Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor
This 12-mile corridor through beach forests and alongside rocky promontories and windswept beaches contains some of Oregon's most spectacular stretches of coastline, though seeing some of them up close sometimes requires a little effort. About 27 miles of the Oregon Coast Trail weaves through this area, a reach dominated by Sitka spruce trees that stretch up to 300 feet and by rocky coast interspersed with sandy beaches. Starting from the north, walk a short path from the highway turnoff to view Arch Rock. The path travels a meadow that blooms in springtime. Down the road, find Secret Beach—hardly a secret—where trails run from two parking lots into three separate beaches below. Visit at low tide to make your way through all three, including through a cave that connects to the third beach close to Thunder Rock. You'll find arguably the most photogenic vista in the park on the short trail to the Natural Bridge overlook, where several dramatic rock formations form arches over the surf. At Thunder Rock, just north of milepost 345 on U.S. 101, walk west for a 1-mile loop that traces inlets and headlands, edging right up to steep drops. Find the highest bridge in Oregon just south—the Thomas Creek Bridge—from which a moderately difficult trail extends to wide, sandy China Beach. Find some sun on China Beach, or continue south to walk the unusual sculpted sandstone at Indian Sands. Easy beach access is at Whaleshead Beach, where shaded picnic tables shelter the view. From farther south at Lone Ranch, climb the grassy hillside to the top of Cape Ferrelo for a sweeping view of the rugged coastline, also a great spot for whale-watching in fall and summer.
