@WanderlustMAX Oregon’s southern coast is known for its secluded beaches, Sea Stacks, and rugged terrain.
After getting my first taste of this region the previous year, I planned a 5 day trip to soak in and explore as much of the area as possible.
To get there, I simply followed the setting sun westward until I landed at the first of my trip’s 3 campsites, Humbug Mountain State park near Port Orford.
I had mixed feelings about the campsite. It’s a nice place, but my site was small and a stone’s throw away from the raging HWY 101
Giant semis would come ripping through in the middle of the night, loudest thing you’ve ever heard, but in between semis you can hear the babbling of Brush creek.
Port Orford Lifeboat Station -
After waking up in a beautiful settling alongside a babbling brook and roaring highway, I made the short drive up to Port Orford Heads State Park, where I paused to tour the Lifeboat station before wandering off.
I hadn’t planned on entering the museum, but I was beckoned to come inside by a man standing in the doorway. The former coast guard / lifeboat station offers a fascinating glimpse into life back in the early 20th century on the Southern Oregon coast. They have fun things on display, like dummies with old clothes. I took the helm and respectfully messed around throughout the place.
I found little cannons, displays of old pharmaseuticals and an historical bathroom where they had to tape the toilets shut to prevent people from going in there.
“You have to go out…you don’t have to come back” - Surfman’s motto. They were called, “storm warriors,” because they would head out on rescue missions during severe storms and saved numerous lives throughout the years.
I continued on my way past the point of no return and meandered around the heads as the incoming fog enveloped me and shrouded the coastline.
To conclude my first full day on the southern Oregon coast, I walked from my campsite through the lush forest to the foggy beach at Humbug Mountain state park to play in the water and do some meditative beachcombing
After another peaceful night’s sleep alongside the raging highway at I indulged in a Multi-grain cheerios party with the local camp robbers…
I left Humbug Mountain state park and headed south toward cape Sebastian, but not before stopping along the way in the town of Gold Beach for some coffee and a muffin.
The parking lot at the cape Sebastian trailhead was empty; if this were up on the northern coast, I’d bet this lot would be packed with everyone and their mothers.
If this trail were up on the the northern coast, I bet this lot would be packed with everyone and their mothers…
Smart thinking to whoever posted their lost and found flier on a sign along the extremely windy coastal headlands.
Coastal trails are full of surprises and wonders. This is probably the freakiest fungus I’ve ever seen, it has many names such as Bleeding Tooth Fungus, Red-Juice Tooth, Devil’s tooth and “strawberries and cream, “ but the scientific name is Hydnellum Peckii.
Coming around the south side of Cape Sebastian, I took a side trail which lead me to a rocky outcropping where I spent about an hour prancing around and reveling in the joyous solitude that Oregon’s southern coast so plentifully provides.
I continued southward looking out to a view of Hunters island and then scrambled down from Cape Sebastian to a location called Hunters cove, but the only thing I was hunting for was a cell phone signal so I could email my boss to ask for an extra day off so that I could experience more of the southern coast.
Next I enjoyed a long walk along Meyers Creek beach and marveled at the numerous islands and sea stacks visible from the shoreline.
A stack or sea stack is a geological landform consisting of a steep and often vertical column of rock formed by wave erosion.
Oregon’s south coast formed over millions of years. Slowly, waves of volcanic rock collided with the mainland, the result of shifting tectonic plates. The collision also lifted up softer, sedimentary rocks. The battering sea creates islands and sea stacks - havens for seabirds.
The islands and sea stacks along Oregon’s coast are part of The Oregon Islands National wildlife refuge which protects 1,853 islands for seabirds along 320 miles of coastline
Thanks for watching Wanderlust MAX. As Jeanne Moreau once said, To go out with setting sun on an empty beach is to truly embrace your solitude”
I am forever grateful for and inspired by locations such as Oregon’s Southern coast. Stay tuned for the next segment of Wanderlust Max where I continue to explore this awe-inspiring region. Auf wiedersehen!