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Hiking
Coast, river or wilderness? How about all three in one hike? This area is a Mecca for those who love to be out in nature at its most… well, natural.
Gold Beach hiking doesn’t necessarily mean heavy boots and rocky climbs to see incredible sights, and many of the best are short enough so you can plan kayaking, fishing or napping later in the day. Trail guides and maps for the Coast Trail, Rogue and Illinois River trails and others are available at the Gold Beach Visitors Center; there are fees to park at some of the trailheads.
There are several excellent books (one online bookstore lists nearly 120 titles!) for info on Oregon’s seaside trails, sandy beach treks, inland hikes and deep forays into the wilderness with a pack on your back. For local trails, check out the Gold Beach Ranger District website. The variety within a few minutes’ drive is impressive, as are the sightings, from migrating California whales to spawning Chinook salmon, brown river otters to black oystercatchers, springtime meadows of golden Siskiyou iris.
Before you set out on any of the more remote hikes, it’s wise to visit the Gold Beach Visitor Center (94080 Shirley Lane, Gold Beach 97444, 541-247-7526) & Gold Beach Ranger District (29279 S. Ellensburg, Gold Beach 97444; 541-247-3600) for directions, necessary passes and trail conditions. For beach hikes, read up on high and low tide times in the local paper or pick up a free tide guide at the Visitor Center to be sure you’re not trapped in a cove when the tide comes in.
