Planning on Visiting the Southern Oregon Coast?
Here's What to Know:
Make sure to read this guide on the Southern Oregon Coast before your next trip there to learn how to travel there in a sustainable way. The Southern Oregon Coast is a unique, beautiful, and must visit area in Oregon. There are many amazing hikes, viewpoints, beaches, and cute little beach towns in this area that will be further discussed in this guide.
The Southern Oregon Coast is a coastal region located above the state border of California. The Oregon Coast stretches all the way from California’s border to the Columbia River, about 362 miles long. To the west of the coast sits the Pacific Ocean, and there are three main sections of the Oregon Coast: The North Coast, The Central Coast, and the South Coast. The Southern Coast starts above Coos Bay, which is the largest town on the Oregon Coast, at Reedsport. Additionally, the Southern Coast differs from the rest of the coast because it is a more mountainous region and you can even find redwood trees in this area! The seven towns along the Southern Oregon Coast include: Reedsport, North Bend, Coos Bay, Bandon, Port Orford, Gold Beach, and Brookings.
Top Things To Do On The Southern Oregon Coast
There are a lot of activities you can do on the Southern Oregon Coast from hiking to surfing to camping and so much more. This unique part of the Oregon Coast provides something for anyone planning on visiting here. This guide will discuss my recommendations for what to do while traveling here!
Go Sea Kayaking
This is a must do if the weather is permittable. The Southern Oregon Coast is known for its amazing views, however, you can also experience these views from below, in the sea. Sea kayaking is a fun activity that gives you a new way to experience a place!
South Coast Tours [linked] is a great company for sea kayaking on the Southern Oregon Coast. There are a few different types of sea kayaking tours offered with this company. I did the Port Orford Ocean Wildlife Kayaking they offer and it was an amazing experience and a new way to see the Oregon Coast. Check out their website for more information regarding tour details, pricing, times, and what to bring. Even though I didn’t see any whales during my trip, I got to see seals, starfish, a variety of birds, and sea anemone, and we even stopped at a small beach area to go hunting for sea glass.
This is also a great tour for people wanting to learn more about sea life, and ways to respect the ocean and keep it healthy. In addition, there is an area called Redfish Rocks off of the coast of Port Orford that is a protected marine reserve. This protected area helps preserve the wildlife here and the kelp in the area. Kelp is an important species in the ocean and helps to keep the ocean healthy. Redfish Rocks Marine Preserves also helps the fish population grow in the area and surrounding areas by providing food, shelter, and so much more for them.
Go To Samuel H. Boardman
State Scenic Corridor
This state park is a famous area in Oregon and on the Oregon Coast. The Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor stretches 12-miles along the Southern Oregon Coast between Gold Beach and Brookings. This area is There are many different view ports here and hiking trails you can do that looks over the Pacific Ocean. Most of the view points and trails are marked along the road making it easy to find them, however, there are some hidden ones as well. Some spots, viewpoints, and hikes to check out when you are in this area include:
- Lone Ranch Beach and Picnic Area
- Cape Ferrelo Viewpoint
- House Rock Viewpoint
- Whaleshead Viewpoint or Beach. I recommend checking out the beach and exploring the ocean over here. There are also picnic tables close to the beach where you can enjoy your lunch!
- Indian Sands is a must do if you want to experience one of the most unique hikes. This hike starts at the parking lot and you can go either direction, we ended at the sand dunes but you can also start there. The hike is above the sea on a cliffside full of evergreen plants, ferns, and other luscious green plants. There are also evergreen ‘tunnels’ on the hike and you end up at sand dunes situated above the ocean. These sand dunes are created by sandstone and not the ocean. Then you walk through a forest with giant ferns back to the parking lot. The total hike is less than a mile, however, wear proper shoes because the trail can get steep and slippery in some areas.
- Natural Bridges, which is one of the famous viewpoints on the Oregon Coast. You can view the Natural Bridges from the wooden platform viewpoint right off of the highway or you can hike down to the bridge. If you are hiking down to it, be prepared since the trails are not maintained, they are steep, full of vegetation, and can be muddy or slippery. Also there are signs showing what areas and trails are closed at that time, so make sure to follow and respect these signs to keep the area protected and safe for visitors.
- Spruce Island Viewpoint
- Arch Rock State Park. This viewpoint also has a short .3 mile loop through the trees and offers more views of the ocean below.
See Redwoods Trees
Northern California isn’t the only place you have to go to find the huge, towering Redwood Trees. The Southern Coast of Oregon, close to the border of the two states, has a few areas where you can find these trees.
Alfred A. Loeb State ParkAlfred A. Loeb State Park [linked] is a state park in Oregon located eight miles inland from the coastline. This state park has several campsites, cabins, and a beautiful river that makes a great spot of cooling off and taking a dip. Additionally, this is a good area to start your journey to see the Redwood Trees in Oregon.
The Redwood Nature Trail LoopThe Redwood Nature Trail Loop [linked] is a 1.1 mile loop located near Brookings, Oregon. This trail is considered an easy to moderate trail and goes through a dense forest full of lush plants and giant Redwood Trees. This is a great hike near the Southern Oregon Coast and is a different experience than the typical Oregon coast sites.
Enjoy Sustainable Seafood
Overfishing and unsustainable fishing practices causes harm to the oceans, coral reefs, and our planet. Knowing where your seafood is sourced from and how it is caught are huge steps you can take to eat seafood in a more sustainable manner.
Port Orford is a great place to learn about sustainable seafood and fishing practices. The fishing in this area is considered more sustainable because they use line-caught fishing methods which is a hooked line attached to a pole and uses different methods in order to attract the fish to the line.
Additionally, the fishing boats in this area are lowered into the water by a crane, so this helps to reduce the size of boats in the area, which then helps to reduce the amount the boats can fish for. This all helps the seafood being caught here to be considered more sustainably sourced. There are places in Port Orford where you can try the sustainably sourced seafood.
Camp at Harris Beach State Park
Harris Beach State Park is a great camp site option if you are planning a trip to the Southern Oregon Coast. I am usually not a fan of paid camp sites, however, this one exceeded my expectations. However, you do have to book this one months in advance especially if you are planning a trip here during busy season or over a holiday.
I found the campsite to be clean, relatively quiet, and our camp spot in particularly had a lot of privacy from the neighboring sites. Additionally, there is a trail from the camp sites that takes you to the beach. This is a fun area to explore the tide pools at night as well and watch the sun set over the ocean.
For more information regarding this camp site and how to book a camp spot here, check out the Oregon State Parks website Oregon State Parks website [linked]. Here you will find the available spots for your trip, the cost, and other information you will need to plan your camping trip. This camp site is perfect for RVs, Vans, Tent Camping and Car Camping.
What Sustainable Items
to Bring to the
Southern Oregon Coast
Packing for the Oregon Coast can be tricky since the weather is all over the place. One second it can be sunny and the next pouring rain or cloudy. With this in mind, it is important to pack a lot of layers and always bring your rain jacket.
Below are some items recommended to bring next time you travel to the Southern Oregon Coast:
Alder Apparel Rain Or Shine Coat
Alder Apparel is a women-owned, inclusive, and sustainable outdoorsy brand. This jacket is the perfect jacket for the Oregon Coast and it is both cute and functional. The jacket is sold in multiple colors and comes in sizes XS-6X.
Alder Apparel Take a Hike Cargo Pants
This is another go-to from Alder Apparel that is cute, functional, comfortable, and let’s not forget, sustainable! These pants are also sized XS-6X and come in many different colors. The camel color is pictured above.
Sunski Sunglasses
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