Explore Cape Arago State Park on the Oregon Coast
Cape Arago State Park was our first stop during a weeklong vacation up the Oregon Coast. We were able to experience a few firsts – tidepools and whale watching. It’s a great place to stop and explore wildlife, short hikes and the amazing landscapes of shoreline. I recommend spending at least a couple of hours exploring this beautiful state park along the coast.
Cape Arago State Park is found at the end of the road – quite literally. Simply follow the Cape Arago Highway west from Charleston, Oregon. You’ll drive by Sunset Bay State Park, which is one of the 8 amazing tidepools along the Oregon Coast. You also pass by Shore Acres State Park with their beautiful botanical garden.
Eventually, you’ll reach Cape Arago State Park and the road will loop back around to return you to where you came. Park in the first available parking stall you can and you’ll be ready to explore this beautiful Oregon State Park.
North Beach Trail at Cape Arago State Park
Start your exploration by trekking down the trail to the North Beach area. The first part is an asphalt trail that leads to a viewpoint of Shell Island. It’s a spot where hundreds of seals and sea lions. However, this trail is closed from March 1 to June 30 to protect the seal pups in that area. If you’ve got binoculars, I strongly suggest bringing them with you. They’ll help you see the wildlife close up on Shell Island, but they’ll also come in handy for some whale watching.
After the observation point, back track a little to the dirt trail offshoot and make your way down to the beach. There’s a little wooden bridge to help you cross a small stream. And you may have to hop down a few rocks once you get to the beachline. Kids will love it, but older adults (grandparents) may not be able to climb down as easy if they aren’t super mobile.
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You can comb the beach, try your hand at fishing (with a valid license, of course) or follow the rocky shoreline to the west and see what life you can discover in the tidepools. Just be careful not to get out too far and end up stranded by a rising tide. Download Tide Charts – Free app so you can find when the tides are in or out. Also, don’t capture the life in the tidepools. Just look with your eyes, not your hands. You can also try using a waterproof camera to capture the sea life in their element.
Whale Watching from the Overlook
I’d never seen a whale in the wild. So when I walked to the overlook southwest of the parking area, I heard some people point out some whales in the water below. I was stoked! I grabbed my binoculars and my camera’s zoom lens and watched. We ended up having to watch for a while – partly because I wasn’t exactly sure what I was looking for. When someone would say they saw them, by the time I was focused on the area, it was too late.
I was beginning to wonder if these people were yanking our chain. But eventually we were able to see the water spout of the whale as it surfaced and capture a glimpse – and a few photos – before it went under the surface again.
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I’m not sure the usual “Best time of year” to go whale watching on the Oregon Coast, but we were able to see this during our early July trip. I was told this whale was a local, but other times of year you’ll see the whales who do more of the migrating to and from warmer waters. I highly recommend whale watching – but hopefully in the future I can see one breach the water in a spectacular jump with my own eyes and not on TV.
Hike to the South Beach
Take a short hike to the south beach, where you can enjoy some of the Oregon Coast fun. Hang out on the sandy beach, do some swimming in the ocean or explore some of the tidepools. It’s a great – and more secluded – place to spend an afternoon with the kids. The trail is about 0.3 miles, so it’s pretty short.
The Cape Arago Pack Trail is a little longer of a trail and is rated as moderate. The starting point is on the south end of the parking area. The 3 mile roundtrip trail is a great way to stretch your legs and enjoy the wilderness of the coast. During the spring and summer months, you may be able to see some beautiful wildflowers along the trail.
Short Drive to the Cape Arago Lighthouse
Even though Cape Arago State Park is at the end of the road, it’s associated lighthouse is not. In fact, you can’t even see the lighthouse from the park. It’s north of Shore Acres State Park. Since my mom is a lighthouse fanatic, I was sure to stop at the lookout point and capture a photo of one of the many lighthouses along the Oregon Coast.
The Details:
Address: Cape Arago State Park, Coos Bay, OR 97420
Cost: There is no day-use fee to visit the state park.
Hours: Cape Arago State Park is open 24 hours, seven days a week. The restrooms are currently closed (likely due to COVID-19), so use the restrooms at Sunset Bay.
Website: https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=66
Phone: (541) 888-3778
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