TOP SCENIC STOPS ON THE OREGON COAST
The Oregon coast is home to some of the most scenic beaches in the U.S., and the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor offers some of the most breathtaking views. Join me as we explore from the southernmost tip of Oregon all the way up to Washington!
Trip length: We spent 3 days on our trip, but we would have loved to have 4.
Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor
The Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor starts at Lone Ranch Beach, which was one of my favorite beaches along the entire coast. When you’re on the beach, head south to check out some incredible rock formations. We could have easily spent hours there!
CAPE FERRELO & HOUSE ROCK VIEWPOINT
Every half mile along Highway 101, you’ll find brown signs marking each scenic viewpoint in the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor. Be sure to stop at each one! There’s a beautiful 1.0-mile loop at Cape Ferrelo that’s definitely worth exploring. This trail connects to the Lone Ranch South trail for a longer hike, too.
WHALESHEAD BEACH VIEWPOINT
This is a quick stop to see the rock that resembles a whale’s head breaching the water.
INDIAN SANDS
This was one of our favorite stops along the Samuel Boardman Scenic Corridor. You can start the loop trail from either side of the parking lot, and the views to the north and south were equally stunning, with a sandy dune in between.
THOMAS CREEK BRIDGE
Honestly, there wasn’t much to see here other than the bridge. There’s no trail, but you can pull over on Highway 101. I’d recommend skipping this stop and just driving over it instead.
NATURAL BRIDGES
This is the main attraction along the scenic corridor. There’s a short walk from the parking lot to the viewing platform. If you continue down the trail, you’ll find a path to the right that leads all the way down to the arch. I don’t recommend climbing onto the arch.
ARCH ROCK
There’s a short loop trail from the parking lot that offers a great view of Arch Rock. Thunder Rock Cove is nearby too, where you can hike down to Secret Beach, but unfortunately, we didn’t have time for that.
GOLD BEACH
The Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor ends at Gold Beach. Stop here to reflect on all the beautiful scenery you’ve just seen!
Port Orford
By this time, it was after 3 PM, so we stopped in Port Orford for a late lunch at The Crazy Norwegian. The fish and chips and clam chowder were delicious! Before heading north, make sure to stop by Battle Rock Wayside Park.
Bandon, Oregon
Our last stop of the day was Bandon, and the fog rolled in, making it even more magical. Be sure to check out Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint while you’re there!
Drive over to Coquille Point at Bandon Beach. It’s best to arrive 1-2 hours before peak low tide for the best views. Some of my favorite coastal scenery was captured here.
Afterward, check out Bandon’s Old Town and swing by Vampire Slayer Creamery and Bandon Rain for some unique and delicious ciders. We wrapped up our day there and spent the night at our Airbnb in North Bend.
Heceta Beach to Astoria
On day two, we went straight from North Bend to Heceta Head Lighthouse. Unfortunately, it was completely fogged in when we got there, so we couldn’t see the coast or the lighthouse at all.
Our next stop was Hobbit Beach, and honestly, we came mostly for the name. I wouldn’t say it’s a must-see.
Next up was Thor’s Well, one of my favorite stops of the trip! I could have watched the well fill with water and the waves crashing against the rocks for hours. If you can, try to get there 30 minutes to an hour before peak high tide for the best views.
Devil’s Churn is just up ahead, and there’s a short hike down to the overlook. We were expecting a big water explosion, but the tide wasn’t high enough, so it looked more like a wave pool instead.
After this, you’ll pass through the charming town of Yachats. It looked like a great spot for lunch, but it was still too early for us to stop. We made a mental note to return sometime. I definitely want to check out Yachats Brewing, Luna Seafish, and The Green Salmon!
GOD’S THUMB
This was the next stop on our itinerary, but it involved a 4.5-mile hike. Since we didn’t have enough time, we decided to keep moving. I’d love to come back and do this someday!
TUNNEL BEACH
Head north until you reach Oceanside, just south of Cape Meares. It’s a small, charming coastal town, and Tunnel Beach is right there. Just stroll to the northern end of the beach, and you’ll find a man-made tunnel entrance waiting for you!
CAPE MEARES
Since we had a long way to go to get to Astoria, we had to skip Cape Meares this time. But we’ll definitely be back to explore it someday! That’s where you can find the Octopus Tree and the beautiful Three Capes Scenic Loop.
After Tunnel Beach, we tried to swing by Tillamook Creamery, but the lines were out of control. We decided it was too long to wait, so we headed on to Cannon Beach instead.
CANNON BEACH
Cannon Beach is arguably the most famous spot on the Oregon Coast, thanks to its stunning Haystack Rock. Spend some time walking along the beach, then head over to Pelican Brewing for some local beer and delicious fish and chips! If you’re there in the morning, don’t miss out on Sea Level Bakery & Coffee for a tasty treat.
ECOLA STATE PARK
We didn’t have time to stop at Ecola State Park, which is just one more reason we could have used an extra day on this road trip. We were hoping to hike the Indian Beach Trail and the Crescent Beach Trail.
ASTORIA
This was our last stop before heading to our final Airbnb for the night. Be sure to check out some local breweries like Buoy Beer Company or, my personal favorite, Fort George. If we hadn’t already eaten, we definitely would have tried Ship Out Fish ‘n Chips. You can also explore the Lewis and Clark Historical Park and the Astoria Column while you’re there.
After visiting Astoria, we crossed the MASSIVE Astoria-Megler Bridge, which spans 4.1 miles from Astoria, Oregon, to Point Ellis, Washington. It’s the longest continuous truss bridge in North America.
For our last night, we treated ourselves to a stay at the Enchanted Cottages, where we enjoyed the themed Captain’s Quarters suite in Seaview, Washington.
Cape Disappointment
On our way to Cape Disappointment, we stopped for breakfast at Seaview Biscuit Company, and it was delicious!
We hiked the trail to the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse, and along the way, we passed by Deadman’s Cove.
Afterward, we drove to the parking lot for Beard’s Hollow. There’s a short trail that leads to the beach, and it was covered with frogs!
LONG BEACH
Making our way north, we stopped at Long Beach, the longest drivable beach in the world, which stretches 28 miles.
WILLAPA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Our last nature stop of the trip was Willapa National Wildlife Refuge. We took a short trail along Willapa Bay before heading to Oysterville for lunch.
OYSTERVILLE, WA
We stopped at Oysterville Sea Farms for an amazing seafood lunch. They also offer a variety of local market goods. I highly recommend getting a dozen oysters, some steamed clams, and a couple of beers, then relaxing on their deck for the afternoon!
