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There are many places to see and visit in beautiful Port
Orford. The first one is Battle Rock Park and
beach. The sand on the beach is usually firm, making it
nice to walk on. Be sure to search for agates which are
plentiful at times during the year. Sea stacks both on
and off the beach add to the natural beauty of the
coastline. Wildlife is abundant in Port Orford and the
surrounding area. Birds live in the crevices of the
rocks on the beach. The area attracts a wide variety of
birds and makes it a favorite spot for bird watching. Whales
are seen regularly, and even deer are seen at times on the
beach. Since moving to Port Orford, I have seen many
things for the first time in real life: huge porcupines, many
raccoons, seals in the river otters in the lake, and even
bear crossing the highway.
The next best place to visit is Coast Guard State Park. It is very scenic and has trails that go west, east and south through the forest to get to one-of-a-kind ocean views. You can see down into Nellie’s cove where the old
Coast Guard dock used to be. Remnants still remain. The park is beautiful, and the old Coast Guard barracks buildings are still there. One of the buildings has been made into a Coast Guard museum. The other building is the park ranger’s home.
Paradise Point State Beach is on the north end of town. It is a fantastic place to watch the sunset. You can drive to the edge of the parking lot and park in your car without ever having to get out. Or you can take a nice leisurely walk on the beach, but wear your shoes, the sand is
grandular and wears down your bare feet.
Hubbards Beach is just south of Port Orford just a little. This is a great beach for surfers. Often times you will see many surfers riding the waves in this area.
Humbug Mountain State Park is 6 miles south of Port Orford. This park is absolutely lovely, large trees, lots of lawn areas, and of course, its own beach. The camping is great in this park. A creek also runs through the park. There is a long trail up Humbug Mountain to the top for an ocean view. The walk up is through an old growth forest that is protected from being cut.
Cape Blanco Lighthouse! What a wonderful lighthouse we have. It is the oldest continuously used lighthouse on the Oregon coast, highest above the ocean, first woman inn keeper and the most unique beveled crystals from Europe to reflect the small light bulb to a distance of 19-20 miles. The camping facilities are fantastic in this park. High hedges for privacy for each camp site. Some cabins
with ocean view are built to make it easier for the city folk to camp.
Trails are abundant in this state park. There is even a camping area for Equestrians. This is an excellent spot to watch for whales.
Elk River is a scenic wild river that is internationally known for its salmon habitat. The crystal clear water is inviting to the swimmer at the end of a hot summer day. The river is absolutely one-of-a-kind with the large old cedar trees and large douglas fir trees. After the 8 mile point the rest of the drive along the river is completely scenic, no houses after 8 miles from Highway 101.
Sixes River is very beautiful and warm. If you want to go swimming in a beautiful clean river, the Sixes should be right up there with your
first choice.
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