Oregon’s coast, from Fort Stevens State Park in the north all the way to Crissey Field State Recreation Site in the south – two obviously well-known landmarks, right? – is actually an incredible and scenic route to travel. Most of the coastline along the Pacific follows US 101, with the occasional diversion away from the sea (or a side route to take to keep to the coast).

If you’re interested in taking the drive, not only do you have plenty of ocean to enjoy, but there are tons of little stops, scenic gems, and fun adventures to have along the way. For those among us who love the great outdoors, Oregon is one of the best states in the nation to enjoy, either on a quick trip or a longer visit. So, whether you’re driving up the coast to make your way to Portland or you’re just looking to explore what you can find along the way, here are our favorite hidden gems for outdoor adventurers.

Leadbetter Point State Park

Leadbetter Point State Park is the tip of the northernmost peninsula of Oregon’s northwestern coastline. It’s one of the closest entries on our list to Portland and makes a great place to start if you’re starting there and heading south.

Driving to the area means you have to stop a little way away from the park because cars are prohibited any closer to preserve the wildlife and the habitat of the endangered snowy plover. When you park, you can hike a 1.3-mile trail north called the Blue Trail. This peters out, but your route only begins as you reach the coastline and continue heading north. It’s around three and a half more miles of shoreline, where Pacific winds meet damp sand before reaching the tree line.

Eventually, you’ll reach the point where the shoreline peters out and sinks beneath the wave. There’s no firm marker here; the wind and the tides change the shape and form of this spit of land at their whim. Walking out onto it leaves you on what is, basically, a sandbar, dividing the Pacific Ocean from the Willapa Bay, with water on all sides and nothing but calm and charm around you. When you’re done, you can return from whence you came and start heading south to more of our hidden gems.

Beaches and More in Seaside

Some ways a little further south along the coast of Oregon, you’ll come across the town of Seaside. Seaside is home to one of the few more traditional beaches you’ll find along the Oregon coast, with pale brown sands stretching out to meet the water.

The beach itself is one attraction, but Seaside has more to offer as well:

• Necanicum River Estuary Natural History Park. This park is located where the Necanicum and Neawanna rivers meet, merge, and flow into the Pacific Ocean. The park has a scenic trail through sand dunes and shorelines and has a sacred history to the Clatsop people.
• A landmark at Seaside shows the end of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, a trail leading from St. Louis all the way to the Pacific coast and ending right here in Seaside.
• The Seaside Aquarium is a little more constrained than our natural recommendations usually are, but who doesn’t love a good few hours spent at a good aquarium?
• Painted Rock Beach, near the southern edge of Seaside, is a haven for just what the name implies: painted rocks. These aren’t natural, of course, but anyone who wants to paint a rock to commemorate someone or something can then leave the rock here for visitors to see and admire.

And, of course, there’s plenty to see and do in and around the town of Seaside as well.

Ecola State Park

A short distance to the south of Seaside is Ecola State Park, one of the many state parks managed by the state of Oregon. It encompasses nine miles of coastline and offers a range of different and compelling views, from the cliffs and coves to the abandoned Tillamook lighthouse off the coast.

One of the key attractions in the park is a 2.5-mile trail called the Clatsop Loop Trail, which contains signs and interpretive art to showcase the history of the area and the people who lived there. Additional trails, including eight miles of the Oregon Coast Trail, can also be hiked. The views are spectacular, too, including one you’ve probably even seen before since it’s so picturesque.

Blumenthal Falls

If you know anything about us, you know we love our waterfalls. We’ve written about waterfalls a little further north in Washington, but we haven’t covered Oregon just yet. Blumenthal Falls is a 45-foot drop from the point of emergence all the way down to the ocean itself and is one of the few places in the country where you can see a waterfall that meets the ocean directly.

There’s also a lot to do in the area around the falls, like the Cape Falcon trail, Oswald West State Park, and the absolutely incredible Neahkahnie Viewpoint.

Tillamook Bay (Everything About It)

Further south, you reach Tillamook Bay, the city of Tillamook, and everything it encompasses. You have to swing around the bay for obvious reasons, but as you explore Tillamook, you can find tons of parks, trails, and attractions all around.

One of the best is Bayocean Spit, the stretch of land jutting up from the southern side of the bay and nearly reaching the point where it could close the bay, if not for the very good reasons to keep it open. Further south, you can find the Octopus Tree, the Three Arch Rocks and the wildlife refuge around them, and The Tunnel, a strange and mysterious beachside cave.

Yaquina and More

As you continue your trip south, you’ll come upon Yaquina and a variety of attractions and scenic points before and after it along the coast.

The Otter Crest State Scenic Viewpoint is a tall cliffside viewpoint you can see for miles down the coastline. A hair south of it is the Devils Punchbowl Arch, a place where tides have carved a hollow in the earth and left an archway where the sea continues to invade.

Yaquina itself has the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, an oceanfront park surrounding a lighthouse with a visitors center to explore. The town itself is a bit of a tourist trap, but the Oregon Coast Aquarium is a great stop as well.

Alsea Bay Historic Interpretive Center

Located in and managed by the town of Waldport, Oregon, the Alsea Bay Historic Interpretive Center is adjacent to the Alsea Bay Bridge and features the history and culture of native peoples from the area, as well as the construction of the bridge itself.

It’s not exactly worth a trip on its own, but as a place to stop while you stretch your legs or rest for a bit, it’s a nice thing to do.

Thor’s Well

In Norse Mythology, Thor was often tasked with achieving the impossible. In a challenge from the giants, he was set with numerous tasks that seemed simple at the outset, like lifting up a cat, only to learn later that the cat was the Midgard serpent itself. One of his tasks was to drink a horn of mead, and though he drank and drank, he could only lower the level of mead in the horn by a fraction.

Why is this relevant? Well, the horn was connected to the oceans themselves, and Thor’s mighty quaffing lowered the level of the sea. Thor’s Well, this attraction in Oregon, makes one think of that story, as a seemingly bottomless hole swallows the ocean as the waves come in and fail to leave. It’s also known as the Drainpipe of the Pacific for a reason!

The Sea Lion Caves

Near the town of Heceta, you can find a number of unique attractions, but none is quite as interesting as the Sea Lion Caves. These caves are actually the largest sea caves in America, and they’re a haven for sea lions to take shelter from the ocean itself and the more exposed beach outside.

Unlike many other attractions on this list, the caves are a privately owned wildlife preserve and bird sanctuary. You can book tours to see the caves and, if they’re home at the time, enjoy seeing the sea lions in their natural habitat. Don’t worry; they’re not terribly bothered by the presence of tourists.

Climb the Dunes

Oregon’s coastline might not be made of sandy beaches, but that doesn’t mean there’s any lack of sand. The Jessie M Honeyman Memorial State Park is a small but beautiful park with hiking trails and stark sand dunes you can climb and explore. You can camp at any of the 167 campsites, enjoy the freshwater lakes kept stocked just inland, or carry on with your travels when you’re done with the hike.

Continuing further south, you’ll come across the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, part of Siuslaw National Forest. This is a popular destination for off-roading and hiking, with over 40 miles of sand dunes to enjoy. When you’re done, just south is the Umpqua Lighthouse State Park, with the eponymous lighthouse to visit as well.

View the Maze of Seven Devils

Seven Devils State Recreation Site isn’t itself too interesting, but it is one of the largest stretches of relatively flat beach along the Oregon coastline.

It’s also home to an art project where a sand maze is traced across the sand, a compelling thing to view from above or right down inside. Fans of cool rocks can also find agates rock hounding along the beach.

Bandon and Surrounds

The next large town to visit is Bandon. Bandon encompasses a lot of land space and relatively little town, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to see or do.

On the northern edge, you can find the Labyrinth at Bandon Dunes, a traditional labyrinth design carved into the stone in the forest. Bullards Beach State Park lies between you and the city itself, where you can then find the Coquille River Lighthouse, the Bandon Fish Hatchery, Cathedral Rock, and the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, all of which can be great stops in our grand tour of the Oregon Coast. Finally, as you head south out of the town, you can swing over to Devils Kitchen, another scenic vista point.

Various Inland Attractions

At this point, if you’re taking the coastal highway, you’ll be swinging somewhat inland and will lose sight of the ocean.

That doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do along the way, though!

• Stop in at Something Awesome, home to a local artist of fantastic wooden sculptures, some of which you can buy if you want.
• Enjoy seeing big cats like leopards and tigers at the West Coast Game Park Safari, a 21-acre walk-through zoo.
• Swing off the beaten path to Floras Lake State Natural Area and out to the Cape Blanco Lighthouse and State Park.

There’s still tons of Oregon to see, of course, but this is one of the less seaside stretches of the route.

Enjoy the Home Stretch

As you continue south and approach the border with California, you’ll see more rock formations like Kissing Rock, Arch Rock, Natural Bridges, and Whaleshead Viewpoint, along with House Rock Viewpoint, all of which are different variations on the theme of “a cool rock formation along the coast.”

The final destination is the city of Brookings, where you can spend time hiking in Harris Beach State Park, explore the rocks of Mill Beach, check out the trails of Chetco Point Park, and see the history of the area in the Chetco Valley Historical Society. Just keep in mind that if you reach Pelican State Beach, you’ve gone too far, and you’re in California.

Your Favorite Stops

Now, obviously, we can only cover so much of the coast in a post like this. There are easily thousands of pit stops, coastal attractions, and adventure-themed businesses along this state’s coastline. There’s no way we can list everything! That’s where you come in. Do you have a favorite coastal stop along the Oregon coast that we missed? Let us know!