Posted in Oregon
October 29, 2016
The 11 Most Beautiful Hidden Gems On The Oregon Coast
The Oregon coast is phenomenally beautiful — there’s no question about it. From tip to tip, this stunning stretch of shoreline is dotted with hidden beaches, incredible cliffs, majestic sea stacks, rolling dunes, mountaintop viewpoints, old growth forests, and so much more. While iconic features like Haystack Rock are undeniably amazing, the coast is also full of overlooked hidden gems just waiting to be explored. Here are a few of our favorites:
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
Located at the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, this beautiful beach is made up of thousands of smooth, 14-million-year-old basalt "cobble stones". You can take a walk along the shore, peek into tide pools, birdwatch, and even check out the historic Yaquina Head Lighthouse nearby.
Located at the edge of the charming coastal town of Neskowin, this gorgeous beach is speckled with beautiful sea stacks and tide pools, and when the tide is low you can even see the amazing "Neskowin ghost forest", which is comprised of many 2,000-year-old tree trunks partially buried beneath the sand.
This wondrous mountain near Manzanita overlooks miles of miles of the gorgeous shoreline. There are numerous hiking trails that will lead you to the top of the cape, ranging from an 8-mile trek to an easy 3-mile jaunt. No matter how you choose to get there, the view at the end will take your breath away.
This awesome little hidden beach is absolutely enchanting. Located south of Cannon Beach, this secluded cove is a great place to relax on the beach, explore caves, and even see a lovely waterfall that cascades right onto the beach!
This spectacular cove on the coast of southern Oregon looks just like something from a fairy tale. You can reach this gorgeous viewpoint by taking a short hike through the forest at Samuel H Boardman State Scenic Corrirdor.
This 12-mile stretch of the coast is full of beautiful hikes, secret beaches, caves, an old growth forest, and more.
Located near Florence is a beautiful hidden beach that can only be accessed on a magical, secret trail called the Hobbit Trail. This short, half-mile hike will lead you to a sandy cove semi-enclosed by tree-covered hills.
Located near Coos Bay, this unique state park features a manicured, European-style garden as well as a stunning, dramatic strip of shoreline full of rugged rocks, steep cliffs, and crashing waves.
Located in the fiercely beautiful Cape Perpetua Scenic Area near Yachats, Devil's Churn is an incredible natural feature of the coast. This fissure in the rocky shore catches the incoming tide and sends it swirling and spraying into the sky. A short trail leads visitors down towards the churn to see it up close.
Located on the northwestern tip of Oregon, Fort Stevens State Park is uniquely beautiful and full of fascinating history. The park is home to the ruins of an abandoned military fort, and on the beach you'll find the amazing ruins of the Peter Iredale shipwreck.
Located near Coos Bay and the Cape Arago Lighthouse, this gorgeous, semi-enclosed beach is incredibly scenic. There's a great campground here as well, where you can sleep near the beach in a tent or rent a rustic yurt for the night.
Check out our ultimate Oregon Coast road trip here.
