Wheelchair-Accessible Yurts Galore at Oregon’s South Beach State Park
Located on the south side of Yaquina Bay on the outskirts of Newport, South Beach State Park (stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=149) is the perfect retreat for folks who just want to kick back and enjoy the rugged beauty of the Oregon coast. The park boasts a nice selection of wheelchair-accessible trails, as well as an accessible spot to picnic near the beach. And if you’d like to spend the night, there are also 23 wheelchair-accessible yurts in the park. Not only is South Beach State Park a very accessible choice, but it’s also quite affordable as well.
Location! Location! Location!
Although there’s a wide selection of wheelchair-accessible yurts to choose from, as in real estate, location is everything when it comes to yurt selection. The lion’s share of the accessible yurts are located in the large Cooper Ridge Campground, which also allows RVs with generators. And unfortunately that generator noise takes away from the whole outdoor experience.
That said, there are four wheelchair-accessible yurts in tiny Cooper Ridge Village, which only has eight yurts. No RVs are permitted in this area, and as a result you’ll have a peaceful and quiet stay. Although any yurt in the village is a good choice, Yurt 8 offers the most privacy, as there are no neighbors on one side.
And in case you are a little fuzzy on the yurt concept, think of it as camping light. Yurts are round canvas structures with a domed top that are placed on wood platforms. You don’t have to pitch a tent, but you do need to bring along linens or sleeping bags, as well as cooking supplies.
An Accessible Abode
There’s level parking on a hard-packed dirt pad in front of Yurt 8, with an accessible path over to the ramped porch. This wheelchair-accessible yurt has a wide doorway and is furnished with a table and two chairs, a bunk bed with a double on the bottom and a single above, and a futon that folds out. The futon and bottom bunk are 21 inches high, with wheelchair access on one side when the futon is folded up. This yurt also has electricity and a heater.
Although there are no cooking facilities in the yurt, there’s plenty of room to set up a camp stove on the spacious front deck. There is also a picnic table with two benches and two chairs on the deck, and an accessible fire ring and another picnic table in a level area next to the yurt.
An accessible restroom is located in the yurt village, and showers can be found in the adjacent campground. There’s a level path with good signage leading to the bathhouse, and although it’s a bit bumpy in places, it’s doable for most folks.
An accessible family shower room is also located behind the bathhouse. It features a wide doorway and plenty of room to maneuver a large power wheelchair or scooter. The family bathroom is equipped with a roll-in shower with grab bars, a hand-held showerhead and a fold-down shower bench. Toilet grab bars are located on the back and right walls (as seated), and there is also a roll-under sink with a lowered mirror in the spacious room. The whole room is well designed, and it’s also very private, with plenty of room for an attendant.
Take a Hike
There are a number of accessible trails in South Beach State Park, but the best way to get out to the beach is to take the quarter-mile paved trail which begins next to space A 10 in the main campground. This wide level trail leads through a woodland area, then opens up to an accessible boardwalk over the dunes. Once you reach the beach overlook, there’s an accessible viewing platform with a bench to sit and enjoy the view.
If you’d rather drive to the trailhead, the accessible beach boardwalk is about 400 yards from the day use area, just off the accessible South Jetty Trail. Accessible parking is located in the day use area, with barrier-free access to some picnic tables on a level grassy area. There is an accessible stall in the nearby restroom, and although it has grab bars, it doesn’t have enough turning space for a wheelchair or scooter.
And finally, the South Jetty Trail runs from the day use area to the South Jetty. This mile-long multi-use trail is paved and level, and it’s a great choice for wheelers and slow walkers. Down at the South Jetty there is an accessible porta-potty, and plenty of room to roll around and enjoy the jetty views. And if you’d like to do the trail in reverse, you can also access the South Jetty area from a nearby parking lot.
