Things To Do In Gold Beach Oregon
Oregon Coast Vacation Rentals
We suggest that you take your camera everywhere you go! This is a spectacular area and beauty abounds…
Gold Beach, Oregon: We are blessed with some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. The opportunities for exploring and sightseeing are almost endless. We would especially like to give you ideas about things to do.
The commercial tours are outstanding:
Fishing guides:
There are more than 30 guides who have helped their clients catch salmon, steel head, ocean bottom fish, along with crabbing and just plain sightseeing from a boat for many years. The Rogue river has been especially noted for it’s fisheries since before the time of Zane Grey. We will be very happy to put you in contact with some of our favorite guides.
An adventure with Jerry’s Rogue Jets and the Mail Boat Hydro-Jets is indeed an adventure. The two boat companies have merged, and the office is now at the Port of Gold Beach, right off Highway 101 just north of downtown Gold Beach. roguejets.com/
Five Star Charters, provide ocean and river fishing. they have an office at the port. 5starcharters.com
Wilderness Canyon Adventures, If you want to experience a fun family paddling experience check out this company for coastal paddle excursions and their ever-popular paddle trips on the Chetco River. wildernesscanyonadventures.com/
South Coast Tours, provides adventure paddling in the estuaries and coastal ocean paddling. southcoasttours.net
“Wild Rivers Coast“: This name was chosen by representatives from the various communities to help uniquely identify this 70 mile stretch of coast and inland adventure areas. We are not only graced with miles of beautiful coastline and unique communities throughout Curry County but there are four nationally designated “Wild Rivers.” The rivers starting just north of Port Orford and coming south are Elk, Rogue, Illinois, and the Chetco. Not only are the wild rivers in our back yard but there are two wilderness areas nearby. The Grassy Knob Wilderness is inland of Port Orford at the headwaters of the Elk River. The Kalmiopsis Wilderness is 500,000 acres and stretches from the Illinois River South to nearly the California Border. From Gold Beach you can drive 20 miles out into the mountains and be on the edge of the wilderness.
Light Houses:
In 1870 the Cape Blanco Light was completed and started lighting the coast from the cape which is the furthest point west in the contental U.S. It’s well worth your time to visit this state park. “Activities at the park include hiking, horseback riding, fishing, camping, picnicking, beach combing, and visiting the lighthouse. For the history buff, a pioneer cemetery, and the Hughes House, is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Hughes House and Cape Blanco Light house can be toured in the summer.
To extend your passion for light houses you can go 60 miles south to Crescent City, CA and visit the Battery Point Lighthouse. The St. George Reef Lighthouse is six miles west of Crescent City, CA. At different times in the summer it may be possible to get a helicopter tour of the light.
Further north from Gold Beach (about 80 miles) there is a lighthouse at Cape Argo. All in all these light houses are spectacular things to visit. The scenery is amazing the history of the early construction and what the friends of these individual lights are doing to preserve the grounds and structures plus making it possible for you to learn about them is commendable.
Birding:
Our local birders list is about 250 different species in our area and we can show you the nice places to see and hear them! kalmiopsisaudubon.org/
Golf:
Cedar Bend Golf Course, our local 9 hole course is located 10 miles north of Gold Beach.
Salmon Run Golf & Wilderness Preserve is thirty miles south of Gold Beach. A championship 18-hole course with outstanding views and peace and quiet.
The world renowned Pacific Dunes #2 – Bandon Dunes #7 – Old Macdonald #12 – Bandon Trails #15 are rated in “Golf Digest” 100 best golf courses in the U.S. in 2015 and are just an hour north of Gold Beach.
Pistol River Wave Bash:
This is usually held in mid June at Pistol River State Park, 11 miles south of Gold Beach by Trade Wind Event’s American Windsurfing Tour. this is a double elimination windsurfing contest at the world renowned Pistol River State Park.
Bike the area:
You can bike from your vacation home to suggested trips up the Rogue River doing a loop day adventure or mountain bike numerous trails in the coastal mountains around Gold Beach.
Whale Watching:
Look for the “Whale watching spoken here” signs.
California gray whales migrate south past our coast Dec. through early Feb.and usually travel somewhat further offshore than when they travel north. Northbound pods pass from March through May and cruise closer in, sometimes just beyond the surf line.
Hiking:
We happen to live in a geologically unique area, where the Cascadia fault or the Cascadia Subduction Zone is a colliding plate boundary that stretches from northern Vancouver Island to northern California. It is a very long sloping subduction zone fault that separates the Juan de Fuca and North America plates. We live on the southern end of this geologic phenomenon. This fault over the past several million years has scraped seafloor material off onto the the continental plate creating the unique mountains and materials that have allowed unusual and rare plants to evolve over time. It is an hour or two drive to go out in the mountains and do spectacular day hikes seeing the stunted plant growth bogs with rare plants and small lakes, some formed by glaciation.
It is highly recommended you stop by the U.S. Forest Service at the south end of Gold Beach and pick up their map and a brochure for hiking ideas.
The Oregon Coast Trail: (Map of the trail click here) Four of our houses are literally next to this trail. The hiking associated with the coast north and south of Gold Beach are awe-inspiring scenes of coastal spires just offshore, and trails following the meandering coastal cliffs allowing views of the massive rocks and heads. Many of these views can only be seen by hiking the various trails. The short hikes range from a couple of hours to a whole day and are highly recommended. Some special hikes: Otter Point, Cape Sebastian, Natural Arch View Point, Indian Sands Trail. The 5 mile stretch of beach just south of Cape Sebastian includes the Myers Creek, and Pistol River beaches.
We recommend you stop by the Gold Beach Visitor Center at the south end of Gold Beach, for information and maps pertaining to the hiking trails along the coast.
Collier H. Buffington Memorial Park:
Near the center of town, this park offers a peaceful calm area for picnicking and playing with your kids. A Skatepark is located in the west end of Buffington Park and has access from Highway 101. Toward the middle of the park there is a Kids Castle. The east end of the park has a trail built by local volunters that winds around through the woods. In the same area is a Disc Golf Park. You can also rent a kitchen for large gatherings. It’s all there for everyone.
Other Fun things:
We not only have years worth of outdoor activities to participate in but you also have many other opportunities. Crabbing and Clamming, Mushrooming, Horseback Riding, Local Theatre Offerings, Museums, Myrtlewood Shops, Scenic Drives, and much more.
