Four Days on Oregon's Adventure Coast - By Ruby Tawes
Editor’s Note: This special guest post is written by Ruby Tawes, a full-time Colorado-based freelance photographer, content creator, and traveler specializing in hiking, van life, and national park exploration. Over five years, she has visited 36 states, 27 national parks, and 9 countries, focusing on inspiring others to get outside. Ruby and her partner Caleb recently spent a few days here on Oregon’s Adventure Coast: Coos Bay, North Bend, Charleston and shared some of their adventures with us.
As someone who has been lucky enough to travel full-time over the last three years, I’ve seen my fair share of overrated destinations as well as experienced some absolutely incredible hidden gems. So take my word for it when I say that Oregon’s Adventure Coast is one of my absolute favorite places in the lower 48 to get outside, explore nature, adventure to your heart’s content, and even escape the crowds.
The three sister cities of Coos Bay, North Bend, and Charleston make for the perfect hub if you’re planning a long weekend getaway exploring the Pacific coast. I was beyond blown away to learn how much there is to do within an hour of town! So keep reading to hear about how to spend the perfect long weekend on Oregon’s Adventure Coast!
Waterfall Watching
Tucked at the end of a stunning scenic drive along the Coos River and up into a gorgeous and serene coastal rainforest valley, lies Golden and Silver Falls Natural Area. I’ve spent what feels like a lifetime chasing waterfalls from Yosemite to Havasu, and beyond, and these two hidden waterfalls absolutely do not disappoint (especially if it rained ahead of your visit)! Stretch your legs and make sure to wander through the lush canyons to Golden and Silver Falls. They’re both over 100 feet tall, with crystal clear water cascading over moss-covered boulders. Just don’t forget to stop and feel the mist floating off the falls!
Coastal State Park Hopping
Coos Bay, North Bend, and Charleston are ideally situated along the most picture-perfect, rugged, and stunning stretch of Oregon coast you could dream up. The Cape Arago Highway runs for 6 miles west of Charleston and passes through not one, not two, but three of Oregon’s most beautiful state parks.
First comes Sunset Bay State Park, where you absolutely need to watch a sunset at low-tide. Walk the soft sand as the ocean empties the Bay and the sun slides below the horizon, and I promise you’ll feel as peaceful as can be.
Further south comes Shore Acres State Park, and the iconic rugged Pacific coast that you either know and love, or definitely need to explore! Walk the Oregon Coast trail here along the jagged and rocky cliffs that hide some of the most stunning hidden beaches that I’ve ever laid eyes on. Believe me when I say that Simpson Beach has to be one of the can’t miss spots in all of Oregon!
At the end of the Cape Arago Highway, you’ll find the namesake Cape Arago State Park. If you hiked the Oregon Coast trail from Sunset Bay (or just took the scenic drive here), you’re rewarded with sweeping views over Simpson Reef to the North, plus sheer cliffs that drop into the ocean to the south. You might even get lucky enough to see the resident Seals or Sea Lions! Plus, if you wander down one of the many trails to the ocean at low tide, you’ll find some of the most pristine tide pools imaginable that are teeming with life like octopus, crabs, fish, seastars, and so much more!
Downtown, Down Time
One of my hands-down favorite parts of exploring any new area is wandering around town, pretending I live there, and trying the best local coffee shops, restaurants, and bars available. I’ll be honest, it can be hard to get a perfect latte or a great meal in a lot of adventure destinations, but not in Oregon’s Adventure Coast. Check out Black Anchor for your coffee cravings, SharkBite’s Café for some of the incredible seafood Oregon is known for, and 7 Devils Brewery for a local libation.
Forest Bathing
Let’s be honest, life moves fast (and sometimes even too fast). There’s so much to do on Oregon’s Adventure Coast that it’s easy to get swept up running from one place to another. But one of our absolute favorite parts of the trip was the quiet moments of mindfulness spent staring out over the ocean cliffs, centering ourselves in the coastal rainforest, and watching water flow from the river to the sea. There’s something so deeply restorative, peaceful, and serotonin-inducing about spending mindful time outside, and there is no better place to reap the mental and physical benefits of forest bathing than Oregon’s Adventure Coast!
Our whole trip lasted 4 days, and it genuinely flew by in the best way possible. Plus, there were so many things we didn’t have time to fit in, like exploring the untamed sand dunes on foot or sandboard, whale watching, or kayaking in the estuary that runs through town! Luckily, with nonstop flights from Denver to North Bend, we won’t have to wait too long to come back and keep the adventure going!
About the Author
We’re Ruby and Caleb, and we are full-time adventure travelers and (semi) professional road-trippers! We’ve made it our mission in life to explore as much of the US and the world as possible, so we can share all the best hidden gems, underrated destinations, and can’t miss adventures with you! Follow our adventure on Instagram or Facebook !
