Oregon Coast Trip – Southern Region

♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA

From the town of Bandon to Gold Beach

Below is a description of the third part of a travel itinerary along the Oregon coast.

For the first part of the trip click here

For the second part of the trip click here

The trip starts from the town of Lincoln City located in the north - southwest of Portland, and goes down to the town of Gold Beach in the south. The route length is about 325 km. Driving on this route is on Highway 101, which is close to the shore. On this trip, there are many stops at various attractions along the way, at beaches and in towns, including short walking tours in some of the places.

It is recommended to dedicate about three days to such a route. One day for a trip in the Lincoln City area to Newport, a second day for a trip from Newport south to the sand dunes park near the town of Florence, and the third day for a trip in the town of Bandon and south to the town of Gold Beach.

The Town of Bandon – Bandon

Bandon is a small town with an area of ancient preserved houses near the harbor and plenty of cafes, galleries, and souvenir shops.

♦ Recommended hotels in the town of Bandon

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

Or:

BEST WESTERN Inn at Face Rock

Or:

Table Rock Motel

In the harbor, fishermen try to fish for crabs from the pier. On Saturday, a nice farmers' market is held in the town with stalls of fruits, vegetables, homemade cakes, and a variety of organic products.

The Beach: It is recommended to walk along the town's beaches and see the impressive cliffs located both near the shore and in the sea. On the cliffs are many birds, and on the low rocks, you can sometimes see sea lions. The beach itself is sandy and pleasant for walking.

Volunteers on behalf of the Nature Reserves Authority, equipped with binoculars and telescopes, are positioned on the cliff overlooking the beach and are happy to show travelers the variety of marine mammals up close and tell the Indian legends behind the impressive cliffs that with a bit of imagination remind one of an elephant's head, a woman's head, and a dog. The hills adjacent to the beach are abundant with vegetation, including flowers that bloom in summer in a variety of colors.

Trip Along the Shores South of Bandon

Cape Blanco Lighthouse – Cape Blanco Lighthouse

The lighthouse is located at the westernmost point in Oregon. The weather here is usually foggy with winds, or winds with rain, or winds with winds... in short, a very "spiritual" (windy) place... There are ranger-led guided tours on-site that include entry to the lighthouse, climbing to its top, and an explanation of its operation in the past and present, as well as the lifestyle of its past operators who were disconnected from the world and received supplies once a month by sea because there was no paved road to the place. Fascinating and recommended!

The Town of Port Orford – Port Orford

This is the westernmost town in Oregon and also the rainiest, and there is no lack of wind in it either. Because of its bad weather, they lift the boats in the harbor to the shore (!) with large cranes when they are not sailing so that no damage is caused to them by the winds and waves. In the small town, there is a view of the harbor and also a beautiful gallery with creations made of glass, bronze, and wood.

Along the shore south of Port Orford, there are several observation points over the sea and the beach where you can stop. The entire area is less touristy and suitable for those looking to travel quietly and peacefully in impressive nature, far from the crowds.

The Town of Gold Beach – Gold Beach

At the entrance to the town, you pass a beautiful bridge over the Rogue River, on the mouth of which it is situated.

Immediately at the entrance to the town, the main attraction of the place is located: jet boat tours up the river. The company operating the tours is called Jerry's. The tours are of various lengths, ranging from a few hours to 7.5 hours including lunch.

On the long tour, you reach dozens of kilometers inland to a more turbulent area of the river. Near the starting point for the cruise, across the road, there is also a small free museum about the history of the river and the animals in it, and a souvenir shop.

Cape Sebastian

Located about 5 miles south of the town of Gold Beach. There is a high observation point on the beautiful view of the coast and its cliffs facing south. Among the cliffs on the horizon, an arch-shaped cliff can also be seen.

Driving further south will bring you to the state of California, to its less touristy and crowded part, directly to the Redwood National Park, where the tallest trees in the world are located.