1. Whaleshead Beach

    1. Whaleshead Beach

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    Brookings, OR

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    Whaleshead Beach

    4.6 (15 reviews)

    Whaleshead Beach Photos

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    Dave O.

    I took a hard left after seeing the sign to this secluded beach along Oregon's beautiful coast line, my QX80 handled the steep grades of loose gravel just fine after finding the far left side of the road offered a much smoother ride as I whipped it around the switch backs to the tiny parking lot, almost proud of my off-road excursion only to find a few nimble cars and motorcycles had taken the same route without issue - I guess the sign suggesting four wheeled drive vehicles beyond a certain point is somewhat overstated - but I did enjoy the ride down even though my embellishment was only in my head. Once you park it's a fairly short hike down a well marked path, you may be tempted to take in all the scenery from the small park at the top but believe me the awesomeness will meet you at the waters edge. There's a small creek dividing the open area at the bottom of the trail it's a cake walk to cross it and if you've come this far you have to find a way to cross it, its about thirty feet wide but on this day it was merely a few inches deep, of course if there's a flash flood warning when you visit then your story may differ from mine. The sand is mostly silty in and around the creek but loosens up as your approach the water. As you stand amongst the giant rocks the waves atomizes the cool ocean water as it crashes into the rocks gently misting you with its salty spray, today the weather was quite warm so it was a welcoming anointment. The drift wood and rugged terrain is prehistoric and it's easy to imagine the Jurassic world when you stand so close to creation. The relentlessness of the ocean is almost deafening as the waves march ashore but yet it's a tranquil paradise filled with life forms that dance in the foam and tidal pools. If you can't find your sanity here all may be lost...

    View from parking lot
    Lacey T.

    Thick tangles of equisetum, fragrant wild dill and blackberries, mussel shells, driftwood, aquamarine water, and spots of nearly black sand. Littered with looming dark rocks, edged by emerald pines and wild greenery, here is a scene epitomizing the glory of Oregon's beaches. Whaleshead is exceptionally beautiful. A visit requires driving over rough, uneven gravel at a strong decline, but the reward is great. There were hardly any others present the morning I stopped by, and this ended up being my favorite beach on a road trip along Northern California and nearly the entirety of Oregon's coast. There are picnic tables, a restroom, and no fee required.

    Through the forest
    Andrea U.

    Very nice overlook with plenty of parking. Yes, the rock didn't look like a whalehead below. Very scenic and beautiful

    Emily L.

    Such a beautiful beach - you can't beat those gigantic sea stacks against the blue sky's and brilliant ocean. It's like waking amongst ancient giants. I'd recommend coming here to watch the sunset because it's stunning. The sun starts sinking behind some of the rock and it really looks like a million bucks. The kids liked running around and climbing on the Little Rock's upon the shore. The beach closest to the parking lot was fairly wet and almost mud like. Not my favorite with the kiddos, but it looked like further down you get more smooth sandy beaches. Some great things about this beach: - it's easily accessible (you do have to drive down a fairly uneven gravel road however) - Bathroom - picnic tables - gorgeous views

    Whaleshead Beach. Sunset September 2012. Breeauna's Photography
    Breeauna G.

    Beautiful beach!!! You can walk down a trail to it, or you can drive to it. Great picnic area to enjoy with your friends and/or family. Gorgeous and picturesque. Don't forget your camera, especially if there is a summary set The Whaleshead Resort is a great place to stay as well. Each unit is individually owned. You can go online and view the unit before reserving which is nice. I have stayed there twice and love it!

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    7 years ago

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    19 days ago

    I wanted to sit at a beach awhile and so we stopped here to spend some time. The breeze was a bit much but it was a beautiful little beach.

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    Ask the Community - Whaleshead Beach

    Review Highlights - Whaleshead Beach

    This is one of my favourite "hidden" beaches along the Oregon coast.

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    Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park - My hike

    Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

    4.8(186 reviews)
    25.9 mi

    It's one heck of a drive to get here, but it's so worth it…read more My husband has always wanted to go see the redwoods so I'm glad we were able to cross it off the list finally. It's magical to get to drive through and walkthrough the redwoods as it rained during our time here. I wish there was more I can say, but you're just going to have to plan a trip here and see it for yourself. We would happily plan a second trip back here.

    I mean... wow. I went hiking here last weekend, and it honestly took my breath away…read more As a SoCal girl now living in NorCal, I've made it my mission to explore as much as I can around this beautiful state, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods completely stole my heart. These trees are absolutely massive, walking among them feels like stepping into another world. The light, the air, the silence... everything feels calm, ancient, and sacred. The trails are super well maintained, the weather was perfect, and there was plenty of parking even though it was busy. The roads and trails are a bit narrow, but honestly, that just adds to the charm. The river that runs through the park is crystal-clear and peaceful a perfect little spot to stop and take it all in. Standing next to those giant redwoods makes you realize how tiny you are in the best possible way. It's humbling and magical at the same time If you're driving from Eureka toward Crescent City, the entire drive is breathtaking, every curve along the coast looks like a postcard. You'll even pass through Elk Valley, and oh my god, there are actual elks just hanging out by the side of the road! They're so beautiful and so used to seeing people; it felt like nature welcoming you in. If you love hiking, nature, or just want to feel grounded and amazed, this place is a must. California, you really outdid yourself with this one.

    Photos
    Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
    Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park - Salmon

    Salmon

    Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

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    Trees of Mystery - Cute item in the gift shop

    Trees of Mystery

    4.4(424 reviews)
    41.1 mi

    Cool park with lots of strangely grown redwood trees. If you're traveling with a furry friend, they…read moredo allow dogs on everything except for the Redwood Canopy Trail, which contains a lot of suspension bridges. Admission is a bit steep, at $30 for adults and $25 for seniors. No extra fees for dogs. The trails contained plenty of dog poop bags, trash cans, and restrooms. It is quite well maintained. The trees are massive and nice to look at the vast variety. The Redwood Canopy Trail was cool to explore and is pretty short. There is also a gondola that takes you to an observation deck, though you may not be able to see anything if it is foggy. There are a couple of audio tapes that explain stories behind some of the figures that were there. Last but not least, the gift shop at the very end had lots of unique goodies to commemorate your time here.

    The sixth stop (09:43) during our drive up the 101 through the redwood forests to get to Crescent…read moreCity, the Trees of Mystery is a tourist stop that has a 49 foot high Paul Bunyon and his 35 foot high blue pet ox, Babe. The parking lot is large, with space for plenty of cars and tour buses. There are multiple buildings on the property, with a very large gift shop (ended up buying some souvenirs here, including salt and pepper shakers made from redwood), a shop that sells homemade fudge, and a private shop that sells more high end artistic crafts and artifacts. The restrooms are in a separate building to the side. Today wasn't the right time to take the gondola ride (1,500 foot high over the forest floor) and trail hike ($30 per adult), so will need to try it some other time when we have more time and ability to hike.

    Photos
    Trees of Mystery - 05.25.25 Ted's Ridge via the Sky Trail at the Trees of Mystery

    05.25.25 Ted's Ridge via the Sky Trail at the Trees of Mystery

    Trees of Mystery - 05.25.25 it's like walking on treetops

    05.25.25 it's like walking on treetops

    Trees of Mystery - Native playing a flute with my flute player.

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    Native playing a flute with my flute player.

    Chetco Point

    Chetco Point

    5.0(5 reviews)
    7.7 mi

    This beautiful beach in Brookings can be found by using a beach access trail from the water…read moretreatment facility parking area (indicated by a public access sign as you turn into the parking area). I wouldn't call this a hike as it can't be longer than a mile to get down to the beach, and most of it is paved. It is only accessible up until a certain point, then turns into gravel, eventually sea-smoothed stones, bits of logs, and sand. Our party of six adults and two children were looking for a beach to explore along the Brookings coast, and this ended up being a great choice. There are some extremely cool points of interest along the way, like panoramic views of the point and surrounding coastline, and a lookout trail that splits off and carries one up a steep cliff. None of the people in our beach going party opted for this, but it did look like a fun photo op. I wasn't sure if my dang back would allow for me to get up there. Maybe if I ever return. It was instead onward to the beach to set up chairs, let the kids make sand castles, and wander about looking for shells and tide pools, of which there were many! Hmm I'm just now remembering I left the teeny sand dollar I found at the airbnb. Aww. Our day was bright and sunny, which a friend local to the area told me is rare. Personally I was looking forward to an overcast chilly Oregon coast day, but I can't complain about sun and a gentle, cool breeze compared to the over 100 degree weather my friends and I left behind in California to come up here a couple weeks ago in September 2022. The water was not too cold to swim in, or at least wade in, which is what I opted to do. Salt water healing, yes please. This is a great beach for watching wildlife and observing native plants. One of the kids found the chonkiest bull kelp I have ever seen in my life, which needed three other people (okay maybe not needed but it made a cute picture) to help carry it across the beach. I would definitely come here again and try that steeper lookout point, should my mobility improve. Otherwise there is always the sweet beach access trail. Plenty of parking can be found, and though we saw bathrooms on our way down to the beach when my friend tried their door handles they turned out to be locked.

    So beautiful. Not far from the parking lot, if you brave the smell you'll be happier than you…read moreanticipate out there

    Photos
    Chetco Point
    Chetco Point
    Chetco Point

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    Cape Sebastian State Park - Rock formation atop Cape Sebastian

    Cape Sebastian State Park

    5.0(7 reviews)
    13.6 mi

    Stunning, breathtaking ocean and forest views. Well worth a stop! There is a 2.7 mile hiking trail…read moredown to the beach from this overlook. We didn't have time to hike the whole thing today (it is 5.4 miles round trip), but we hiked out on this trail for about 20 minutes and then hiked about 20 minutes back, and we both thought it was well worth the time to do that. We saw wild irises along the trail, many beautiful trees of all shapes and sizes, more incredible ocean vistas, and a monarch butterfly! I personally quite love hiking trails that have arch-like overhangs of trees over parts of the trail. Happily, the beginning jaunt of this trail had several such arches of greenery. It is magical to be enclosed by trees on both sides of me *and* also overhead! Some stretches of this trail have somewhat steep elevation gain. Other sections of the trail were very muddy when we hiked this trail today, to the extent that our shoes could've sunk several inches in to mud if we weren't watching where we stepped. There was no one there except for us today! It is a week day morning, so this park may be far more crowded on the week-ends. But it was so peaceful to enjoy this place all to ourselves! Highly, highly recommended. I will post photos to this review in a week or two!

    Loved this hike and would do it again this trip if I had time. We went at a fast pace and it was…read moredoable for all ages 12 to 69. I was a little worried about the rope climb at the bottom to the beach but it was a breeze (I'm 67). The tide was out so we spent a lot of time on the rocks, looking at the tide pools, walking the beach and letting the 3 dogs run. We went during the week in June and had the beach to ourselves. The day was super windy but the trail and beach were blocked from most of it. The views from the trail are spectacular and so many wildflowers and mushrooms to see. Not a huge parking area so I could see where it might be tight on the weekends. Several of us were in flip flops but I would wear my hiking shoes if I was to go back.

    Photos
    Cape Sebastian State Park - Rope access to the beach

    Rope access to the beach

    Cape Sebastian State Park - Wild Iris! One of many Wild Irises spotted along the Cape Sebastian State Park Hiking Trail!

    Wild Iris! One of many Wild Irises spotted along the Cape Sebastian State Park Hiking Trail!

    Cape Sebastian State Park - The Pacific Ocean View from Cape Sebastian State Park

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    The Pacific Ocean View from Cape Sebastian State Park

    Whaleshead Beach - beaches - Updated July 2026

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