Highlights:
Harris Beach is a popular stretch of greyish sand, dotted with many rocks and sea stacks, on the north side of Brookings. A little way south, the land juts westwards a way forming several scenic promontories, of which Chetco Point is the largest and has the best views
Nearby town:
Gold Beach, 28 miles
Management:
Oregon Parks and Recreation, City of Brookings
Location:
Seasons:
All year
Rating (1-5):
★★★★★
Harris Beach and Chetco Point are part of the Southwest Oregon itinerary
The rugged, rocky coast of Oregon begins in the south at Brookings, along US 101 beside the Chetco River, 5 miles north of the California stateline. The land just north of the river projects westwards, forming several low, rocky promontories of which Chetco Point is the largest, beyond which the shoreline becomes predominantly sandy for the next few miles, sprinkled with many rocks, large and small.
Most of the coast near the point is part of Harris Beach State Park, a popular place due to its good facilities and easily-reached location on the north side of town. Beach and point are representative of much of the coastline northwards - a mix of rocky areas with occasional sandy coves, stretching one hundred miles to Sunset Bay near North Bend; the next major area beyond Brookings is Samuel H Boardman State Scenic Corridor.
Most of the coast near the point is part of Harris Beach State Park, a popular place due to its good facilities and easily-reached location on the north side of town. Beach and point are representative of much of the coastline northwards - a mix of rocky areas with occasional sandy coves, stretching one hundred miles to Sunset Bay near North Bend; the next major area beyond Brookings is Samuel H Boardman State Scenic Corridor.
Chetco Point Table of Contents
Harris Beach
The main entrance to Harris Beach State Park is along a side road forking off US 101, descending to a circular parking area near sea level. Wide, grayish sands extend in both directions and there are many rocks, both along the beach and out to sea, but like the next few coastal viewpoints further north (along the south end of Samuel H Boardman SSC), the views are not so spectacular, as the cliffs are lower and the stacks more jumbled and less isolated, with big outcrops mixed with smaller rocks. Still, the beach receives many visitors, who come here for sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife viewing, picnicking or just walking along the shore. The state park includes a large campground, offering full hookup RV sites, tent spaces and yurts.
Chetco Point
The beautiful rocky peninsula of Chetco Point has an incongruous setting beside Brookings sewage works. Starting from a parking area along Wharf Street, a paved path leads down to a small beach on the south side, while another short trail climbs along the ridgeline, at one point over a narrow bridge, to viewpoints of the surrounding rocks, sand and tidepools. The vista extends a long way, north to Cape Ferrelo and south to Point St George, near Crescent City in California. Several dozen species of plants and wildflowers grow on the nine acres of land around the point, all of which is protected as a city park.
Tours of the Oregon Coast
Coastal day trips, from Portland.
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