that risk (especially early in the morning when traffic is light) than pay for a boat ride.
PUBLICIZING WATER TAXI SERVICES
Email info.oct@Trailkeepersoforegon.org. TKO will post information on its website (trailkeepersoforegon.org/oct) and will update the FarOut navigation app and the current year’s OCT hiker Facebook page. These sites are monitored closely to ensure that information is up to date.