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13 Awesome Things to Do in Gold Beach, Oregon

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If you want to visit the coast of Oregon, then you may be thinking: is Gold Beach a decent travel destination?

Gold Beach is great for those who love the outdoors and should definitely be considered as a fun trip destination. The area in and around Gold Beach is filled with parks for the outdoor enthusiast, as well as museums for when you would like a break from the stunning scenery.

13 Awesome Things To Do in Gold Beach, OregonHere is a list of 13 awesome things to do in Gold Beach:

  1. Prehistoric Gardens
  2. Oregon Vortex
  3. Sea Lion Cave
  4. Kissing Rock
  5. The Mary D. Hume
  6. Curry Historical Museum
  7. Geisel Monument State Historical Site
  8. Pistol River State View Point
  9. Harris Beach State Park
  10. Otter Point State Park
  11. Rogue River-Siskiyu National Forest
  12. Cape Sebastian State Scenic Corridor
  13. Cape Sebastian Trail

Why You Should Visit Gold Beach, OR.

Coastal locations in the great state of Oregon have become well-received and relatively inexpensive vacation destinations. The beautiful coastal town of Gold Beach, Oregon is a great place to go to if you long to hike in green forests or walk for long periods of time on secluded beaches.

If you are attempting to locate a vacation spot with world-class salmon fishing, challenging windsurfing, and mountain hiking, then you should certainly consider Gold Beach.

13 Things to Do in Gold Beach, OR

There is a tremendous variety of activities and places to visit in and around Gold Beach, OR. The 13 listed here are all within a one-hour radius of the town.

You will not be able to walk to some of the places on this list, so it is a great idea to rent a car so you can explore some of the places on this list.

Unique Things to Do In Gold Beach, OR

Gold Beach has some interesting places to explore. There are naturally formed landmarks such as Kissing Rock as well as man-made structures created by the owners the Prehistoric Gardens and Oregon Vortex.

1. Prehistoric Gardens

An awesome, eye-opening tourist attraction on the Oregon Coast is the Prehistoric Gardens. It is a great place for kids and adults too. Go 17 miles north of Gold Beach and you will find a prehistoric garden with 23 realistically sized dinosaurs in a pleasant Oregon rainforest.

There is a guided tour that will help you understand what the Earth was like millions of years ago. This eco-friendly attraction is a family business that has been around since the '60s.

See more on the Prehistoric Garden's website.

Fees:

Adults - $12

Ages 3-12 - $8 (2 and under are free)

Seniors - $10

Opening Hours:

The gardens are open daily from 9 A.M. to 6 P. M.

2. Oregon Vortex

The Oregon Vortex includes a series of optical illusions. They help people understand changing height relative to where they stand at the various stopping points of the tour. The centerpiece of the tour is a house that lacks right angles.

The walls, floors, and ceilings are tilted in strange ways. The Oregon Vortex is an area of naturally occurring perceptual and visual phenomena.

See more on the Oregon Vortex's website.

Fees:

Ages 5 and Under: Free

Ages 6 - 11: $9.75

Ages 12 - 61: $13.50

Ages 62 and Above: $11.50

Opening Hours:

Oregon Vortex is open daily from 9 A.M. to 5 P. M.

3. Sea Lion Cave

Sea Lion Caves is a privately owned wildlife bird sanctuary and preserve that has been around since 1932. Sea Lion Caves is proud to help to protect the local marine environment and marine animals.

Sea Lion Caves is America's biggest sea cave and the home of the Steller sea lion which can be found year-round. However, sea lions are not always found in the cave. They come and go as they please since this cave is not a zoo.

See more on the Sea Lion Cave's website.

Fees:

Adults: $14.00

Seniors: $13.00

Children (ages 5 to 12): $8.00

Toddlers (4 and under): Free

Opening Hours:

Sea Lion Cave is open from 9 A.M. to 5 P. M. Monday - Friday.

4. Kissing Rock

This legendary, roadside rock formation is located next to a picturesque beach. It is framed by perennial grass and boulders. People like to take kissing pictures at this rock.

See more on the Kissing Rock's Facebook page.

Fees:

Admission is free.

Opening Hours:

Open 24/7, however, it illegal to camp on Oregon beaches at night.

Gold Beach, OR Museums

There is a wide variety of museums for you and your family to go to in Gold Beach, Oregon. There are plenty of great options especially if you like boats, animals, and history.

5. The Mary D. Hume

The Mary D. Hume was a steamer that was constructed at Gold Beach, Oregon in 1881. R. D. Hume was an early businessman and a pioneer that owned the steamer.

The Mary D. Hume was originally used for hauling goods between San Francisco and Oregon. After that, it was used as a whaler in Alaska.

The Mary D. Hume was retired in Gold Beach in 1977. In 1985, the steamer sank in the Rogue River. It has not been removed and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

See more on the Mary D. Hume Facebook page.

Fees:

Admission is free.

Opening Hours:

It is out in the open near a street, so there are no hours.

6. Curry Historical Museum

The Curry Historical Museum is small and does not have as many artifacts as most museums. However, it does cover local history in an excellent fashion.

There are highly-detailed displays about the local bridge, shipwrecks, mining, logging and more. There is also a great collection of books for sale on the local and southern coastal history.

See more on the Curry Historical Museum's website.

Fees:

Admission is free.

Opening Hours:

The museum is open from 10 A.M. - 4 P.M. Tuesday - Friday.

7. Geisel Monument State Historic Site

Geisel Monument State Historic Site is the site of a fight that happened during the Rogue Indian War of 1856. In February of 1865, the Geisel family was attacked by a band of Indians in their home.

They killed the father and both sons and took the mother into captivity. The graves of the Geisel's can be found at this historic site. There are picnic facilities at this site too.

See more on the Oregon State Park's website.

Fees:

Admission is free.

Opening Hours:

Oregon state parks are open from 9 A.M. to 5 P. M.

Gold Beach, OR Nature and Hiking

Make sure you rent a car if you do not have one so you can enjoy the outdoor activities at Gold Beach as well as right outside of Gold Beach. There are many different parks and rivers to explore.

8. Pistol River State View Point

Pistol River State Park can be found in the dunes of the southern Oregon coast. Supposedly, the river was named after a militia soldier that lost his pistol in the river during the bloody Rogue River Indian War.

A decisive battle was fought here in March of 1856. The river system and dunes make this area especially unique. During the summer and spring months, the dunes grow bigger.

See more on the Oregon State Park's website.

Fees:

Admission is free.

Opening Hours:

Oregon state parks are open from 9 A.M. to 5 P. M.

9. Harris Beach State Park

Harris Beach was named after George Scott Harris. He was a Scottish pioneer that settled the Gold Beach area in the late 1880s to raise cattle and sheep. The park includes the biggest island off the Oregon coast.

Bird Island, which is also called Goat Island, is a National Wildlife Sanctuary. It is a breeding site for rare birds such as the tufted puffin. The park offers interesting tide pools that include a wide variety of life.

See more on the Oregon State Park's website.

Fees:

Admission is free.

Opening Hours:

Oregon state parks are open from 9 A.M. to 5 P. M.

10. Otter Point State Park

This park offers awesome hiking and walking trails that overlook pleasant beaches and unique sandstone rock formations. The land was purchased and obtained between 1960 and 1976 through litigation.

The protection of the ocean frontage is prioritized at this park. It also provides public beach access as well as viewpoints.

See more on the Oregon State Park's website.

Fees:

Admission is free.

Opening Hours:

Oregon state parks are open from 9 A.M. to 5 P. M.

11. Rogue River-Siskiyu National Forest

The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest can be found in northern California and southwestern Oregon. The forest houses a wide variety of amazing rivers as well as the Rogue River. The Applegate River and Illinois River can be found in the forest and in California as well.

The Rogue River includes one of the bigger salmon runs in Oregon. The Rogue River houses the federally threatened Green Sturgeon as well as the Black Bears, which are commonly found on the shores of the river.

See more on the USDA's website.

Fees:

Admission is free.

Opening Hours:

Oregon state parks are open from 9 A.M. to 5 P. M.

12. Cape Sebastian State Scenic Corridor

This awesome cape was named in 1603 by the Spanish navigator Sebastian Vizcaino in honor of Saint Sebastian. The most eye-opening feature of this great park is the panoramic view.

Also, both of the parking lots are 200 feet above sea level. You can see up to 43 miles to the north while standing on the Humbug Mountain.

See more on the Oregon State Park's website.

Fees:

Admission is free.

Opening Hours:

Oregon state parks are open from 9 A.M. to 5 P. M.

13. Cape Sebastian Trail

Initially, this trail brings you down the forested slopes of the 700-foot high Cape Sebastian which is almost two miles away from Meyers Point. Continue hiking 3.5 miles and you will make it to the mouth of the Pistol River.

On this trail, you will travel above Cape Sebastian’s rugged rocky shoreline, and hike the beach at Hunters Cove. You will also make it to the most iconic and accessible sea stacks on the Oregon Coast.

See more on the Oregon State Park's website.

Fees:

Admission is free.

Opening Hours:

Oregon state parks are open from 9 A.M. to 5 P. M.

Free Things to do in Gold Beach, OR.

You can get into most state and national parks for free. However, you will typically have to pay a fee for parking as well as other things. There are some museums where everyone can get in for free.

The Curry Historical Museum is free and is a great place to bring those interested in history.

Most Romantic Things to do in Gold Beach, OR

You could bring a date on a hike to one of the many parks in the Gold Beach area, or you could go to the beach and sip wine.

The Hunter Creek Bar and Grill is another great option. Their Bloody Mary has a reputation for being amazing and there is an awesome view. Beer is served from the brewery next door.

13 Awesome Things To Do in Gold Beach, Oregon

 
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2 Comments

  1. Your list is great! But the Prehistoric Gardens is NOT free. It’s $12 per adult, $8 for kids 3-12, and $10 for seniors. That’s a lot more than free. I wouldn’t want someone else to be blindsided by the expense when showing up at the venue.

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