California is famous for its miles of sandy beaches, but its neighbor to the north offers an entirely different view of the Pacific coast, characterized by rocky cliffs and rugged fishing towns rather than the ubiquitous glamorous beach towns in southern California. The state offers a whopping 363 miles of scenic coastline to explore, most of it dotted alongside the stretch of highway 101 dubbed the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway. Oregon’s seaside hamlets and stunning natural formations are often spread apart and at a considerable remove from the Willamette Valley where most of the state’s population is concentrated. Nonetheless, it’s well-worth the drive and the detours to explore natural and man-made wonders as breathtaking as these five places along the Oregon coast.
Astoria
Astoria and the nearby town of Warrenton are the first town visitors from the north will pass through if they’re driving highway 101 south along Oregon’s many miles of picturesque coast. The area has no shortage of delicious seafood, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a better variety of meats from land and sea than at the dockside Northwest Wild Products. Plus, there are awe-inspiring sights to start such a trip off right, including the towering Astoria-Megler bridge that crosses the Columbia River into Washington State. The powerful river gives way to even more powerful ocean just to the West. Fort Stevens State Park is the perfect place to see how the two meet and gawk at the beached remains of an old shipwreck, or you can try Fort Clatsop to see the spot where explorers Lewis and Clark first encountered this stretch of the Pacific.
Three Capes Scenic Drive
As mentioned, highway 101 winds along many of the most beautiful stretches of the Oregon coast, but the Three Capes Scenic Drive in Tillamook county provides stunning views of some of the beaches the larger highway bypasses. Following still freshwater to the violent seashores, the tiny route offers cozy neighborhoods of picture perfect beach houses in the shadow of the spectacular lighthouse at Cape Meares and one of the state’s most underrated ocean side hamlet, fittingly dubbed Oceanside. Scenic drives don’t get much more scenic than this road, that crams a lot into a roughly 30 mile stretch.
Newport
One of the coast’s largest cities on the Oregon coast, which isn’t really saying much, Newport is a convenient, centrally-located spot to function as a home base for exploring the coastline, but it’s far more than that as well. It’s also home to all sorts of tasty local seafood with many of its best restaurants clustered on its historic Bayfront, where the roar of sea lions lounging on the docks is audible day and night. Be sure to order a plate of the Dungeness crab cakes, a regional specialty made from one of the tastiest catches around. Nearby Seal Rock to the south provides one of the state’s best beaches, including coves of sea foam, seaside rock monoliths, sandstone formations and long stretches of sand ideal for a stroll.
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
Amidst a region mostly characterized by dense pine forests and dramatic rocky cliffs, it’s all the more astonishing to see it all give way to the peaceful hilly landscapes of the sand dunes that characterize the 40 miles of coastline between Florence and North Bend. The easiest ways to explore the area are through the Oregon Dunes Overlook south of Florence or at Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park, or you can book an ATV rental or buggy tour at various spots in North Bend and Florence. Whether you choose to explore the dunes on foot or on a dune buggy, it’s a sight to behold when the shifting sands of this nationally protected area meet the crashing waves of the Pacific.
Devil’s Punch Bowl State Park
There’s no shortage of striking rock formations along the Oregon coast, the sandstone and other rocks sculpted into fascinating shapes by the restlessly violent waves. Even with all the competition, the collapsed sea cave called Devil’s Punch Bowl on the central coast stands out. Shaped something like punch bowl, visitors can stare down into the natural circular chamber where waves continue to churn and affect the area’s geology in fascinating ways. Devil’s Punch Bowl State Park is easily accessible from Highway 101, making for an easy stop where one can witness the power of the ocean in action and maybe even catch sight of a few whales during the right season.
