21 Best Things to do in Gold Beach Oregon
SEARCHING FOR THINGS TO DO IN GOLD BEACH OREGON?
You’ve landed on the right page! We’ve spent months traveling the Oregon Coast and can confirm that Gold Beach Oregon, is a beautiful coastal town. It’s the perfect destination for those looking for an outdoor adventure.
You can go hiking, spend time at the beach, and marvel at the majestic Rogue River. It is a really pretty area of the Southern Oregon Coast and is well worth a visit because there are so many fun things to do in Gold Beach Oregon.
Table of Contents
Things to Do in Gold Beach Oregon
Day Trips from Gold Beach Oregon
Things to Do in Gold Beach – Shopping
When to Travel to Gold Beach Oregon
Restaurants in Gold Beach Oregon
Where Should I Stay in Gold Beach, Oregon
Things to Do in Gold Beach Oregon
1. Visitor Center and Beach
If you need information about the hiking trails and Gold Beach attractions, the Visitor Center has a lot of great information to get you started. It is pretty small but has some good information.
The Visitor Center is also a place to park to head down to the beach. There is a short, paved path to the beautiful Gold Beach coastline. We had a great time playing at the beach here and this was one of our favorite things to do in Gold Beach Oregon.
2. Shipwreck of the Mary D Hume
The Mary D Hume was a steamer built in Gold Beach in 1881. The boat was used to transport goods between Oregon and Northern California. In 1985 the boat sank in the Rogue River and has stayed there since. It is easily visible from the shoreline and a fun stop.
You can easily combine viewing the Mary D Hume with walking along the River Trail to the Isaac Lee Patterson Bridge.
3. Gold Beach Books
Gold Beach Books is the largest bookstore on the Oregon Coast with over 75,000 used and new books. The book collection has western, romance, biographies, adventure books as well as a variety of first editions. A really fun area to look through is their leather-bound sets of famous books.
There is a small section of art and greeting cards as well.
In the bookstore, there is also a coffee house serving coffee, tea, pastries, breakfast burritos, and light lunch food. It is easy to grab a bite to eat and get lost in the bookshelves.
4. Prehistoric Gardens
Prehistoric Gardens is home to 23 life-size dinosaurs. To see the dinosaurs, you will wander through the Oregon Coast’s leafy rainforest. Along the path, there are really interesting informational signs about the dinosaurs and foliage in the area. If you are visiting the area with kids, this is one of the best Gold Beach attractions.
It takes about 20-30 minutes to walk through the gardens. Kids love running around the gardens so if you are visiting with kids, you should plan on visiting for a bit longer.
Prehistoric Gardens is about 20 minutes north of Gold Beach.
5. Otter Point State Recreation Area
Otter Point State Recreation Site is home to beautiful walking and hiking trails, bluffs with beautiful ocean views, and sandstone rock formations. A short trail from the parking area will take you down to Agate Beach. Beautiful driftwood lines the beach and there are really nice views of the coastline and sea stacks. This is one of our favorite things to do in Gold Beach Oregon.
There is another trail from the south end of the parking lot that leads out to the bluff and the Oregon Coast Trail. The other beach in the recreation area is Bailey Beach which is accessible via the Oregon Coast Trail.
The bluff is made of sandstone so keep a good distance from the edge as it can crumble away.
6. Pistol River State Scenic Viewpoint
This is a beautiful part of the coast near Gold Beach Oregon. Here you can see the Pistol River flowing into the ocean as well as the beautiful coast. There are sea stacks dotted along the coast and beautiful beaches. It is a great place to take pictures of the coast, go fishing and play at the beach.
If you are looking for a place to let kids play, check out the area where the river meets the ocean. The water is calmer here and there is lots of soft sand to enjoy. It can be windy here.
7. Rogue River Trail
The Rogue River Trail is one of the best historic trails in the area. It was originally constructed to help mules supply miners in the Rogue River canyon. The trail is about 40 miles long and has some of the best views Oregon has to offer.
The trail will take you through steep canyons and beautiful waterfalls. Hiking the entire trail takes about five days but you can also head out for a day hike by treating the trail as an in and out trail.
The Rogue River Trail starts at Grave Creek which is about 30 miles northwest of Grants Pass. If you are starting at the western trailhead, it starts at Big Bend, near Foster Bar.
No permits are needed for the Rogue River Trail and leashed dogs are able to use the trail.
8. River Walk Trail
There is a short, paved trail going through part of the Gold Beach area. It will take you by the Isaac Lee Patterson Bridge and the Mary D. Hume. It is an easy stroll through Gold Beach Oregon that will take you by the river and harbor. We even saw a harbor seal while we were exploring the trail.
9. Kissing Rock
As you are driving into Gold Beach from the south, there is a large rock formation known as Kissing Rock. It is known as Kissing Rock because the local story says that local lovers would meet here.
This is a fun area of the beach to explore and enjoy views of the rock. This is a quick and fun stop as you are headed into Gold Beach Oregon. Exploring Kissing Rock and the nearby beach was one of my kids’ favorite Gold Beach attractions.
10. Jet Boat Tours
One popular activity in Gold Beach is taking jet boat tours up the Rogue River. The best time to take the tours is from May to October. Tours are either 64, 80, or 104 miles round-trip.
Along the way, you will have the opportunity to see black bears, river otters, eagles, and mountain lions. There are also miles of beautiful whitewater and scenery throughout the tour. Your boat will navigate through rapids and swift currents in the river.
The two jet boat companies in Gold Beach are Jerry’s Rogue Jets and Mail Boat Hydro-Jets. The Mail Boat Hydro-Jet will take you up the historic 1895 “Mail Route.” This is one of the last mail boats in the country that delivers mail daily.
11. Sisters Rock State Park
Sisters Rock State Park is about 20 minutes north of Gold Beach Oregon. The state park is made of three isolated peaks along the Pacific Coast. Two of the peaks are connected to the mainland with the third just offshore. The park is full of grey sandy beaches and beautiful views.
Sisters Rock Hike
There is a nice hike that takes you throughout the park. It starts at the Sisters Rock South Trailhead and takes you out to the Sea Cave. It is an out-and-back hike that is about 1.6 miles long. The trail is an easy and family-friendly hike.
Along the hike, you will walk through the meadows and down to the beach to see the sea caves. There are three different sea caves. The third of the sea cave only shoots water out at high tide. We really enjoyed exploring this section of the Oregon Coast.
12. Isaac Lee Patterson Bridge
The Isaac Lee Patterson Bridge runs across the scenic Rogue River in downtown Gold Beach. The bridge is almost 2,000 feet tall and has a number of beautiful, ribbed deck arches. It is a very pretty bridge to admire as you are exploring Gold Beach Oregon.
It is fun to drive or walk out along the bridge as well as admiring it from the harbor.
13. Cape Sebastian State Scenic Corridor
The Cape Sebastian State Scenic Corridor is a great place to head for beautiful views of the coast. The parking areas are about 200 feet above sea level giving you a birds-eye perspective of the ocean. We loved the views here and exploring the corridor.
Our favorite view was from the south parking area. On a clear day, you can see 43 miles north, up through Humbug Mountain. To the south, you can see down into Crescent City and the Point St. George Lighthouse.
14. Cape Sebastian Trail
- Length: 2.7 miles
- Elevation Gain: 718 feet
- Route Type: Out & Back
- Difficulty: Moderate
This is a beautiful trail that takes you through the heart of the Cape Sebastian Scenic Corridor. There is a nice beach along the trail where sometimes the sea lions like to hang out. It is fun to watch the waves crash along the rocks.
Keep an eye out for the poison oak as well as the tree roots in the trail. The hike out is the hardest part of the hike because it is uphill.
15. Nesika Beach
Nesika Beach is about five miles north of Gold Beach. It is a beautiful beach with whale watching, sunbathing, and walking. If you are looking to escape some of the crowds at the beach, Nesika Beach is a good place to try. The beaches here are very clean with lots of room to have some space for yourself.
The sand meets up with the parking lot for easy access to the beach. There are also some fun rock features right off the beach.
16. Fat Biking the Banana Belt Loop
The Banana Belt Loop is about a 7-mile one-way or 14-mile round trip bike loop that runs up and down the Oregon Coast. It starts just south of the Pistol River State Scenic Viewpoint. The trail runs across the beach up through the Cape Sebastian State Park.
One side of the loop goes up the coast. If you choose to bike back, the trail follows the Oregon Coast Highway.
The stretch of beach along the trail features beautiful sea caves, streams to cross, picturesque shorelines and lots of things to see at low tide. There will be more hard and wet sand to ride on during the lower tides. The other outdoor factor to consider is the wind. The Oregon Coast is pretty windy with stronger winds in the afternoon.
If you are able to, plan to visit Meyers Creek at low tide. There are lots of different rocks and tide pools to explore.
17. Geisel Monument State Heritage Site
The Geisel Monument State Heritage Site is a gravesite of the Geisel family along with a picnic area and walking trail. There is exhibit information in the small park. It is a quick and easy stop off Highway 101. There is a large grassy area to let your kids play and explore.
Map of Things to Do in Gold Beach Oregon
How to Use This Map: Click on the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest.
If you click the star next to the title of the map, this will be added to your Google Maps account. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps. Then click on the menu button, go to “Your Place” and click on Maps. You will see this map added to your list.
Things to do in Gold Beach Oregon – Day Trips
If you are visiting Gold Beach and want to do more exploring up and down the coast, there are lots of beautiful corridors and cities a short drive from Gold Beach. We love this stretch of the Oregon Coast! It is so beautiful and well worth a drive up and down Highway 101.
Here are our favorite day trips from Gold Beach –
18. Things to do in Brookings, Oregon
Brookings, Oregon is a charming seaside town about 30 minutes south of Gold Beach. Brookings has some of the nicest weather on the Oregon Coast and is full of beautiful beaches, seaside cliffs, sand dunes, and a nice downtown area.
Here are some of our favorite things to do in Brookings:
- Stroll through the Port of Brookings and bring a crab pot for some fishing
- Hike out to Chetco Point Park
- Bring your sand toys and beach chairs for some time at Mill Beach
- Explore Azalea Park and playground
From Brookings, you can also make the short drive into California to explore the things to do in Crescent City and see the redwoods in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.
19. Things to do in Bandon, Oregon
If you are looking to explore the coast north of Gold Beach, a day trip to Bandon, Oregon is a great option. It is about an hour north of Gold Beach. Bandon is known for its beautiful sea stack and rock formations and nice beaches.
One of the most popular places to visit in Bandon is the Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint. It is also a great place to go bird watching, spend time at the beach, go fishing, and horseback riding.
20. Samuel H Boardman Scenic Corridor
A beautiful and area of the Oregon Coast where there is a ton to do and is full of scenic views is the Samuel H Boardman Scenic Corridor. The corridor is about 20 minutes south of Gold Beach. You can easily spend the day driving the Samuel Boardman Scenic Corridor, making stops at different viewpoints, hikes, and beaches.
Here are some of our favorite beaches and must-see viewpoints:
- Spruce Island Viewpoint
- Secret Beach
- Natural Bridges
- Whaleshead Beach
- House Rock Viewpoint
21. Harris Beach State Park
Harris Beach State Park is about 30 minutes south of Gold Beach near Brookings. The park runs along Highway 101 and has absolutely stunning beaches.
There are also lots of rocks along the shoreline, making it a really great place for tide pooling. Visiting at low tide will give you a great opportunity to see the sea life in the tidepools.
Things to Do in Gold Beach Oregon – Shopping
There is not a lot of shopping in Gold Beach, Oregon but there are quite a few fun and quirky local shops specializing in fresh seafood, galleries, gifts, and books. Walking the charming downtown area is one of the great things to do in Gold Beach Oregon. Here are some of the shops to visit in town –
- Gold Beach Books
- Jerry’s Rogue River Gift Shop
- Rogue River Myrtlewood
- Christmas Shoppe
- Rogue Resale
What is Gold Beach Oregon known for?
Gold Beach is a perfect coastal destination if you are looking for long beaches that are not crowded. There are beautiful headlands and sea stacks along the ocean as well as lots of opportunities for tide-pooling, crabbing, and clamming. There is great hiking in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
What is in Gold Beach Oregon?
There are so many different things to do in Gold Beach Oregon. It is nestled between the Pacific Ocean, the Rogue River, and the picturesque Siskiyou Mountains. This leads to lots of opportunities for spending time at the beach, jetboating up the river, rafting and hiking. There is a small downtown area with shopping, museums, and dining.
When to Travel to Gold Beach Oregon
The summer months through mid-October are the best time to visit Gold Beach. Summer temperatures are in the mid-to-upper-60s. Temperatures in the winter months dip slightly into the 50s but you will see more wind and rain.
While the summer months are not overly busy, consider visiting in September or October to avoid the crowds that are there. We visited Gold Beach in mid-August and did not have any problem with overcrowding.
Restaurants in Gold Beach, Oregon
If you are a fan of seafood Gold Beach is a great place to try some of the local seafood like Chinook salmon, halibut, and crab. There are restaurants with outdoor dining near the river and ocean. Here are some of the most recommended restaurants in Gold Beach.
- Barnacle Bistro: A small restaurant serving up homey seafood like coconut lime mussels
- Arch Rock Brewing: A small production style microbrewery with tastings available however no place to sit down
- The Rod N Reel Restaurant and Bar: Offers a large range of local seafood as well as burgers with live music
- Spinners: A nicer restaurant in town serving steaks, local seafood and pasta dishes
- Woggy’s Fish and Chips: Highly recommend the fish and chips that comes in large portions
Gold Beach, Oregon Weather
The summer months are the best time to visit Gold Beach Oregon if you’re looking for favorable weather. The summers are dry and have comfortable temperatures while the winters are cold, rainy, and windy. There are about 190 sunny days in Gold Beach per year.
The highs during the summer average about 60F – 70F with lows around 50F. The winter months have a high of around 55F with lows around 40F.
Even if you are visiting during the summer months, you will want to bring long pants and a jacket. The breeze coming off of the ocean is cold!
Where Should I Stay in Gold Beach, Oregon?
When it comes to finding a place to stay in Gold Beach, there are plenty of options. Whether you’re looking for a hotel or camping accommodations, you shouldn’t have a problem finding a place to meet your budget and what you are looking for.
Gold Beach Camping
In Gold Beach, there are lots of RV parks and well as dispersed campsites on the Oregon Coast.
When we had our motorhome in Gold Beach, we parked along the road near the Pistol River State Scenic Viewpoint. There are not any services here so be prepared for that and it is just on the side of the road. However, the views can’t be beaten and will give you quick access to the beach.
Gold Beach RV Parks
If you are looking for an RV park with services like hookups and other amenities there are quite a few RV parks right in town. If you are going to be there for at least a few nights. We recommend looking into Turtle Rock RV Park.
Turtle Rock RV Park is part of the Passport America Program. This is a camping membership that gives you 50% off your nightly stays. By staying just a few nights, your membership is paid for and any future nightly rates have a HUGE discount! There are participating campgrounds throughout the United States.
Gold Beach, Oregon Hotels
There are quite a few hotels in Gold Beach. A number of hotels are on the beach or a short walk away. Here are some of the recommended hotels in the area:
SureStay Plus Hotel: This hotel is a five-minute walk from South Beach Park and is pet-friendly! There is also a private beach for guests to use.
- Free Wi-Fi access and continental breakfast
- On-site fitness center and fire pits
Check Prices for SureStay Plus Hotel Here!
Azalea Lodge: This is a quaint and small lodge about a 10-minute walk from the beach. The rooms are very clean and have a mini-fridge and freezer. It is in the heart of downtown close to all of the fun things to do in Gold Beach, Oregon.
- Cozy and comfortable rooms
- Offer a family suite with three queen beds
Check Prices for Azalea Lodge Here!
Have you visited this part of the Oregon Coast? What are your favorite things to do there? Let us know in the comments below!
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