After a 10-day camping trip in Southern Oregon, I think we have found our favorite new place to visit as a family: Sunset Bay on the Oregon Coast. As my mom says, it’s “magical.” Here’s why it’s the perfect destination for an Oregon Coast road trip (see the resources at the bottom of this page for more about planning a Southern Oregon road trip).
The area of Sunset Bay State Park lies on the southern coast of Oregon near one of the best-known Oregon coast towns, Coos Bay. It’s not your typical coastal region, though, thanks to some special features that this particular area has.
The state parks
It’s not just one state park, but there are three state parks connected by a network of trails (part of the Oregon Coastal Trail), so you can start at Sunset Bay State Park and walk to two more parks within a couple of hours. The trails are mostly flat and easy. Along the way are coves that are protected by the towering sea cliffs.
Sunset Bay SP has the campground (more on that below), the bay, and a big chunk of the coastal trail that connects the state parks.
Shore Acres State Park was once the site of a cliffside estate with formal gardens; the original mansion is no longer standing but the gardens are still there to tour (for free). The five-acre garden features a Japanese-style lily pond, a rose garden, a greenhouse, and plants and trees that were brought here from around the world in the early 20th century. An observation building offers views of the ocean but was closed due to COVID restrictions. Note that dogs are not allowed in the gardens.
Cape Arrago State Park features more coastal hiking plus excellent tidepooling and viewpoints for observing seals, sea lions and whales.
Geology
There’s something to look at no matter where you are because the coast here has a dizzying array of massive rock formations . They look like huge walls and tables and wavy rock formations of layers of sandstone. Created by both erosion and fault activity, these rock forms are not only cool to look at, but they sometimes protect the coves by acting like a big wall, blocking the rough ocean waves.
Tidepooling
I’m not a tidepool expert by any means so I don’t have much to compare this to, but there was enough good tidepooling to keep my kids busy for hours. While walking the coastal trail, there are coves that can be reached easily by the trail (and others that are impossible to get to). Fortunately, the rock walls protect many of these coves from the waves, making them safe for kids to explore.
You can find tidepools in other coves (we just tried the ones we came upon), but I heard that for the best tidepooling, head to Cape Arago, about 4 miles from Sunset Bay campground and take the south cove trail that leads to a sandy beach. You can learn more about tidepooling on the Oregon Tidepools website.
and there are some caves, too.
No crowds!
Even though the campground was more than half full, there was almost no one on the trails. We often had the place to ourselves, and after hiking in California where it’s sometimes hard to find a quiet trail, this was a welcome surprise.
Plants, fungi & animals
We love looking for different kinds of plants and mushroom hunting, and this place has no shortage of beautiful things to look at. We also spotted seals (moms and pups) and sea lions from the trail.
The campground
One of our favorites! The campground is located just a short walk away from the bay and the coastal trail. Normally there are interpretive programs and ranger talks for kids, but for now, my kids were happy just being able to wander freely on the beautiful grounds.
The campground has a mix of tent and RV sites, some with full hookups and some with partial hookups (no sewer). The sites are well spaced out with bushes and trees separating most sites. Ours (site A36) had a little path with a creek behind it, and my kids were in heaven thinking that they had a little hidden place all to themselves.
More information about Sunset Bay State Park Campground:
— Reservations required. Reserve at oregonstateparks.reserveamerica.com.
— Approximately 30 full-hookup sites and 35 electrical sites with water
— More than 65 tent sites with water nearby
— 8 pet-friendly yurts (currently closed due to COVID)
— Two group tent camping areas (currently closed)
— Flush toilets (showers are currently closed)
— Nearby: Besides the trails and gardens mentioned above, there’s a public golf course located next to the park, and the nearby fishing village of Charleston offers crabbing and fishing and Chuck’s Seafood for the best canned and smoked fish.
— Interpretive Opportunities (currently closed): normally interpretive staff offer guided tidepool and nature walks, history walks, and a Ranger Program.
Tips for planning a trip to the Oregon Coast
Traveling during COVID: This was in June when numbers were still low in OR and CA, but we found that camping was a very safe way to travel.
Getting there: If you’re go to the Oregon Coast from California, you’ll likely need to stop somewhere on the way. (It’s about 8 hours from Sacramento.) Here are a couple of options:
- Stop half way and camp at one of these places:
— Castle Crags State Park, just off of I-5 in Northern California
— If you have an RV, you can stay at McCloud RV Resort. We stayed there, and it’s fine for a night. Burney Falls is 40 minutes away.
— McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, a 45-minute detour east of I-5 near Mt. Shasta. Besides the falls, there’s a very nice, very quiet lake reachable by a trail off the campground.
— Emigrant Lake County Park just outside of Ashland, OR. This would mean a longer drive on the first day (almost 5 hours from Sacramento), but the park is nice and Ashland is just minutes away. If you have an RV, I highly recommend this spot — lake views and full hook-ups!
2. Add a few days and visit Southern Oregon near Crater Lake.
— This would mean a longer drive on the first day (5-6 hours from Sacramento) but a shorter drive to the coast.
— Camp at Joseph H. Stewart State Rec Area. From here, you can explore the Rogue River and visit Crater Lake National Park. This area is beautiful with tons of things to do, and it’s about 3 hours from the coast.
We loved Sunset Bay so much that we plan to go back next year, if not sooner. Let me know if you have questions or tips for a trip to the Oregon Coast!
Google Maps for trip planning:
My favorite family hike near Sunset Bay is South Slough. It is a few minutes drive, but worth it! Feels like you are hiking in a magical forest. Canoeing and kayaking in the slough is also a great activity.
Thank you so much for that recommendation! I have not been there but will check it out next time. There is so much to do in that area!