Water Safety in Oregon

Oregon's beaches are open to everyone, and they ask a lot of respect. Keep one eye on the ocean at all times, stay off beach logs, and know when the tide is coming in. On rivers and lakes, wear a life jacket: Oregon requires one for children 12 and under on a moving boat, and for everyone in Class III or higher whitewater.

Oregon drowning and boating numbers

19 deaths

• Drowning: CDC puts Oregon's average annual drowning death rate for 2018-2021 at 1.66 per 100,000 people (opens in a new tab), in the highest band on its map. The U.S. rate was 1.31.
• Boating: The U.S. Coast Guard counted 58 reportable recreational boating incidents in Oregon in 2024, with 19 deaths and 29 injuries (opens in a new tab). Deaths by year: 26 in 2020, 18 in 2021, 16 in 2022, 13 in 2023 and 19 in 2024.
• Shoreline: NOAA lists 1,410 miles of official shoreline (opens in a new tab) for Oregon, a count that follows bays and tidal rivers. Oregon State Parks describes Oregon's beautiful 362-mile coastline (opens in a new tab).

CDC counts drowning deaths of residents; the Coast Guard counts boating incidents. See our Oregon data page.

The coast: sneaker waves, logs and tides

Oregon's 1967 "Beach Bill" guarantees public access to beaches along the entire coast (opens in a new tab). Oregon State Parks asks visitors to treat a coast trip like any other outdoor adventure, safety first:

• Sneaker waves. Always keep one eye on the ocean (opens in a new tab) so a bigger wave doesn't catch you off guard. Sneaker waves are unpredictable, powerful and can easily knock adults off their feet.
• Logs. Stay away from logs on the beach or in the surf (opens in a new tab). They soak up water and can weigh several tons, and the ocean is strong enough to roll even the heaviest log over you.
• Tides. Know when the tide is coming in, especially at tidepools and secluded beaches. An incoming tide can strand you. Take extra care at extreme tides and in storms.
• Cliffs and rocks. Rocks are slippery and cliffs can be unstable. Stay on marked trails, and don't walk along the base of cliffs or eroding bluffs.
• Rip currents. If caught, stay calm, swim parallel to shore to escape, then angle back to land.

Read shore break and big waves and rip currents.

Beach water quality

The Oregon Beach Monitoring Program, a partnership of the Oregon Health Authority and the Department of Environmental Quality, tests the water along Oregon's 360 miles of coastline (opens in a new tab) for fecal bacteria from May to September. When levels are high, it issues health advisories. You can subscribe to advisory updates.

Oregon life jacket and boating rules

From the Oregon State Marine Board:

• Children: children 12 and under must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket when the boat is underway (opens in a new tab), unless they are below decks or in an enclosed cabin.
• Whitewater: life jackets are mandatory to wear in Class III or higher rapids.
• Inflatables: inflatable life jackets are not approved by the Coast Guard for anyone under 16, and there are no approved child-size inflatables. For non-swimmers and less mobile adults, foam life jackets are the better choice. See inflatable life jackets.
• Boater card: a person 16 or older needs a Boating Safety Education Card (opens in a new tab) to operate a powerboat, including a personal watercraft, over 10 horsepower. Youth 12 to 15 may operate one only with an accompanying card holder. Paddling education is highly recommended, though not required.

This is a summary, not legal advice. Check the Marine Board before you go.

What you can do today

• Teach your family: never turn your back on the ocean, and never climb on beach logs.
• Check a tide table before exploring tidepools or rocky beaches.
• Put a foam life jacket on every child 12 and under in a boat.
• Get your Boating Safety Education Card if you drive a boat over 10 horsepower.
• Find swim lessons with our guide to finding swim lessons.