Guest Post: A Colorado Couple Spends 3-Days on Oregon’s Adventure Coast

Adventure travelers eager to explore Oregon’s rugged coastlines, undeveloped beaches , and local communities might be interested to know that Oregon’s Adventure Coast: Coos Bay, North Bend, Charleston is home to the only commercial airport on the Oregon Coast, making it a gateway to some of the Pacific Northwest’s top outdoor experiences.

In addition to regular flights between San Francisco (SFO) and Southwest Oregon Regional Airport (OTH) in North Bend, United Airlines offers seasonal daily nonstop flights between Denver International Airport (DEN) and North Bend through October 24, 2026, meaning travelers can go from airplane seat to adventure in minutes.

Earlier this summer, we had the pleasure of hosting adventure bloggers Sarah and Myles Anderson from Colorado, of adventuringeyes.com , who took that flight to be here. Here’s what they had to say.

Guest Post: An Adventurer’s 3 Day Itinerary on Oregon’s Adventure Coast by Sarah and Myles Anderson

Did you know that you can fly directly into Oregon’s Adventure Coast from two of the largest airline hubs in the US? United’s nonstop daily seasonal flight from Denver International Airport (DEN) to Southwest Oregon Regional Airport (OTH) allowed us to easily stop in for 3 full days of Adventure. Visit cooscountyairportdistrict.com/airlines to find the seasonal flight schedule.

During your adventures in the area, you’ll be spending time at three Oregon State Parks which require day use permits. If you don’t have an annual pass that can be displayed on your dash while parked, be sure to collect a 1-day permit on site which is good for all parks on that day. Also keep in mind that cell service is limited in many of the natural areas you’ll visit.

Day 1

The best part of flying into a regional airport is how quickly you’ll go from sitting on the plane to sitting in your rental car. With early afternoon arrivals, you’ll have most of the day to explore!

Tide Pooling at Sunset Bay

On your way to Sunset Bay State Park, pick up a snack at Chuck’s Seafood . Have you ever tried smoked mussels? You can find the current year’s tide table on the Oregon State Park Website . You might need to adjust your itinerary based on that, but it’s totally worth it! The tide pools are on the edges of Sunset Bay which is an incredible sunset spot. It’s also a great place to eat your snack while you sit on the beach and watch the waves crash on the rocks further out. We saw so many crabs, including some tiny ones, and tons of colorful sea Anemones.

Explore Shore Acres Botanical Garden

Shore Acres State Park is a short drive down the road from Sunset Bay State Park and offers epic views of massive waves crashing into the coastal cliffs. Would you have guessed that they also have an incredible botanical garden with plants from around the world?

You’ll want to bring your camera, because there are amazing photo opportunities in every direction. The rhododendrons, which can be found all around the coast, were in full bloom during our visit in May and made for great backdrops in our photos.

Dinner at the Plank House

The Ko-Kwel Casino Resort on Coos Bay has a great restaurant called the Plank House with glass windows facing the bay. This is a great place to have dinner while watching the colors of the sunset along the bay and clouds in the sky. Afterward, head upstairs to the Ko-Kwel Spirits Tasting Room for a relaxing drink with views overlooking the bay.

Day 2

You’ll want to grab some coffee or tea and some breakfast before setting out for the day. There are quite a few great cafes in the area, but here are a few that we really enjoyed:

● Seacoast Gardens’ Persephone Bakery in Charleston

● So it Goes Coffeehouse in Coos Bay

● Black Anchor Coffee House in North Bend

Bring your camera and some binoculars if you have them for the rest of your day’s adventures!

Hike from Sunset Bay to Cape Arago

The hike from Sunset Bay State Park to Cape Arago State Park is a moderate ~6.5-mile out-and-back hike that takes 3-5 hours and runs along the famous Oregon Coast Trail (OCT). This route has had partial closures for trail restoration in the past, but check the official Oregon State Parks website for advisories.

There is a medium-sized parking lot at the end of Sunset Bay where you can leave your car. As you venture along the trail, you’ll come across birds, slugs, light rays shooting through the trees, hidden bays, and seals and sea lions. From the start of the hike, you’ll have a chance to see Sunset Bay from atop the cliffs. A bit further down, you’ll want to keep an eye out for a short offshoot to the right for the Lighthouse Viewpoint.

Eventually you’ll come upon Shore Acres State Park where you can take a break in the Observation Building or go for another walk around the Botanical Garden. Afterward, head down to Simpson Beach for a hidden beach vibe. About halfway between Simpson Beach and Simpson Reef Overlook is an outcropping called The Two Guardians, which is an absolutely incredible alternative spot to watch the sunset. Then, go check out the seals and sea lions at Simpson Reef Overlook.

Finally, follow the trail to Cape Arago State Park and explore the North and South Coves. The trail down to the North Cove is closed March 1- June 30 to protect the seal pups, but there is a short trail that extends along the cliffs near the trail where you can look down on the seals and sea lions lying on the rocks.

Don’t forget to get your day pass! You’ll need one for every day that you visit the State Parks.

Dinner at Miller’s at the Cove

Nobody here is going to judge you for ordering two Dungeness crab cocktails. This is a great spot to grab some delicious seafood after your hike as it’s only a few minutes from the State Parks in Charleston. Charleston is a small fishing community with a few shops to pick up some souvenirs.

Sunset at Sunset Bay State Park

If there’s one place you have to watch the sunset during your trip, it’s at the place that’s named after it! You’ll surely appreciate this never-ending sunset while you watch the waves crash into the rocks and cliffs. You might even see some surfers!

Day 3

You’ll be doing a bit more driving today, but how else will you see two epic waterfalls and play on the sand dunes?

Hike to Golden & Silver Falls

The Golden and Silver Falls hike is located a bit more inland, about an hour drive from Coos Bay but is totally worth it! The hike is 1.5-2 miles and takes 1-2 hours to complete. The best route is to first hike up to Silver Falls, and then back to Golden Falls.

At what appears to be the end of Golden Falls, you’ll find a rigorous extension of the trail with ropes to get closer to the falls. If you feel comfortable doing so, you won’t regret it. The falls from below and the surrounding rocks, greenery, and moss are beautiful.

Sandboard on the Dunes

You’ll want to keep an eye on the weather forecast during your trip, since you definitely want to do this activity when the sand is dry, so you may need to shift it around. You can rent a sand board or sled from Bahama Boards at a great rate. They’ll give you some wax to use on the bottom of the board before each run.

One of the best spots to sandboard is the Hall & Schuttpelz Lakes Day Use Area , which is a 15 minute drive from Coos Bay. At the parking area, you’ll see Hall Lake with a huge dune sitting behind it. Keep left of the lake on a trail which will take you onto the dunes where you can start your adventure!

Dinner at 7 Devils Waterfront Alehouse

Return your sandboard and end the day with brews and burgers at 7 Devils Waterfront Alehouse ! If you have time, you won’t regret enjoying another Oregon Coast sunset at Sunset Bay. If you’re staying at Bay Point Landing (highly recommend), then just step out onto your cabin patio and enjoy the view.

About Adventuringeyes.com
Sarah and Myles Anderson are a Colorado-based couple who run Adventuring Eyes, a blog about adventure travel. Based in Denver, they focus on off-the-beaten-path guides, sharing hikes, national park itineraries, and road trip content on their blog, Instagram (@adventuringeyes ), and YouTube channel. Visitadventuringeyes.com to read more.

About Southwest Oregon Regional Airport (OTH)
Southwest Oregon Regional Airport (OTH) in North Bend is the only commercial airport on the Oregon Coast offering passenger service. Owned and operated by the Coos County Airport District, OTH provides convenient access to Oregon’s Adventure Coast and serves as a gateway to the scenic and recreational riches of the southern coast. For more information, visitwww.flyoth.com .