 |
Here are some of the things that make Gold Beach a destination for such a wide range of people. For starters, they don’t cost an arm and a leg. And second, you can’t beat the setting. Situated in the splendor of Oregon's Southern Coast and in the heart of America's Wild Rivers Coast, Gold Beach, Ore., is a perfect central point from which to do and see a number of activities in the area.
Beachcombing & Tidepooling
Bicycling
Camping
Crabbing & Clamming
Fishing
Golf
Hiking
Horseback Riding
Salmon Run
Jet Boating
Rafting, Kayaking & Canoeing
Whale Watching
Windsurfing
Scenic Drives
Art Galleries & Antiques
Shopping
Dining
Bandon Dunes Golf
Gold Beach is considered the heart of America's Wild Rivers Coast for its proximity to all of the rivers.
No fewer than eight major rivers and dozens of creeks run to meet the ocean along the Wild Rivers Coast. Steelhead and salmon share local waters with drift boats, canoes, kayaks and jet boats. All of the rivers offer innumerable recreational options, primitive campgrounds, historic lodges and tidy RV parks.
America's Wild Rivers include the world-famous Rogue River, and the Sixes, Elk, Pistol, Chetco, Winchuck, Smith & Klamath Rivers.
Beachcombing & Tidepooling
Combing the beach in Oregon is a very different adventure from many beaches around the globe, and that's mostly because of the driftwood that makes its way down Oregon rivers to the sea. Dramatic new shapes wash in almost daily, and a favorite sandy cove can look entirely different from one day to the next, especially in stormy weather. Agates are another local treasure, a colorful stone that's considered a real prize; December through April is the best time to spot them, as well as jasper, fossils and petrified wood.
For those who prefer treasures of the living kind, the best tidepool areas include Rocky Point, Agate Beach and Whiskey Creek north of town; and Myers Creek and Lone Ranch Wayside to the south. For low tide periods, check the paper or pick up a free guide at the Visitor Center. Head out with The Tidepools are Alive brochure in hand (also available from the Gold Beach Visitor Center). Of course, tidepool critters are protected, so as a general rule, photos are the only way you can take them home.
Whether beachcombing, tidepooling or just strolling, it is important to be aware of the surroundings and keep an eye on the water. Oregon has what are called sneaker waves; one can rise suddenly and powerfully from an otherwise regular set, knocking down and carrying out even strong swimmers. With children especially, visits should be carefully timed for low tide.
Bicycling
Touring: Plan to spend a part of your trip in Gold Beach exploring the Rogue River. If you're planning on only cycling part of the Oregon Coast, the Southern Coast is probably your best bet. Traffic is lighter than up north, the highway is wide and the views incredible.
Off-road: Close to Gold Beach is one of the few trails open to cyclists, the Lower Rogue River Trail. The 12-mile each-way journey includes sights like an old homestead, creeks and a waterfall. Pick it up in the parking lot just west of the Old Agness Post Office. Ask for information at the Gold Beach Visitor Information Center in town.
Camping
Gold Beach has a number of great places to pitch a tent or park a motorhome. The number for Reservations Northwest is 800-452-5687. For information or reservations go to the Oregon State Campgrounds website (www.oregonstateparks.org).
Many other campsites are on a first-come basis, so arrival should be timed for late morning to catch sites as they open up.
For a complete listing of the 19 Gold Beach camping facilities go to this link: www.goldbeach.org/html/ThingsToDo/camping.cfm
Crabbing & Clamming
Dungeness crab, thought by many to be among the sea's finest delicacies, is available all year long. The Bay crabbing is best from late August through mid-October by boat or off the docks. Rogue Outdoor Store can provide information on the current conditions and opportunities. Rent a crab ring at one of the friendly sporting goods stores and follow the directions of your friendly crabber and tonight you'll dine in style.
Razor clams take up concentrated residence in the sands of Bailey Beach and Myers Beach. For butter clams, travelers need to go 24 miles north to Rocky Point.
Check this link for tide tables web site (http://tidesonline.nos.noaa.gov) and also with the Department of Fish & Wildlife website (www.dfw.state.or.us) for regulations and red tide warnings, when shellfish are unsafe to eat.
Fishing
Chinook salmon fishing is most consitent from mid-July through October These fish are some of the largest caught in the state, with multiple fish 50 pounds and up. Sturgeon and Coho salmon are reeled in from Rogue River shores or boats, and Gold Beach has the highest population of fishing guides in the state to help you land them. Deep-sea charters take visitors out on the Pacific for a chance to wrestle with an incredible variety of bottom fish, including giant ling cod, rockfish, snapper, cabezon and china rockfish. The best bottom fishing on the Oregon Coast is only three miles offshore; for information contact Five Star Charter (www.goldbeachadventures.com) and Rogue River Country Guide Shack (www.roguerivertrips.com).
Because Gold Beach has such great stretches of sandy shoreline, surfcasting is popular for those who like perch and smelt.
Golf
Located 10 miles north of Gold Beach, Cedar Bend Golf Course's (www.cedar-bend-golf.com) nine holes play like 18, set up with multiple tee locations and two flags on each green. Cedar Creek wanders across or alongside almost every hole. For those who visit Gold Beach by RV, there is an 11-site campground on Cedar Bend Golf Course with resident deer, occasional elk, an interesting bird population and a trickling stream to lull visitors to sleep.
Thirty miles south of Gold Beach is Salmon Run Golf & Wilderness Preserve, a championship 18-hole course with five sets of tees on every hole, plus the most incredible views and just an hour and a half north of Gold Beach is the premier golf course Bandon Dunes(www.bandondunesgolf.com). Just an hour and a half north of Gold Beach is Bandon Dunes, one of the premier golf courses of the world.
Hiking
Gold Beach hiking doesn't necessarily mean heavy boots and rocky climbs to see incredible sights. Trail guides and maps for the Coast Trail, Rogue and Illinois River trails and others are available at the Gold Beach Visitors Center; there are fees to park at some of the trailheads.
Before setting out on any of the more remote hikes, it is wise to visit the Gold Beach Ranger District (29279 S. Ellensburg, Gold Beach 97444; 541-247-3600) for directions, necessary passes and trail conditions. For beach hikes, visitors are advised to read up on high and low tide times in the local paper or pick up a free tide guide at the Visitor Center.
Horseback Riding
Whether on one's own horse or a rented friend, Gold Beach riding is sublime because of the choice of scenery and trails. Hawk's Rest Ranch (Siskiyou West Day Lodge) rents horses of all temperaments and rider skill levels for treks on the beach, local dunes and the owner's ranch, just south of Gold Beach at Pistol River.
For those who trailer in their own horse, box stalls are available for brief stays at the Curry County Fairgrounds in Gold Beach (541-247-4541) for $15 per night, but visitors are advised to call at least a month in advance for availability. The closest campground with equestrian accommodations is Cape Blanco State Park (www.oregonstateparks.org/park_62.php), about an hour north.
Jet Boating
Gold Beach is synonymous with jet boats and is the gateway to the "wild and scenic" portion of the Rogue River. The trips are considered a must-do during any Gold Beach visit - at least in the months between May and October. Two outfits run the boats up the Wild and Scenic Rogue River on trips of 64, 80 and 104 round-trip miles, the longer, the wilder - in terms of whitewater and scenery. Excursions include lunch or dinner stopovers at upriver lodges (meal price extra).
Jet boats are designed specifically for safely navigating strong currents and shallow riffles, so tourists can relax as trained pilots treat them to tall tales and river lore, incredible scenery and sightings of black bear, river otters, eagles and the rare mountain lion.
Mail Boat Hydro-Jets (www.mailboat.com) is a descendant of the original mail boats that have carried news and parcels from the outside world to settlers upriver since 1895. Mail Boat Hydro-Jets runs trips in open vessels and in the Rogue Queen, a glass-enclosed excursion boat that's ideal for rainy days and perfect for tour groups and champagne cruises.
An adventure with Jerry's Rogue Jets (www.roguejets.com) begins in their museum, where just about anything one needs to know about the area's colorful history is on display in photos, artifacts and dioramas. Then get on board to learn the true meaning of "wild and scenic" from people who have run trips since 1958.
Reservations are highly recommended for both outfitters, though same-day openings are occasionally available. Overnight stays at lodges upriver are another option.
Rafting, Kayaking & Canoeing
Gold Beach is an ideal home base for rafters and kayakers exploring the Rogue's incomparable wilderness. A good resource for trips is Paradise Lodge/Rogue River Rafting , a local clearinghouse for booking rafting trips of various lengths with a number of different guides.
Kayaking just keeps getting more popular and Gold Beach's boat basin is the place to learn how to maneuver one before heading upriver or out into the waves.
For information on the local kayak club which specializes in full-moon kayak trips, please visit www.ourwebmaster.com/lunartics.
Whale Watching
There are two ways to go whale watching: By chartering a boat or through binoculars from land.
The best time to observe the California gray whale's 12,000-mile migratory route is between December and May. Until February they head south as far as the coast of Mexico, and tend to travel two miles offshore; from March through May they are on their way back north, and cruise closer in, just beyond the surf line. The rest of the year visitors might catch a glimpse of the "local" whales that have taken up permanent residence off the Oregon coast - early morning and late evening, when the water is calm, are best times.
For land-based sightings, there are vantage points all along the Oregon coast with big "Whale Watching Spoken Here" signs. The best local vantage point is Cape Sebastian, five miles south of Gold Beach.
Windsurfing
Gold Beach is an ideal home base for windsurfing adventures. Considered among the choice spots is the stretch of coastline 10 miles south of Gold Beach, from Cape Sebastian to Pistol River.
Depending on which way the wind is blowing and surf conditions, colorful sails surf and soar typically between mileposts 334 and 339 on US 101. Spring and early summer conditions are the best.
For inland windsurfing, go to Floras Lake, two miles east of US 101 near Port Orford.
Scenic Drives
The stretch of US 101 between Gold Beach and Brookings to the south is considered one of the most scenic drives in Oregon, and one that is usually less trafficked than up north. Look for waysides; there are lots of picnic spots and hiking trails.
But turn off the highway and tourists will find as much to be amazed by. Considered one of the most beautiful is Floras Lake State Park (www.oscoast.org/site.floraslakestatepark.htm) off of US 101 just north Port Orford. While there, visitors should check out the nearby Cape Blanco State Park (www.oregonstateparks.org/park_62.php), the westernmost point in the continental United States, and the Elk River, also marked along US 101.
Closer is the Lower Rogue River Highway, County Road 700 that goes up and into the hills east of Gold Beach.
A good map and recommendations from locals is the best bet when in town, because the drives vary with the season. Ask about azalea blooms and spring iris fields, or good places to park and catch a mighty winter storm show.
Art Galleries & Antiques
Gold Beach is the antidote to the mall. The town is home to several local artists, and some of them even open their studio doors to visitors while they're working. Oils, watercolors, jewelry and sculpture inspired by the local resources and scenery - or just plain inspired - may be the perfect memento to take home.
For antique lovers, more than a few Gold Beach shops and cafes are stocked with interesting items of days gone by, like battered miner's equipment and Japanese glass floats, depression glass and crockery.
Shopping
Think of downtown Gold Beach as small-town shopping at its best. Visitors will have fun meeting people who actually own and run their own businesses. It makes the coffee taste better, and every local has a story.
Expect lots of local items such as fresh seafood, art, gifts, outdoor gear, myrtlewood sculptures and books.
Dining
Restaurants, takeouts, bakeries and grocers - Gold Beach serves just what visitors crave.
Especially seafood. Gold Beach is famous for local Chinook salmon, Halibut and Dungeness Crab, and several places serve these specialties alongside dishes such as hearty steak and burgers and apple-roasted chicken, or enormous muffins and strong latte.
Family-style restaurants, neighborhood taverns, romantic dining rooms with winter-storm views, and picnic ingredients to tote along on a hike or fishing excursion - locals and visitors alike love to eat this way.
Beachcombing & Tidepooling
Bicycling
Camping
Crabbing & Clamming
Fishing
Golf
Hiking
Horseback Riding
Salmon Run Jet Boating
Rafting, Kayaking & Canoeing
Whale Watching
Windsurfing
Scenic Drives
Art Galleries & Antiques
Shopping
Dining
Bandon Dunes Golf
|
|
