Jeff Ferguson the Director of the Visitor center told me he was putting together some info on hikes along 101. Jeff is
an avid hiker and has done all these hikes so the information is good. He's done a great job with the mile post info to get your started. Sout og town he starts from the visitor center and from the Rogue River bridge north of town. He has some images to go along. I hope to shoot some footage of the trail heads to go along with this information. There are more hikes east along the Rogue we are working on getting them posted up here.
Hwy 101 South Towards Brookings
333.0 333 COAST TRAIL (TRAIL HIKE)
Moderate + (steep near beach). 5 min.
from GBVC. Park just south of milepost
333 (grassy, gravel turnout). This hike takes
you through a lush, ancient forest to the
beach. Allow an hour down & an hour back,
with extra time to explore the beach
334.7 CAPE SEBASTIAN (TRAIL HIKE)
Moderate. 7 min. from GBVC. Start at South
parking lot (panoramic view!). The beach to
the south is Myer’s Beach, (“One of the most
photographed beach’s & one of the ‘Top 5’
windsurfing spots in the world”). Full trail
is 1.6 miles to ocean (very cool!), 1.6 miles
back. If you’re not up for the entire
adventure, at least walk the ¼ mile to the
viewpoint at the western edge of this
interesting headland. Great whale watch spot
344.8 ARCH ROCK (NATURE WALK)
Easy. 17 min. from GBVC. ¼ mile loop on
paved path. Great Photo opps. Restrooms
(pit), benches & picnic tables
345.7 THUNDER ROCK COVE (TRAIL HIKE)
Easy + to Moderate. 19 min. from GBVC.
10 minutes to impressive viewpoint. Loop
trail is 30 minutes. ¾ mile one way to
‘ Secret Beach ’. 1.5 round trip by trail.
Quicker/shorter if you return by Hwy. 101.
Gorgeous beach cove views & waterfalls.
345.9 NATURAL BRIDGE (NATURE WALK)
Easy. 19 min. from GBVC. 50 yard stroll
on wooden walkway to viewing platform
above ‘ Natural Bridge ’. Nature at it’s best.
Even better with really big surf!
347.6 NORTH ISLANDS VIEWPOINT TO
SPRUCE CREEK (HARDY TRAIL HIKE)
21 min. from GBVC. This one takes some time
but is well worth it. Consider 2 vehicles.
The beach portion is added bonus’
You need to be in decent physical condition
347.9 THOMAS CREEK BRIDGE TO
INDIAN SANDS (HARDY TRAIL HIKE)
21 min. from GBVC. This one takes some
time but is well worth it. Consider 2 vehicles
Open dunes at Indian Sands are added bonus
You need to be in decent physical condition.
This may be the very best spot in the world
to watch big surf pound the shore!!
349.6 WHALESHEAD VIEWPOINT TO
HOUSE ROCK (VERY HARDY TRAIL HIKE)
23 min. from GBVC. This one takes some
time but is well worth it. Recommend 2 vehicles
unless you are in pretty good physical condition
2 waterfalls, plus a whole lot more!
351.9 HOUSE ROCK TO CAPE FERRELO
(EASY HIKE TO 360 DEGREE VIEWS)
24 min. from GBVC. You’ll find a monument to
Samuel H. Boardman at the viewpoint.
“Sam” was the first Oregon State Parks
Superintendent. Thanks Sam!!!!
352.5 LONE RANCH TO RAINBOW ROCK
( HARDY BEACH & TRAIL HIKE)
25 min. from GBVC. This one takes some
time but is well worth it. Consider 2 vehicles
Great beach section, then trail w/waterfall
You need to be in decent physical condition
Some Hikes North Towards Port Orford
325.9 OTTER POINT (NATURE WALKS)
Easy+. Turn left off Hwy. 101 on ‘Old
Coast Road’. 5 min. from RRB. This area
is an interesting place to explore. Allow at
least an hour total (more if you spend time on
the beach). Walk out to the headland (west
to ocean), then take the trail that loops around
to ‘ Old Coast Highway ’ (returns you to the
parking area). Moderate. On the ‘trail
loop’, you will see a path going down to
a beach that you will likely have to yourself!
307 HUMBUG PARK (NATURE WALK)
Easy to Moderate. 25 min. from RRB. Follows
‘ Old Hwy. 101’ from just inside the Humbug
overnight camping area (this entire area is a
great place to explore!). The views from the
‘ Old Hwy ’ offer a completely different ‘Coastal perspective’ than ‘New 101’! Allow + hour
round trip or park a 2nd vehicle at the other
end (Turn right just past MP 305.4 &
look for ‘Coast Trail’ marker)
307.2 HUMBUG MOUNTAIN (TRAIL HIKE)
Moderate to Difficult. 25+ min. from RRB.
5.5 miles, if you go all the way to the top &
back. At the 1 mile marker, you will come
to a fork in the trail. Go either way but come
back the other. Lush ‘ Coastal Rain Forest ’ hike for
the adventurous. At least, check out the first ¼
mile! ‘Tunnel’ to right leads to nice campground.
PORT ORFORD HEADS (NATURE WALKS)
Easy. 36 min. from RRB. In Port Orford, turn
west (left) on 9th St. Go 2 blocks then veer left
up Coast Guard Hill .8 miles to State Park.
1 mile loop with shorter loops available.
Unmatched ocean views to reefs and Cape
Blanco Lighthouse & interesting Coast Guard
history. Seasonal museum. Don’t miss Nellie’s
Cove!!! The town of Port Orford itself is
interesting. Ask about the unique docks
297.5 CAPE BLANCO LIGHTHOUSE & TRAIL HIKES
Moderate. 45 min. from RRB. Turn left on
Cape Blanco Road. Go 5 miles (past campground),
to parking area just before gated road to lighthouse.
Trail starts 100 yards back up road from parking.
3.6 mile loop with shorter segments possible.
At 4-way intersection, go straight (not R or L),
or loop left to parking. At 3-way intersection,
go straight or loop left to parking. From the
viewpoint, you can go down to the beach &
return to the lighthouse or ‘back-track’ a bit &
head towards the Hughes House (return to
parking on road). Historic lighthouse, ocean
views, dramatic headlands. This is the
westernmost point on the Oregon Coast .
Winds can reach 130 MPH during winter storms.
293.7 BLACKLOCK POINT (TRAIL HIKE)
Moderate. 50 min. from RRB. Fairly flat but
long. Turn left on Airport Road (directly across
Hwy. 101 from Pacific High School . Follow
airport signs. This is a fascinating area to
explore. Several buildings in San Francisco
are made of Blacklock Sandstone. Lush,
windswept forests & a waterfall. Be aware of
standing water during our ‘rainy season’.
293.7 BLACKLOCK TO FLORAS LAKE (HIKE)
Moderate. 50 min. from RRB.
Fairly flat but long. Directions same
as above but suggest leaving a 2nd vehicle
at Floras Lake . Park vehicle At Boice
Cope Park Day Use Area. Allow 2 hours 1-way
from Blacklock to Floras Lake . See the
‘Enchanted Forest ’ & indescribable views!
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