Rugged coastlines, large rock formations, and abundant sea life. That’s what you can expect when you visit Samuel Boardman Scenic Corridor in the Southeastern part of Oregon. At just 12 miles long, it’s surprising that its one of the prettiest drives in the country 🚗 and a fantastic destination for your next road trip!
We’ve been living in our van for three years and recently drove the coastline from California up to Oregon. This area was one of our favorites that we have ever been! The coastal views and landscapes were absolutely captivating. It’s one of those places that will always have a place in our hearts.
Read below for my complete guide on visiting the Samuel Boardman Scenic Corridor. this guide includes where to stay, how to get there, and what to see on your trip. ✍️ I hope you have a fantastic time!
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Table of Contents
Visiting Samuel Boardman Scenic Corridor Guide
How to Get to the Samuel Boardman Scenic Corridor
Samuel Boardman is a great stop to add on your next Oregon road trip! But, getting there can be a little complicated. Rogue Valley International Medford Airport is the closest airport ✈️, which is about 2.5 hours away.
Alternatively, you can fly into Portland and then take a drive down the scenic Oregon coastline. The drive from Portland to the corridor is about 5.5 hours. So, you can add stops in places like Newport, Bandon, or North Bend.
Things You Need to Go Before You Go
💵 There is no fee to enter Samuel H Boardman Scenic Corridor, which makes it a wonderful place to visit!
☀️ The Oregon coast is known for having a more temperate climate. However, the coast often sees rain with 55% of days having some sort of clouds or precipitation. Definitely pack your rain jacket!
⛺️ Although there is no camping within the corridor, there’s a great nearby campsite at Harris Beach State Park. You can reserve these sites year round and they are less than 10 minutes from the scenic area.
🐋 This area is home to lots of wildlife and birdlife. Plus, you may get lucky and spot a gray whale on its migration from Alaska to Mexico or vice versa.
🦮 Many viewpoints and beaches within this area are dog friendly! Which makes it a fantastic road trip destination for any pet owners.
⚠️ The hikes in this area can be incredibly steep and slippery if wet. Please be careful and take your time as you explore this area.
🍃 Remember to follow the Leave No Trace Principles. As always, you want to leave nature looking better than you found it.
Best Time to Go
The best time to visit Samuel Boardman Scenic Corridor is from the months of April to October. During these months, you can expect better weather with good conditions for hiking the coastline. We visited in May and it was cool and windy with plenty of sun! ☀️
July and August are typically the dry months in October, when you can expect to see less rain. 💧 This area of the coast is more sunny than the Northern areas.
However, the Southeastern area of the coast is more mild in general. Which means, that you can visit Samuel Boardman year round. So, you can plan this trip for any part of the year!
Where to Stay
Samuel Boardman is a very small area at just 12 miles. So, most hotels or campgrounds are just outside of the corridor. Brookings, Oregon is just 5 minutes from there and has some smaller inns. Alternatively, you can book a campground at Harris Beach State Park 🏕 or stay in a nice Airbnb!
Hotels in the Area:
Packing Guide
As many people know, Oregon is known for being a very rainy state. While this area sees less rain than other parts, it still gets a fair amount. So, make sure to pack good waterproof gear for your journey as well as a warm jacket. Even though it was sunny when we went in May, the air was crisp and cool.
Also, the hikes thoughout the corridor are very steep and can get incredibly slippery when wet. So, bring shoes with good traction if you plan on doing any.
Packing List
- Comfortable Hiking Boots
- Day Pack
- Hiking poles
- Water Reservoir
- Snacks and Food
- First Aid Kit
- Sunscreen
- Bug Spray
- Rain jacket
- Light winter jacket
- Satellite phone
- Camera Clip
Things to See at the Samuel Boardman Scenic Corridor
One of the best things about visiting this area is that you can really make your own adventure. Stop where you want to and explore some of the most famous destinations or wander around the various trails. There are tons of great options!
Whaleshead Beach
Shooting out of the water, looking like the top of a whale is Whaleshead rock. There are actually a couple of ways to see this rock formation. From above at the Whaleshead Viewpoint or down below at the beach.
We went to both areas and they were lovely. In order to see Whaleshead Rock from the upper viewpoint you do need to descend down a steep path until you get to the lookout. However, if you go from the beach, you can take a lovely stroll on the sand.
Indian Sand Dunes
Indian Sand Dunes is an area of the coastline with gorgeous coves, an arched rock, and windswept dunes. There is a short but tough one mile hike that takes you in a loop around the area. It’s got a steep uphill as well as dunes you have to walk through, so be prepared for a workout! 🥵
When you get to the parking area you’ll see signs for a trailhead on either side of the lot. Because this trail is a loop, you can start from either end of the lot. However, most people begin at the left side through the woods!
Natural Bridge
Natural Bridge is arguably one of the most famous spots on the corridor’s drive. ⭐️ It’s a gorgeous rock formation that connects one side of the cove to the other. In this bridge there are two arches with windows through to the ocean. It’s absolutely gorgeous!
In order to view this arch, you can go to the platform on the left side of the parking lot. If you continue further down into the woods on the left side, you will get other great vistas of the coastline, but it won’t get better views of the bridge itself.
⚠️ Be careful when hiking here and please stay off of the Natural Bridge!
Until recently, you could even walk over this narrow natural arch, but sadly multiple people died in accidents there. So now, this area is closed. Please obey the signs and stay off of the bridge!
Secret Beach
We actually didn’t make it to Secret Beach, but I did all of the research about it. So, Secret Beach is not so secret anymore. This small beach area has gorgeous rock formations, but it’s not easy to find!
In order to get parking, you have to look for a parking lot with no signage between Natural Bridge and Spruce Island Viewpoint. From there, you’ll go down a steep path to the beach. But, the best time to visit is at low tide when more of the sand is uncovered!
Arch Rock
This is another beautiful rock formation in the scenic corridor. I loved this stop, because unlike many of the others it does not require a short, steep hike. There is a paved pathway from the parking lot that is only a few minutes to the viewpoint.
Once you get to the viewpoint, you will be able to see this stunning formation and look for bird life. This area is part of the National Wildlife Refuge to protect the variety of birds that fly around here!
Cape Sebastian
Cape Sebastian is known for the stunning panoramic vistas of the Oregon Coastline 🤩. There are two parking lots in Cape Sebastian – North and South, but both are 200 feet above sea level. On a clear day you can see 50 miles from the point!
We did a short trip to both of the parking lots for the vistas, but if you’re feeling up for a greater adventure you can also hike down through the woods. Just be prepared for another steep trail!
Final Tips for Visiting Samuel Boardman Scenic Corridor
You’ll have an amazing time visiting Samuel Boardman, but it’s important to keep a few things in mind. Many of the trails are steep and slippery, so you will want to take care and know your limits. If you there is a lot of rain, you may want to stick to the viewpoints. Otherwise, you’ll understand why this short drive is one of the prettiest in the country!
Let me know if you enjoyed this guide in the comments!
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