Oregon Route 53

For the unsigned Highway 53, see Warm Springs Highway.

Oregon Route 53
Route information
Maintained by ODOT
Length:	19.03 mi (30.63 km)
Existed:	1939 – present
Major junctions
South end:	US 101 near Nehalem
North end:	US 26 at Necanicum Junction
Highway system
Oregon Highways Numbered Routes • Named Highways ← OR 52 OR 58 →

Oregon Route 53 is an Oregon state highway that through a pair of river valleys in the Oregon Coast range; those of the Necanicum River and the Nehalem River. OR 53 constitutes the Necanicum Highway No. 46 (see Oregon highways and routes).

Route description

Oregon Route 53 begins (at its southern terminus) at a junction with U.S. Route 101 in the city of Nehalem. Soon after leaving the city, the highway begins to follow the North Fork of the Nehalem River (and several minor tributaries). Eventually, the highway and the river diverge; and the highway crosses through a pass to enter the basin of the Necanicum River. It follows this river for a distance, until the highway ends at an intersection with U.S. Route 26 at Necanicum Junction.

OR 53 is a narrow, winding roadway for most of its length, and primarily serves local and recreational traffic. Occasionally, however, closures of US 101 to the west (in particular, in or around the Arch Cape Tunnel, an area very prone to mudslides) will result in heavy commercial use of this roadway, as OR 53 and US 101 are the only viable routes between the Nehalem/Manzanita area and the Cannon Beach/Seaside area.

This route and highway are the former alignment of the Oregon Coast Highway, US 101. Service to Cannon Beach, Arch Cape, and Manzanita were previously by discontinuous local roads.

Major intersections

Note: mileposts do not reflect actual mileage due to realignments.

County	Location	Mile	Destinations	Notes
Tillamook	Nehalem Junction	19.03	US 101 – Nehalem, Astoria, Wheeler, Tillamook
Clatsop	Necanicum Junction	0.04	US 26 – Seaside, Portland