Length of stay: 2 days
Visited: April 2023
The Oregon coast showcases breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean including dramatic scenery of the rugged shoreline and windswept sandy beaches. There’s a paved highway that spans nearly 585 kilometers along the coastline, creating perfect conditions for a road trip with plenty of opportunities to explore.
Day 1: North Oregon Coast
We flew into Seattle a few days ago and after exploring Olympic National Park in Washington, we headed south for the Oregon coastline. Our first stop was at Fort Stevens State Park where we spent the night in a yurt. The yurts were similar to the ones we’ve stayed at in Ontario in terms of its circular structure. It also came equipped with electricity, heating and furniture that can accommodate up to five people.
We woke up as soon as it started to get light outside thanks to the skylight in the middle of the ceiling. There were some blue skies poking out through the clouds, so after making a cup of coffee and tea, we were eager to start exploring. We first went to the Wreck of the Peter Iredale, located on the sandy shores of the beach. This English sailing ship ran aground during a storm in 1906. No people were lost, but the ship was beyond saving.
We then drove to the northern section of the park to check out the South Jetty where there’s a wooden observation tower that provides a panoramic view of the ocean. A bit further down the road there’s also an access point to the Columbia River and a wildlife viewing bunker.
While the state park is most famous for its historic shipwreck on the beach, it also contains a few other attractions and a lot of history. This area was once an active military base used to guard the mouth of the Columbia River. After World War II, the military base was considered obsolete and was designated a state park. Many of the batteries and other buildings remain intact and visitors are free to explore. There are other pieces of military equipment scattered around the grounds. There’s a short trail that connects many of the buildings and artifacts to learn more about the history of the area. There’s also a museum at the visitor’s center, but it was still closed for the morning.
After eating a late breakfast, we packed up and hit the road. Our next stop was at Ecola State Park. There’s a network of trails along the coastline, along with access to a couple of beaches. We hiked the Clatsop Loop Trail (4.5km loop, rated moderate), which starts at Indian Beach. There’s a staircase that provides access to the beach, but we figured we’d get enough steps along the trail and got straight to it.
We hiked counter clockwise, starting with the portion along the Oregon Coast Trail. The trail is narrow and winds through the forest, providing a few glimpses of the rugged coastline below. The path is pretty much straight uphill and has nearly 245 meters (or 800 feet) of elevation gain. The trail leads to a Hiker’s Camp where there are three cabins available for those hiking the entire Oregon Coast Trail. We peaked inside one of the cabins to take a look. It’s quite rustic inside with four wooden bunks and that’s pretty much it. There isn’t even a door. There is a vault toilet nearby, along with a sheltered picnic area and fire pit.
From Hiker’s Camp there’s a short detour that leads to a viewpoint of the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, which is Oregon’s only offshore lighthouse. The Tillamook Rock Lighthouse was built in 1881 and was the most expensive lighthouse to be built on the West Coast at the time. Due to terrible weather conditions in the area, the lighthouse became known as “Terrible Tilly”. Over the years, the lighthouse has sustained damage from storms and the elements. It was eventually decommissioned in 1957. You can’t really see the lighthouse from my picture below, but it’s there.
At this point the clouds had mostly cleared and the sun was out. We then hiked along the actual part of the Clatsop Trail. It was a real treat as the path is wide and mostly gravel. It’s also entirely downhill, which was a nice change of pace. The path leads through the forest and follows along the route of William Clark who traveled here with an exploration party from Fort Clatsop in 1806.
Once we looped back to the trailhead, we hopped in our car and headed to Cannon Beach, which is probably the most famous beach in Oregon. It’s known for its impressive sea stacks, most notably Haystack Rock, and its beautiful sandy shoreline. We parked in town and walked down to the beach to check it out.
We continued along the highway, stopping at Cape Lookout State Park where we planned to hike the Cape Lookout Trail (7.6km round trip, rated moderate). The trail weaves along a ridge through the forest to a viewpoint of the Pacific Ocean. There was a warning sign at the trailhead that indicated that due to recent rainfalls, the trail beyond the midway point is very muddy and to please use caution. We decided to give it a whirl because we’re no strangers to dealing with muddy conditions. The first half of the trail was rather scenic. It weaves through the forest, providing some sneak peaks of the coastal views.
But then we passed a pair of hikers who had mud covering their boots and bottom parts of their pants. And then we passed another hiker with even more mud on his clothes (it looked like he fell into it). Once we reached the midway point, there was another warning sign and a preview of what the mud situation was like. It was a hard pass for us so we turned around. Even though we didn’t complete the entire trail, the views to the midway point still made it all worthwhile.
We hit the road again, stopping at a few more spots before reaching our destination for the night. This included a brief visit to Neskowin Beach State Recreational Site, which features a beautiful sandy beach.
Next up was the Devil’s Punchbowl State Natural Area for a view of a large hollow rock that partially opens to the ocean, creating a natural bowl.
We then headed to South Beach State Park where we planned to stay in another yurt for the night. It was very similar to the yurt we stayed in at Fort Stevens State Park the day before and came equipped with electricity, heating and furniture. It was surprisingly quite spacious.
Day 2: South Oregon Coast
After eating breakfast we went for a walk along the Interpretive Boardwalk (800m round trip, rated easy) at South Beach State Park. From our yurt, we walked through part of the campground and found an access point to the trail between Loop A and Loop B. We followed the paved path that then turns into a boardwalk. The path crosses through some sand dunes and leads to an overlook of the beach. We walked down to the sandy shore for a closer look.
We headed back to our yurt to pack up and head out to the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area. The park features a network of trails and viewpoints. We could have easily spent the entire day here, but instead had to settle for a couple of hours. So we hit up the highlights, starting with the Whispering Spruce Trail (0.6km loop, rated easy). The trailhead is located in the day-use area. The path weaves through the forest and provides sweeping views of the coastline and ocean. It also passes the West Shelter. It was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, who also developed other areas in the park and planted trees between the coast and the Willamette Valley.
Afterwards we went to check out the Devil’s Churn, a narrow inlet along the shoreline. There’s a short paved path that loops through the forest and along the coastline. There’s also a short detour that provides access to the rocky shore to go tide pooling and see the water and waves up close. As the tide comes in, the waves in this inlet can get pretty fierce. But since we were here during low tide, the risk of getting splashed by a sneak wave was pretty low, so we walked along the rocks to take a closer look. We joined up with the main path again and completed the rest of the loop. This portion of the trail provided a nice view of Cape Cove Beach. There was another staircase here that provided access to the rocky shore.
We then hiked the Captain Cook Trail to Thor’s Well (1km loop, rated easy). There’s a paved path that provides access to the rocky shore where there’s an ocean geyser that erupts through a narrow hole during high tide and storms. Since we were here during low tide, we’ll just have to use our imagination.
We hopped back in the car and headed to the Heceta Head Lighthouse State Park. From the parking lot there’s a wide gravel trail that steadily ascends through the forest to a lighthouse perched atop the edge of the cliff. Heceta Head Lighthouse was built in 1894 and contains the strongest light on the Oregon coast. The trail continues up a steep switchback. After the first turn there’s an overlook of the lighthouse from up above for a different view.
We hit the road again and made a spontaneous detour when we came across a turn-off for the Umpqua River Lighthouse. It was the first lighthouse built on the Oregon coast. It was initially constructed near the mouth of the Umpqua River in 1857, but was destroyed by a flood and later rebuilt. While you can climb to the top of the lighthouse in the summer, it was closed when we were visiting during the off-season.
Our next stop was at Sunset Bay State Park to check out a few viewpoints, including of another lighthouse that was located on a small island and to admire the views of the coastline.
Shore Acres Garden State Park is located nearby so we decided to check it out as we liked the name of it. The park contains a botanical garden that is open to the public. The gardens were originally developed in the early 1900s by businessman Louis J. Simpson. He bought the land and built a mansion on the bluff north of here. Naturally a rich guy like that had a landscape gardener who designed an English style garden. Simpson later sold the land to the State of Oregon for use as a park in 1942.
From there we headed to Bullards Beach State Park to check out the Coquille River Lighthouse. The lighthouse was built in 1896. It was abandoned in 1939 and replaced by an automatic light on the South Jetty. In 1963, the Oregon State Parks Division leased the lighthouse for park purposes and helped restore the lighthouse. It was super blustery outside, so we didn’t stay long. Plus it was getting late in the day and we still had a few more spots that we wanted to visit.
Along the drive we stopped at Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint, which provided a lovely view of the ocean and a series of sea stacks in the water, which are thought to resemble human faces according to Native American legend.
In order to get to our accommodations in Brookings, we had to drive through Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, which is nearly a 20 kilometre (or 12 mile) scenic drive. Naturally we had to stop at a few of the scenic viewpoints. First up was Arch Rock. There’s a short paved path that loops through the forest and passes an overlook of a natural arch that’s been carved in the rocks. There were a few other overlooks that provided more breathtaking views of the ocean.
We then drove to the Natural Bridges Viewpoint where there’s a short trail that is reputed to lead to one of the best viewpoints in the park. As the name suggests, the viewpoint provides sweeping views of the Oregon coast with a couple of natural arches that have formed in the rocks below.
There was one last stop we wanted to make at Whaleshead Beach. The beach can be accessed via a steep trail from the Whaleshead Viewpoint or from the Whaleshead Beach Picnic Area, which is located down a gravel road. We opted for the easier option that didn’t require a strenuous hike. There was a sign on the road to indicate that four wheel drive is recommended, but the road looked like it was in good shape so we gave it a whirl. And it wasn’t that bad. From the parking lot there’s a short trail that leads to the sandy beach.
It was then time to head to our hotel and have some dinner. Tomorrow we planned to sleep in as we didn’t have much driving to get to the Redwoods in northern California.
L
Wow! Such stunning photos of a gorgeous area, Linda. It’s been many years since I last visited the Oregon coast and it’s so scenic with so many trails and parks. Thanks for taking us along. Cheers.
Thanks for your kind words. It was nice to finally enjoy some blue skies and sunshine. The drive along the Oregon coast was incredibly scenic and it was nice to stop every so often to stretch our legs and explore some of the trails, beaches and viewpoints.
That’s a stunning photo of the shipwreck – it almost looks like a painting! The beach photos are just as beautiful – it’s amazing what blue skies can do, isn’t it? You had so many lovely views – not only of the sea and different rock formations, but also of the lighthouses.
Thanks! I’m glad we visited the shipwreck first thing in the morning as we had the beach all to ourselves. After dealing with overcast and rain the past few days, it was wonderful to finally see the sun. The blue skies really bring out the blueness of the ocean and really made us appreciate just how scenic those coastal views are.
Fantastic! Did Seattle to San Fran a few years back, and the Oregon coast was a stunning revelation.
We initially wanted to fly into Seattle and drive along the Pacific coast to San Francisco (or vice versa), but the cost of the car rental was insanely expensive to pick up and drop off in a different location. So instead we made it as far as the Redwoods in northern California and drove back to Seattle, passing through Portland along the way. We’ll have to complete the rest of the Pacific coast another time. Thanks for reading and leaving a comment. Linda
I understand completely. The car rental prices in the US are now officially crazy. 4 years ago we rented a large SUV for 10 days, and it cost around 400 usd. Last month we rented the same car, from the same company for the same number of days, and it cost 1050 usd! There are some great places in northern California, like the lost coast south of Eureka but for my money, the trip you did is the one I would do again for sure👍
It’s crazy to hear how much car rental prices have risen!! And I guess that explains why every car rental place we looked at charged such an outrageous fee if we wanted to drop the car off in a different location! We initially thought it might have been because we were booking it at the last minute. Glad to hear that we hit up the highlights anyway. Besides, I have a feeling we’ll return to California as there are so many national parks there that we have yet to explore.
There is so much to see, the mountains of the south and the coast of the north are highlights.
So in other words, we’ll have to see the entire state from north to south! Now if only we had more vacation time!
That is the eternal conundrum, right?
I guess life isn’t so bad if that’s one of our biggest concerns!! And at least it forces us to make the most of the time we have since it is limited.
100% true! Happy travels all the way!
Looks beautiful.
I’m glad we had such beautiful weather to more fully appreciate the views and coastal scenery. The Pacific coast is one of the nicest scenic drives we’ve taken.
This is such a stunning coastline! I loved the shipwreck photo.
The Oregon coast is one of the most scenic drives we’ve done. I’m glad the weather cooperated and we were able to fully appreciate the views with those bright blue skies. Seeing the shipwreck on the beach was pretty cool. I can’t say I’ve ever seen that on a beach before!
Beautiful photos! I love the Oregon coast. Im impressed how much sunshine you had, too. Looking forward to California!
Thanks! We were a bit concerned about the weather since we were visiting near the end of the rainy season. But thankfully we had nothing but blue skies and sunshine once we left Washington. It was great for the views and for spending time on the trails.
Wow, you took so many beautiful photos on this trip! I have never been in those states, thanks for sharing! ❤️
Thanks for reading and for your lovely comment. The west coast has some pretty spectacular scenery, which makes for some great hiking (and driving). It was hard to put my camera down!
I am glad that you guys enjoyed your time on the west coast. 😎
If it weren’t for all that rain, we would seriously consider moving to the west coast.
Yes, I hear that it rains up there way too much. It should all come down here where we seriously need it!
We can relate! Thankfully rain is on the forecast for the next several days, which should help significantly with the forest fires and smoky skies.
I hope so! The video I’ve seen of New York and other cities down here are terrible. 😭
Oh I know! It looked like the world was ending with that orange hazy sky. Thankfully the conditions are improving and we’re supposed to get a bunch of rain today and overnight.
I just a
Spoke with my dad up there, it was raining! We need it so bad.
Yes! We finally got a bunch of rain the past couple of days and more is on the forecast for later this week. Hopefully it’ll make its way down to you. Water is life.
I say that too, water is life!
I think I actually picked that up from you! 🙂
It’s so true!
Wow! You packed almost every major scenic attraction on the Oregon Coast into a 2 day extravaganza! Good work! And it looks like every day was sunny – which is not always the case on the coast. Plus you made me miss Oregon, coast and all.
We certainly packed a lot in on those two days of driving along the Oregon coast. It was a lot of driving, plus a lot of stops to better enjoy the coastal scenery. It helped that the weather was wonderful and that the highway and state parks weren’t busy. Sometimes I feel like I need a vacation after I return home from a vacation!
The Oregon Coast has some stunning scenery for sure Linda and you captured it well. So glad you had decent weather for your travels and hikes and I totally agree with turning around rather than wading through mud pits. The yurts look comfy. Thanks for sharing. Have a great weekend. Allan
The drive along the Oregon coast is incredibly scenic. Even though it was a lot of driving, we made plenty of stops to enjoy the views, check out some of the beaches, and explore a few trails. It sure helped that the weather cooperated otherwise I’m sure we would have had a totally different experience. We’ve hiked our fair share of muddy trails, but that was something else at the Cape Lookout Trail. We had no regrets about turning around. Staying in a few yurts along our road trip was a great way to keep costs down and it gave us a chance to see a few state parks that we otherwise might have missed. Hope you had a wonderful weekend as well. We’re in desperate need of some rain. Linda
I’m so impressed with your itinerary and your photography! We plan to do the same trip at some point. Thanks so much for your insights and for a preview of what we can expect. Safe travels!
You are too kind. Glad to hear that you’re planning to do a similar road trip. It’s a lot of driving, but the coastal views are spectacular. We initially wanted to drive from Seattle to San Francisco, but the cost of dropping our car rental off in a different location forced us to revise our plans. Oh well, this just means we’ll have to return and drive the rest of the Pacific coast through California another time.
It’s always great to have another road trip in your back pocket for the future. I’m looking forward to seeing more of this trip though.
There’s no shortage of road trip ideas. And the more we travel, the longer that list seems to grow!
These are amazing images. I visited there years Oregon . Anita
Thanks for your kind words. It helped that we had wonderful weather to better enjoy the coastal scenery.
Wow, Linda, these are truly stunning scenery and photos and views that you experienced. I loved it and never would’ve put Oregon on my list to visit one day but I will now. Those beaches look so idyllic with the rocky protrusions and the interesting hollowed out rocks too.
Loved that you stayed in yurts again and they do look quite spacious inside.
Loved all the different lighthouses you came across and those old log shelters and trails looked like a lot of fun too. I can hear those ocean waves from your photos!
Thanks! The Oregon coast is one of the most scenic drives we’ve ever taken. Even though it was a lot of driving, the views along the way were stunning. Plus it helps that there are a number of state parks, beaches, lighthouses and viewpoints along the way to break up the drive and enjoy the landscape.
It was fun to try out a few yurts in the United States. They are very similar to the ones we’ve stayed at in Ontario and were quite comfortable. It was also way cheaper than staying in a hotel for the night. We also stayed in a couple of cabins later on our road trip, but the yurts are the way to go.
I was sharing your trip with my hubby and he said he’d like to do Oregon too. I guess that’s where they filmed The Goonies movie in the 80s which is his favourite movie!
That’s right! The Goonies was filmed in Astoria, Oregon. We went to a couple of the filming locations like Cannon Beach and Ecola State Park, but there’s more buildings to see in the town as well. I guess Oregon just moved up on your travel bucket list!
It sure did!
Hope you’re not too affected by the wildfire smoke.
Oh gosh, I’m so glad the air quality has improved and I can spend time outside again! I had a couple of headaches last week, which I don’t normally get, so I’m blaming that on the smoke. Hope you weren’t too impacted. I heard some schools cancelled field trips and that lunch and recess were held indoors.
I had to wear N95s on my two in office days last week. Was not taking any chances. T still had school but they thankfully stayed indoors all day. No outdoor time for us after school either. I hope this is not a sign of things to come!
I wore an N95 mask too when I had to go to the office last week. I’m glad I kept all those extra masks I had from COVID! And yes, it’s scary to think of how bad the wildfires have been this year and it’s only June.
We’ve done this drive on our Honda Goldwing motorcycle. It is awesome. I love al the lighthouses too. Looks like you had great weather.
Oh wow, that sounds like it was quite the adventure to drive along the Oregon coast on your motorcycle! Hopefully you had wonderful weather as well as I imagine it wouldn’t be very fun to be on a motorcycle when it’s cold or raining. Once we left Washington, we had nothing but sunshine. And towards the end of our trip we were wearing shorts and t-shirts. It was great!
So pretty! We’ve driven the length of Oregon on our lighthouse road trip. But I’d love to do more hiking. Thanks for sharing all the wonderful spots to visit.
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. I’m such a fan of lighthouses so naturally my interest piqued at the mention of your lighthouse road trip. The Oregon coast is incredibly scenic and it’s wonderful that there are so many attractions, whether its lighthouses, beaches, state parks, hiking trails or viewpoints, along the way to break up the drive.
We hit waterfalls on the way down and lighthouses on the way up. The only downside along the coast was all the FOG! Lol.
I heard that the fog along the coast is particularly bad in the summer. We visited near the end of the rainy season in April where it thankfully wasn’t too hot yet to trigger the fog. We encountered a bit of it in the Redwoods, but only in the morning and it was quick to dissipate with the rising sun. We really lucked out with the weather.
Great tip! We want to head to the Redwoods sometime in the next few years.
Oh nice! Hiking in the Redwoods was such an amazing experience. I couldn’t help but feel so small and a bit insignificant while walking amongst some of the tallest trees in the world.
Beautiful!!!
Thanks for reading and leaving a comment. The Oregon coast is breathtaking. I’m glad we had such wonderful weather to appreciate the views.
Wow! So besutiful place! Amazing photos, love the fountain and ligth houses.
Thak’s for share Linda. Must be a very relaxing and romantic time.
Have a wonderful weekend! Thank’s.
Elvira.
You are too kind. We certainly made the most of the wonderful weather and tried to spend as much time enjoying the coastal scenery as we could. I’m such a fan of lighthouses in general so it was nice to squeeze a few in during our road trip. Enjoy the rest of your week. Linda
Thank’s Linda. That’s great, love lighthouses too, so happy you enjoy
those amazing places. Have a lovely evening and week!
Elvira
You as well. I’m glad it’s nearly the weekend!
So many beautiful pictures!! My sister lives in Portland and always goes on the most amazing hikes, I’m jealous! My family visited her back in 2018 and we spent a day near Cannon Beach, but I don’t think we had much sun.
Thanks! The coastal scenery in Oregon is gorgeous. We visited near the end of the rainy season and really lucked out with the weather. That’s awesome that your sister lives in Portland and is so close to so many parks and green spaces. We drove through Portland on our way back to Seattle and spent some time exploring a few gardens. It was tough to leave the west coast.
The Oregon coast looks untamed and serene, perfect for those who wish to hike in a peaceful, rugged setting. I wonder how busy it can get in the summer. It’s also great that the weather was sunny when you did all those hikes. The calm water reflecting the trees in the gardens… that scene is too beautiful!
For sure. We visited near the end of the rainy season to avoid the traffic and the crowds. We really lucked out with the weather and were able to enjoy the trails, beaches and viewpoints without the hoards of people that flock here every summer. It’s funny how the weather can have such an impact on our day and how we’re feeling. I don’t think we would have done as much hiking if it was raining!
Love coastal trails at low tide, there’s always something fascinating to see, whether it’s jagged rock formations or life in a rockpool. We have a long standing invite to stay with friends in Oregon (Eugene, to be precise), we must take that up one day soon! Look forward to reading about the redwoods, loved our California trip last year.
Oh I know. It’s also a great excuse to check out the tide pools during low tide and see what’s washed up on the beach. Sounds like a trip to Oregon is in your future! You’ll love it there, especially along the coastline.
Wow what an amazing couple of days, and your photos of the deserted beaches and gorgeous coastline are stunning. I’d love to see that shipwreck as well, what an interesting place to visit.
We covered a lot of distance in those two days, but we made time to take plenty of stops along the way to enjoy the sights and scenery. I’m glad we had clear skies to enjoy the views. The shipwreck was pretty cool. I’ve never seen one so accessible before. I’m glad we went first thing in the morning during low tide and that we had the beach all to ourselves.
The Oregon coastline is utterly breathtaking – your photos are incredible! Fort Stevens State Park, in particular, looks a fascinating place to visit with the shipwreck and the abandoned Second World War fortifications.
Thanks for your lovely comment. Fort Stevens was a great spot to spend the night. It allowed us to check out the shipwreck on the beach first thing in the morning before the crowds. Since we got an early start to the day, it also allowed us time to explore some of the batteries, buildings and other military equipment and learn more about the history of the area. It was a great start to our day.
Such an amazing stunning photos to view 🌹🙏👍 Awesome rocks and the beautiful sand can view the coastline , the great light house, beautiful nature small huts all mind blowing
Sceneries 🌝👍 thank you for sharing and grace wishes my dear friend 🌹🙏🥰❤️🌹
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. The scenery along the Oregon coast is stunning with all those rock formations near the shoreline. There’s also plenty of beautiful sandy beaches, lighthouses and other attractions along the way. It was a wonderful way to enjoy the sunny weather and admire nature’s work.
Gorgeous photos, and descriptions,….the sheer volume of detail and depth to your coveting yourwandering simply amazes me, ….carry on travelling and I’ll carry on following behind, …✨👏✨
Awww thanks. I was in my element in nature. I had to remind myself every once in awhile to stop looking through the lens of my camera and appreciate the views through my own eyes instead. The coastal scenery was spectacular.
Incredible pictures! I remember visiting the coast there when I was a kid. Id really love to go back and visit it again especially now seeing your pictures 🙂
Thanks for your kind words. We couldn’t have asked for better weather to admire the coastal views. We weren’t able to spend much time in California, but I guess that just means we’ll have to come back someday and complete the rest of the Pacific coast!
That would make for an incredible road trip!
For sure. If only we had more vacation days!
Such
beautiful photos of your scenic coastal drive along the Oregon coast Linda. The weather looked superb too enabling you to stop off occasionally and follow a marked trail.
Thanks! After dealing with gloomy weather and all the rain in Washington, it was nice to finally enjoy some blue skies and sunshine. The nice weather gave us an extra boost of energy to try to squeeze in as much as we could during our two days of driving along the Oregon coast.
You found some gems there! I actually have never been up the Oregon coast. I went more inland to John Day to see the eclipse, but I want to see more of the West Coast
The Oregon coast is one of the most scenic drive I’ve ever taken. It’s great how there are so many state parks, beaches, trails and lighthouses along the way, which provided a great excuse to stretch our legs and enjoy our surroundings. We would have loved to explore more of Oregon, but many of the popular parks like Crater Lake and Mount Hood were still snowbound. I guess we’ll just have to return someday.
It’s definitely worth seeing Crater Lake! Although, when I saw it, fires were happening. I also recommend rafting in Oregon. Did all that when I went to see the eclipse
Glad to hear you managed to squeeze in some sightseeing and fun adventures during your eclipse road trip. I’ll have to add both those to my list for the next time we’re in Oregon.
If you need more ideas, you can see my post about my eclipse trip
Good point! I think you’ve mentioned this before, but are you planning on doing another road trip next spring for the total solar eclipse?
I hope so, but I don’t know. What with my Mum’s surgery and Dad and I mentally recovering from the accident, it’s all in flux
That’s understandable. Thankfully you still have quite a bit of time to decide. You could even do a smaller scale version of a road trip, but I totally get your reluctance given what happened with the accident.
As I have been saying lately, I wouldn’t trust myself or Dad on the road right now and that has nothing to do with our driving ability. Look at the Day We Should Have Had The Accident. It’s all mental with us
That’s fair. Often times that’s the toughest part to deal with.
Btw, hope you’re safe from the fires!
Thanks! The smoke was pretty brutal last week and I tried to limit my time outdoors. We’ve had quite a bit of rain the past few days, which has helped a lot, especially with the air quality. Here’s hoping the wildfire situation doesn’t get worse in Canada this summer.
I hope things are better this summer too!
Fingers crossed! I never thought I’d be hoping for a lot of rain during the summer!
When the Camp Fire happened in 2018, I had never been so happy to get rain afterwards
I can’t even begin to imagine what it must have been like to be impacted by Camp Fire. I actually recently watched a documentary about it, Fire in Paradise.
I drove through Paradise a year later and it still hadn’t recovered
I imagine it will take many years for the area to be restored, and even then the memory will still remain. So tragic.
Definitely, and it doesn’t get money from tourism unlike Miraposa, which is near Yosemite. Miraposa bounced back quicker because so much of their income comes from tourism
It’s too bad. At least they are rebuilding though.
That’s the Oregan Coast that I’ve read so much about. I need to take a road trip one day. When you were in Yoho you weren’t too far (1 1/2 hrs) from the start of Columbia River, near Fairmont, BC.
It’s a lot of driving, but at least it’s super scenic. We would have loved to do the entire stretch along the Pacific coast, but we’ll have to save that for when we have a bit more time. I didn’t realize Yoho was so close to the start of the Columbia River. Good to know for the next time we’re out west.
Wow, the Oregon coast looks truly magnificent! The Cape Lookout Trail has some pretty amazing views of the Pacific Ocean. After reading this post, I will definitely put this area on my travel list to visit someday!
The stretch along the Oregon coast was one of the most scenic drives we’ve ever taken. It’s great how there are so many parks and hiking trails along the way for us to enjoy the scenery. It also helped that we lucked out with the weather, otherwise I doubt we would have made as many stops throughout the drive.
Cape Lookout trail must have had lots of mud for you to turn back…. luckily the views you saw were worthwhile.
We’re no strangers to hiking in the mud, but the conditions on the Cape Lookout Trail were next level. We weren’t sure how we’d even clean up afterwards without making a complete mess in our hotel room, so that was a hard pass. We’re on vacation after all and getting muddy isn’t high up on our list of things to do! We’re glad we checked it out though as the scenery was still spectacular. And the first half of the train was quite enjoyable.
This post has deepened my wanderlust for a Pacific coast road trip through the USA- your photos are absolutely gorgeous! Some of those scenes even remind me of the rugged beaches of Iceland with all of the sea stacks. I am so happy to have this post to refer to for all of the amazing hikes/trails/viewpoints to stop at along the way. Super excited as well to read your Redwoods recap! 💕
Thanks for your kind words. The Pacific coast is wonderfully scenic. I wish we had enough time to drive all the way to southern California, but we’ll have to save it for another time. Now that you mention it, the scenery along the shoreline with all those volcanic sea stacks, does resemble Iceland, which is one of my favourite countries.
Thanks for the article, a great read and your images just brings it ALL to life. It was equally interesting to read about the ex WW2 Army Station, its suprising what is out there and what we come across. Here in Cornwall & SW UK, was as a staging post prior to the D-day landings of which there are many reminants, including an old beech tree, still standing today, carved by a soldier prior to the landings. It brings so much to the front on how brave they all were.
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. Most people visit Fort Stevens to see the shipwreck on the beach, but it was super interesting to learn about the military history of the area. It is actually the only military installation in the contiguous United States to be shelled by a foreign enemy warship since the War of 1812. It’s neat how there are still remnants from WWII in and around Cornwall. Visiting places like that definitely makes you appreciate all those soldiers as well as their service and sacrifices.
A gorgeous post…hope you stayed overnight on high ground.
Thanks for your kind words. We had a wonderful time exploring the Pacific coastline on our drive through Oregon and we couldn’t have asked for better weather. We weren’t quite sure what to expect with the yurts, but they were quite comfortable and we managed to stay warm and dry overnight.
Those natural formations are incredible. I would be be stuck for hours admiring it all. I have really enjoyed this read and your photos. They’re beautiful ❤️
The sea stacks along the shoreline are stunning. Some of them have are even named things like Haystack Rock, Proposal Rock, Arch Rock. I started to lose track of all the different names though.
Oh man. I would be in heaven exploring those. I love seeing things like that . At this one place called ricketts glen, there was a fallen tree. It stuck out of the water and was amazing to look at. I jumped from it into the water and it felt incredible.
We really lucked out with the weather as it was easier to see and explore the sea stacks with clear skies. I can’t say I’ve ever jumped off a fallen tree into the water before. Sounds like it was fun and a perfect way to cool down on a hot summer’s day.
Exactly 😂. I miss that . People aren’t allowed to swim there now. It’s a shame
Now, Oregon is on my to go bucket list
Oregon a great option to add to your travel bucket list, especially if you enjoy a scenic road trip. Many of the towns along the coastline are very charming and there’s a lot of things worth stopping for along the drive, including beaches, lighthouses, viewpoints and hiking trails.
I love beaches, especially on cloudy days. They’re so peaceful . I need a large umbrella though and activities galore ! I cannot lay around 😭 . I wish I could. I admire the people I see in complete peace laying and watching the waves or lake water moving with the breeze. I wish I could do that. My brain doesn’t let me though ugh 😭. Although, if I had a good book I could haha 🤣 but I love exploring beaches, especially ones with sea glass. I went to Eerie a year ago and really enjoyed that beach. There was a lot of sea glass to find. It was awesome. I used goggles, too. 🙂 You got me thinking 🤔
Oh I know. I could sit on the beach and watch the water forever. The waves are so mesmerizing. We’ve been meaning to pick up a beach umbrella too. It’s always nice to have some protection from the sun. It’s good to know that you enjoyed your time at Erie. It’s somewhat along the drive to Cleveland and maybe we’ll hit it up on the drive back. I’m intrigued by this sea glass now!
Definitely check it out!!! It was something I didn’t expect to find. I love beach umbrellas. They help a lot. The waves are magnificent. I remember back during my senior year in high school I went to Atlantic City and saw the ocean for the first time. I actually cried lol 🤣. My friend looked at me like I was crazy 🤣. I am glad you’re thinking of getting a beach umbrella. I know you probably burn like I do in the sun. It’s so tough. Lol Tan people don’t know their luck.
We drove through Erie, but didn’t end up stopping as the weather wasn’t the greatest. It was hot and humid, but we also got a lot of rain when we were in Cleveland. We like to joke that our family motto is “cling to the shadows”. I try to avoid the sun if I can and will typically wear a hat whenever I go outdoors. UV damage can take a toll on your skin.
I do the same thing!!! I wear hats and a lot of sunblock. I just had a sun spot remove to check for cancer and luckily it wasn’t. That was scary though. I never had had stitches before. I’m just grateful I didn’t have it. I always try to protect my be skin from the sun. I’m glad you so too. “Cling to the shadows” is a great motto. My brother and I always walk shadows side lol.
Glad to hear that the sun spot wasn’t cancerous. I’m sure it was stressful having to wait for the results and to also get stitches. I’ve never had stitches before either so I have no idea what the process is like. It’s a good reminder to take care of our skin though.
For sure is. I must’ve gotten this year’s earlier before I wore hats all of the time lol. I wear sunblock daily lol 🤣 it’s nuts.
I really need to get in that habit of putting on sunscreen on my face as part of my morning routine. I just don’t like how greasy it feels. I typically on wear it when I know I’ll be outside for awhile (like when I go for a hike).
Amazing that the wreck of the British ship is still standing at all! Beautiful photos along the beaches, and those fascinating stone shapes and arch.
Oh I know. And it’s pretty cool how easily accessible it is, especially during low tide. It was nice to visit the beach first thing in the morning as we had the place all to ourselves. It was a great start to our day. The views along the Oregon coast continued to impress.
The Oregan coast truly is a beautiful place. I’ve been twice, but you’ve managed to see way more than I have. Well done!
Crazy that theres an English garden 😅 Gotta love it.
I’m assuming you’re heading for the sand dunes a bit further south?
Enjoy your west coast adventure!
The drive along the Oregon Coast is incredibly scenic. We really lucked out with the weather and had nothing but blue skies and sun. Since we were visiting in the off-season, it also wasn’t very busy. Shore Acres Garden wasn’t even on our itinerary, but when we passed a sign for it, we couldn’t resist. It was well worth the detour. We ended up skipping the Oregon Dunes. We didn’t have enough time and it seemed like a lot of work to get to (either hiking in the sand or renting something to go off-roading). Next time.
I get it. You can’t do it all. You nailed so much!
I was there in my early 20s and we rented a dune buggy. Not what I’d do now, but it was something to do at the time.
I tried to jump my buggy, and ended up flipping it – a full end to end 360 across the sand. I was watched by a ‘land rover’ carrying about 20 tourists. A young guy came over in his super-duper sand buggy, and drove me back to the base. There I got a new buggy, and they sent me back out!
I got props for being the first woman in 15 years to flip her buggy 🙂
Later that night in the campground, a young girl around 15 recognized me – she was in the big land rover. She was SO worried, and very happy that I survived. Good times 🙂
That’s quite the story! I don’t know what’s more impressive – you flipping your buggy (and being the first woman in 15 years to do so) or going back out afterwards! I can’t even imagine how much sand there must have been in your hair and clothes … it was probably everywhere. Sounds like a thrilling adventure though! Oh the things we do when we’re young!
LOL! I totally forgot about the sand everywhere! I was in the washroom forever trying to dig it out, and that’s where the little girl recognized me. It was in my ears, my hair. What a mess! Thanks Linda – that makes it even funnier.
I bet! Sand is no joke. We went to Saint Martin about a decade ago and went to Maho Beach, which is located next to the airport. It’s a famous spot to watch giant airplanes take-off and land. We were sitting close to the “no stand zone” and quickly discovered why there were so many warning signs posted. We watched a plane take-off and the amount of sand blowing everywhere was insane. It probably took several weeks (if not months) to finally get all the sand out of my scalp.
I feel it now – that bit of grit under the nail…
It’s the worst
Incredibly hard to pick a favourite spot I bet! Wow, so many great hikes, and the photos are spectacular. Glad the sun came out. Those beaches look amazing but being April bet the water was cold.
Oh I know. The views along the Pacific coast never got old and just kept getting better and better. Even though it was a lot of driving, it was nice to take several breaks to stretch our legs and enjoy the scenery. We really lucked out with the weather and had nothing but clear skies.
Sounds like an amazing trip!
For sure. We had wonderful weather, spectacular scenery, and it wasn’t crowded. What more could you want from a vacation!?
I found it Linda! I recognise the picture of the rugged coastline. That was in the movie! And the picture right below it as well. I’ve read about hiker’s cabins when we went to New Zealand, but I’ve not seen one even in pictures, so thank you for posting that. But like what you said they don’t have doors, hmmm. I’ve never heard of yurts before, this is a first for me. 🙂 Very interesting! Good thing they had a heater. I imagine April’s till cold, right?
The Goonies was also filmed at Cannon Beach. It’s such a picturesque area. The hiker’s cabins were pretty neat, but I’m not sure how I’d feel about sleeping there given that none of the cabins had doors. But, I guess during rainy weather, it would be nice since you wouldn’t have to set up or take down your tent and risk getting your stuff wet. We’ve stayed in a few yurts in Ontario so it was neat to see them in Oregon. Our first few nights were a bit chilly, but then the weather got much warmer to the point where we wished some of the yurts or cabins that we stayed at had air conditioning!
Yah me too! I’d want a door at least 🙂
No kidding! I think I’d rather sleep in my tent.