A rest day was much needed after yesterday’s brutal ride, so the short ride cycling Pacific City to Winema Beach was perfect. This isn’t a typical ride on a normal PCH tour, as you wouldn’t even see Pacific City at all when cycling down Highway 101. However, this simple ride was just what we needed. Winema Beach is a great place to camp for free right on the Oregon Coast and enjoy the sandy beach!
Cycling Pacific City to Winema Beach is the seventh of nearly 30 daily diaries of our cycle trip from Seattle to San Francisco.
If you’d like to read from the beginning, check out, getting to Seattle. Each post in this cycle series will contain our daily journal entries that we kept via Track My Tour, photos captured throughout the day, and the exact route, duration, and elevation gains for the given ride.
Read Our Complete Guide to Cycling the Pacific Coast Highway Here
Let’s dive into Biking the Pacific Coast Highway, Day Six, Pacific City to Winema Beach.
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Cycling Pacific City to Winema Beach
Waking up after our brutal day yesterday, we were certain we needed to have a rest day. Luckily, along the Oregon Coast, you can camp for free on any of the beaches. We decided on a short day and lots of beach time for our rest before another big climb tomorrow.
This bit of the trip isn’t normal for most people cycling Highway 101. Highway 101 is actually much further inland and doesn’t even go through Pacific City at all, however, we were happy to stop and be with friends for the night!
Today was one of the easiest days on the entire trip, and a much needed slow and steady ride to move all the soreness out of our muscles!
Biking Pacific City to Winema Beach Day Six Quick Facts
- Miles // 6.51 miles
- Saddle Time // 0 hrs 38 min
- Elevation // 140 feet
- Accommodation // free camping on Oregon Beaches
- Water // limited areas to fill up — fill in Pacific City for two days
- Food // load up in Pacific City for your rest day food supply
Pacific Coast Highway Day Six Journal Entry
Sunday 9 Aug 2015 20:26
Day 6: We woke up pretty late on this Sunday morning at Brad and Kala’s grandparents’ home. Many thanks to them for allowing us to stay there. Maarten made his famous Dutch pancakes and we leisurely got our stuff together to then find a place to camp on the beach.
Thanks to Kala, we camped at the beach where Brad and Kala got married. We hung out on the beach, took a nap, played frisbee, watched the magnificent sunset, made a bonfire, and ate s’mores and veggies for dinner. We set up our tents and camped right on the beach.
Cycling Pacific City to Winema Beach was just a short 6.5 miles with 140 feet of elevation gain. The total distance thus far, 298.49 miles.
Cycler’s Tips for Pacific City to Winema Beach | PCH Day 6
- Winema Beach is a great place to have a rest day. You can enjoy a bonfire on the beach, free camping for a few nights right in the sand, and just sit back and relax with the Oregon Coastal views!
- Be sure to fill up on groceries and water before getting to Winema Beach, as there aren’t places for either at the actual beach area.
- This is where you would probably stay if you skipped Pacific City and just stayed on the 101 from Tillamook for yesterday’s ride.
- Today is an easy day, if you don’t want to stop here, you could continue into Lincoln City. It’s a pretty popular area on the Oregon Coast with outlet malls and a nice beach. Just be wary of the climb you’ll have again heading into Lincoln City.
More on Cycling the Pacific Coast Highway
Bike Touring Gear Checklist and Where to Buy
Our complete list of all the bike gear we took on our trip from Seattle to San Fransisco. Ideas of where to get your bike gear so you don’t spend an arm and a leg, and a printable checklist for ensuring you pack all the gear you need!
Cycle Rules in Oregon | A Bicyclist’s Manual
Did you know, in Oregon, as a cyclist you’re technically considered a car and must abide by vehicle road rules? Use that knowledge as confidence to take over the lane when there’s not a safe shoulder and really own the road!
Our Complete Guide to Biking the Pacific Coast Highway
This post contains our gear list, all our daily journal entries, FAQs on cycling the PCH, and downloads to make your PCH cycle trip easier!
Next Daily Journal Entry on our Pacific Coast Highway Bike Tour
A tribute to Heather’s grandma, and a remarkable day of views, whale watching, and just all-around feeling good.
Previous Daily Journal Entry on our Pacific Coast Highway Bike Tour
Our most brutal day on the entire PCH bike route! Read about why we needed a rest day today here!
Camping for Free on your Bike Tour
Interested in learning more about camping for free on your bike tour? We’re sharing ways to find free camping, what you need to know about free camping, and even our favorite places!
Have questions about day six, cycling Pacific City to Winema Beach? Need a bit more information about the trip as a whole? Or just want to share your experiences? We’d love to hear from you.. start a conversation below.