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With a name like Fort Steven’s State Park, you’re probably not too sure to what to expect inside. Sounds rather stiff doesn’t it? At the urging of individual at the Visitor’s Centre in Astoria, we made the trek out to this state park.
The lady at the Visitor Centre was super sweet and gave us instructions and a (confusing) map to get us there. While she was explaining its history, I was off wondering how they’ve managed to keep the shipwreck there. It seemed so unlikely that it has survived for so many years out in the open allowing anyone to just walk right up to it. In a lawsuit happy country, it just didn’t seem to make any sense. I’ll have to see it to believe it
We were in search of a shipwreck. While I had read about it during my research, I didn’t realize how close we were to it. Driving to the park is a bit confusing. The map provided by the Visitor’s Centre didn’t have all the street names and we got a little bit turned around. Another good reason to bring paper maps with you! Thankfully I had a US sim card with data and was able to pull up Google maps. I knew we were in for a treat when we pulled into the very full, very sandy parking lot.
You can’t see the beach from the parking lot and as you walk up over the hill you’re greeted by a wide expansive sandy beach. You can hear the waves against the shore, but it’s still quite a distance away. Off to the right you can make out the skeleton of the Peter Iredale shipwreck. Inland, it was a pleasantly warm day perfect for shorts and a t-shirt. Here on the beach? It was foggy, it was windy and it was really really chilly.
The sand is incredible. It’s so soft and so fine, you sink right in. Nothing like the gross grainy sand, rock chunks and cigarette butt combo that you’re likely to find on Vancouver beaches.
You can walk right up to the shipwreck. You can climb on it too. You can get all up in its business and it’s incredible. I’m still in shock that it’s not cordoned off to be kept away from the masses less someone falls and cuts themselves.
From a distance, it’s beautiful. In a destructive, falling apart, kind of way. The remains of human innovation left to be reclaimed by nature. In a couple hundred years, it’s likely you won’t even see it anymore as the shipwreck continues to sink year after year. The beach, with the strong winds and current, is constantly changing, and the ship is left to battle the elements.
How did it end up there? The vessel, the Peter Iredale was on its way to the Columbia River when it ran ashore in 1906. It got into trouble due to high winds and attempts by the crew to correct its course failed.
It towers over you.
Originally plans were made to send the ship back to sea, but as they waited for better weather, the ship fell onto the port (left) side and became stuck in the sand. Instead, the boat was stripped and the metal sold for scraps.
Today, the remains of the Peter Iredale’s bow and mast are visible, jutting out from the sand. You can also see where a few of the masts once stood as well and you can really appreciate the sheer size of the vessel.
The view from one end to the other
When we visited, the tide was out, but I can imagine how incredible it would be if there was water surrounding it. Eerie. Haunting.
Exploring the shipwreck of the Peter Iredale was probably one of the coolest things I did while in Oregon. It’s not every day that you get to climb on the hull of a massive ship! If you’re going to be driving down the Oregon Coast, I highly recommend you take a side trip and explore the Peter Iredale. So cool! While you’re in the area, be sure to explore Astoria as well!
Good to Know
- Bring a jacket. I don’t think I’ve said enough how cold and how windy it is.
- Bring something to protect your camera and lens, especially if it is foggy. The air is very salty and damp and the wind just makes it worse. By the time I left, my camera was really sticky and kind of gross from the air.
- Have a good map! The route getting you there is a bit complicated and it may seem like you’ve gone too far, but you probably haven’t gone far enough. There are plenty of signs once you get into the park directing you to the right area.
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I can’t believe I missed then when i drove down the coast of Oregon! I love the way the rusty ship looks on the beach! Even more reasons to visit again 🙂
It’s not exactly on the route down so you need to have heard about it before going. I’m so glad we talked to the visitor’s centre otherwise we would have missed it completely!
Looks like a good quick stop if we are ever in that area! I think it would definitely be cooler when the tide is in!
Wow.. that really does look cool!
There’s a certain grand-ness even in its decay so its interesting to try and imagine what the ship must have looked like in its prime!
Exactly! I love how you put it. Grandness in the decay. Even when it’s falling apart, it’s beautiful in a way.
Good tips, Adelina. I’d like to photograph the shipwreck sometimes.
This is awesome! It is weird that there are no ropes around it… aren’t they afraid of people suing for tetanus? lol. It’s beautiful the way it’s just sitting on the beach!
Yes! This was exactly what I was thinking about. I can totally see a lawsuit in the making.
It certainly makes for some beautiful pictures! The beach looks lovely too! (:
That really does look like a cool shipwreck Adelina! I happened to see one in Australia and remember that I was equally as fascinated by the way it looked after the sea had done its work for many years. Luckily over there it is was neither foggy, windy nor chilly, but despite all that, should I ever make it out to Oregon I will certainly check out the leftovers of Peter Iredale as well… 🙂
Oh, that’s really cool! After exploring the Peter Iredale, it’s made me wonder if there are other shipwrecks on land worth exploring. What is the one in Australia called? I’ll have to go check it out when I’m in Australia.
The ship was actually called SS Moheno and it stranded in 1935. If you look up shipwreck on Fraser Island, you will find plenty on images. It’s definitely worth a visit… 🙂
That looks so atmospheric. I think it only adds to the photos that it was foggy.
Definitely! The fog makes it so much more creepy and forlorn.
So cool! It’s crazy to see artifacts like this that are still around. And awesome that you can touch and get so close to it!
It’s so cool and awesome that you can. Not many experiences like that now that you can find.
I wish I could see this in person! The pics make me feel like I am there. So cool to see a shipwreck that is not destroyed by people and that is not submerged either.
Yea exactly! This kind of shipwreck is perfect for those who can’t scuba dive (aka me!)
Oooh – how cool is this? It looks like a huge, rusty ribcage – definitely eerie! My sis lives in WA, and I’m sending her this post!
Awesome! I hope she gets a chance to go. It’s so random, but very cool to check out.
I just went here in June and loved my visit there – and I agree the map is confusing.
It was such a cool little discovery!
Oooh shipwrecks are so cool. This looks like a lot of fun to see..
Yea! It makes me wonder if there are more of them around to explore.
This looks absolutely amazing – what a strange, fascinating and atmospheric place to visit
Wow, that looks awesome!! Even though it’s not a national park, I might have to add it to my road trip list. Or just move to Oregon. That work, too. 🙂
I was pretty surprised that it wasn’t a National Park! I think the area deserves more awareness for sure. Moving to Oregon definitely sounds like a good plan.
Lovely place … the Wide open space sandy beach … and the shipwreck – fascinating!
I’m so glad you wrote more about the Peter Iredale shipwreck as you had definitely peaked my interest when you mentioned it in your quick overview of your roadtrip. I cannot believe that they actually let people climb all over it. My kids would be on it in a heartbeat, and it would probably be the coolest part of the whole trip. Now, I really want to go.
Thanks Michele! The big kid in me had a lot of fun climbing all over it but I was slightly worried about falling off and cutting myself. It really was a cool and unique experience!
Great photos! I love beaches (I don’t live near a sea sadly) and it’s so cool that there’s a shipwreck there as well. I agree though, it’s surprising that it’s not cordoned off at all!
This looks like a really cool destination. It reminds me of the movie Goonies. I can’t believe how long that ship was. I also can’t believe it’s been over 100 years – it seems like it’s a lot older.
The Goonies were actually filmed in the area. Some parts in Astoria and then a little further down at Cannon Beach, or so I’m told. I haven’t seen the movie so I’m not too sure. I was surprised at how worn it was for such a young boat, but I guess the combination of the water plus all the salt really eroded it.
Shipwrecks are so mysterious… thanks for sharing this one with us, and thanks too for taking daytime photos, otherwise it’d be so spooky! 🙂
Thanks Lily! I can’t even begin to imagine what the shipwreck would look like at night. Much too creepy for sure.