Last February, a stubborn high-pressure system settled in and skiing in the Pacific Northwest started to feel pretty flat. When conditions like that linger, I usually turn to maps and start hunting for new places to photograph. Working through a short list I’d been sitting on, I headed south on Oregon Coast Highway 101, starting near Florence and winding my way down toward the California border. The coast is always a weather wildcard no matter the season, but in the off-season it’s especially nice—fewer RVs on the road, more space to slow down and explore.
The first stop on the trip was Floras Lake, hiking the beach beneath the Blacklock Cliffs. There wasn’t a soul in sight for miles—just empty sand and the occasional trace of horse hooves. Maybe it was the tide, or just good timing, but under a clear, sunny sky the beach was scattered with agates, slowing the walk in the best way. Next time, the plan is to take the short hike up top for a closer look at the cliffs and a few more haystacks.
Cape Blanco National Historic Site and Needle Rock mark the westernmost point of Oregon’s mainland. The cape reaches farther west than any point in the lower 48 states except for parts of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, including Cape Alava, which holds the true westernmost title. Cape Blanco was named in 1603 by Spanish explorer Martín de Aguilar, inspired by its pale, striking appearance against the Pacific.
Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor offers a number of hiking trails on the rugged coastline near the town of Brookings located on the boarder of California and Oregon. Leaving the town in the AM I took some nice photos of haystacks from Chetco Point Park & Mill Beach. Stopping at Lone Ranch Beach On the right side of the paved walk notice the earthen bank containing millions of shells left by Native Americans who collected and attached sacred value to them.
Whales Head Rock at sunset was another quietly beautiful stop—just a couple of people walking their dogs, the light catching in a soft starburst like the photo in the gallery above. Farther along, one of the most popular viewpoints is Natural Bridges in the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, and true to its name, it genuinely lives up to the hype.
Early rainy morning passing Sisters’ Rock outside of Port Orford, Oregon – I did get a nice sunny hike here on my way into town – this was a nice place with no crowds and beautiful beach.
Headed back north on a rainy drive home, I stopped at the Prehistoric Gardens for a little nostalgia, then later spotted some elk at Arizona Beach State Park. Prehistoric Gardens is one of those classic roadside attractions along Oregon’s Highway 101, just outside Port Orford. Founded in 1955, it features 23 life-sized dinosaur sculptures tucked into the lush temperate rainforest. The gardens were created by amateur paleontologist E.V. “Ernie” Nelson and are still run by his granddaughter today, which makes the place feel even more timeless.
Near Coos Bay, I drove up to Golden and Silver Falls State Natural Area. I only made it to Golden Falls this time around—I was pretty worn out after three straight days of driving and hiking until dark. The rain kicked in, and I decided to bail on Silver Falls. My friend wasn’t impressed and made sure to let me know I was getting lazy, which felt fair in the moment.
Long-exposure selfie near Ariya’s Beach—look to the right of the frame. After more than 10 years living in Oregon, this trip marked finally completing the entire drive of Highway 101, from Olympic National Park in northern Washington down to the southern border of California. Compared to New England or much of the California coast, the PNW feels different in the best way—fewer people, fewer cities, and a lot more space. Rugged sea stacks, constantly shifting weather, and long, quiet stretches of beach. I already want to go back, ideally with more time. It’s kind of wild how many pins I had saved on the map, and I managed to hit a solid number of them for what was basically a quick scout mission. If you’ve been out this way, or have any recommendations, drop a comment.
