Travel Oregon

South Coast Roadtrip Fun

South Coast Roadtrip Fun

From shifting sands to steadfast redwoods...the south coast is a spectacular escape from the ordinary.

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1. Winchester Bay to Coos Bay

Tucked among some of the highest coastal dunes in the world, you’ll find plenty of fishing and boating in small communities like Winchester Bay and Lakeside. The dunes end near the cities of North Bend and Coos Bay, the Coast’s largest urban area. With Oregon’s deepest national harbor, Coos Bay has long been a major shipping port for the timber industry and a haven for sportfishing enthusiasts.

An unforgettable side trip for the senses begins in Charleston, near Coos Bay. The trip takes in three state parks, including the fragrant floral gardens at Shore Acres State Park, which are especially breathtaking during the Holiday Light Festival.


2. Bandon to Brookings

Next stop is Bandon, a charming town known for its lighthouse, cheese factory, quiet beaches with giant sea stacks, and terrific vantage points for winter storm watching.

South of town, the Byway passes through some of the richest cranberry bogs this side of New England.

The byway drifts away from the ocean at Cape Blanco, but returns to it at historic Battle Rock Park in Port Orford, one of Oregon’s oldest incorporated towns. From here, the Byway traces the coastline to Gold Beach, where the Rogue River meets the sea beneath the graceful Patterson Bridge.

The Rogue River offers salmon and steelhead runs in late summer, and equally exciting jet boat tours in the nationally recognized “Wild and Scenic” section.

The drive into Brookings saves some of the best scenery for last. Samuel Boardman State Park, for example, shows off nine miles of rocky viewpoints and quiet beaches at the base of the Siskiyou Mountains.

After crossing crystal blue Chetco River, the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway ends in redwood country at the California border.

For additional infomration Contact the Oregon Coast Visitors Association at 1-888-628-2101 or check us out on the web at www.VisitTheOregonCoast.com


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