Details
Region: Southern Oregon Coast
Location: US Hwy 101 just north of Brookings in Curry County, Oregon
DEN Rating: 10/10
Trail Length: varies
Trail Type: out and back or loop
Hike Time:
- 15-20 minutes from south to north day use parking via beach.
- 45 minute – 1 hour from north day use to north end of beach and back.
Trail Difficulty: easy 2/10 with a few 4/10 scramble paths over rocks
Elevation Gain: 40 feet
Trail Surface: sand, rocks
Popularity: 8/10
Family friendly: yes
Pet friendly: yes
Handicapped Accessible: yes at north day use
Swimming: no
Camping: yes
Restroom: flush toilets
Open Hours: day use 6AM – 9PM, campground 24 hours
Season: year-round
Pass or Permit:
- none required for day use
- campground $23/night for tent sites, $35 for full RV hook-up sites
Managed By: Oregon State Parks
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Harris Beach State Park is one of the top five best beaches in Oregon. I returned in summer 2023 after having not visited for a decade, and I was quickly reminded why I love this beach so much! It’s amazing to me how many travel blogs write articles about the amazing locations in nearby Samuel Boardman State Natural Area but don’t mention incredible Harris Beach. If you’re coming to Oregon’s rugged South Coast, which you should because it’s some of the prettiest coastline in the world, plan at least part of a day here.
Harris Beach State Park is more than just a beach – it has it all! Picnic sites with a view – check. Campground with backpacking and car tent sites, RV sites, and even yurts – check. Playground – check. Gorgeous forest – check. Grassy lawns – check. Nice restrooms – check. Oregon’s largest offshore island – check. Rare bird species – check. Handicapped access to the beach – check. Tidepools – check. One of Oregon’s seven Marine Gardens – check. Hiking trails – check. Close to town – check. Fishing – check. You really can’t ask for more than that!
Evening washes this beautiful scene in purples and blues at Harris Beach State Park. The water in the reflecting pool is only a few inches deep.
Doorknob or Goblet? – Limited Edition
When we took a trip to the breathtaking Southern Oregon coast in summer 2023, I went back to the beach after dinner in hopes of dazzling sunset colors. Instead of burning clouds I found this incredibly gentle scene at Harris Beach as I was heading back to the car after exploring the rocks and tidepools. … Read more
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Harris Beach State Park is just north of the town of Brookings and only a few miles south of Boardman’s Lonesome Ranch Beach. Upon entering the park you’ll find a day use parking area overlooking the south end of the beach, with beach access. The south end of the beach features dozens of sea stacks and offshore rocks rising from the Marine Garden. The waves are quite gentle, sometimes nonexistent on calm days. Less people visit the south end of the beach. It’s great if you’re looking for a quiet spot to relax.
The park road heads north along the clifftop adjacent to lawns and paved trails with fantastic views. On the beach below is Arch Rock, my favorite spot on this beach. It takes a little scrambling over rocks at the back of the beach to reach from either direction, but is absolutely worth the effort. The huge split in the rock allows waves to crash through and spread out in a little bay. Head to the right of Arch Rock (south) to find a lot of tidepools with the typical green anemones, starfish, crabs, sculpin, and a lot of mussels. There is not a solidly clear view of Arch Rock from the clifftop viewpoints.
This slit-like rock arch is found halfway between the two beach accesses at Harris Beach.
The Cleft And The Sea
This unique cleft arch in a huge monolith at Harris Beach opens into a small semi-circular cove. The rocks in the foreground house little tidepools when the tide goes out. I returned to this view several times at different times of day, but the soft evening light I captured here brought the scene together best … Read more
Near the north end of the park the road splits, with the campground on the left and the main day use area downhill on the right. This main day use area includes some really nice picnic tables, a nice restroom facility, and handicapped access to the beach. A long pool rests on the beach here to the left, with a forested rock point on the right. Most people head straight toward the ocean between these two, then walk up and down the beach near the ocean. The beach extends north for a considerable distance, dotted with huge stone monoliths. The surf is more typical of Oregon beaches here than the exceptionally gentle south portion of the beach. If you go left (south) you’ll run into boulders that are tricky to get over & around just before Arch Rock. The easier way to go south is to walk on the side of the big pool near the brushy hillside at the back of the beach – you’ll find a fairly easy scramble path that leads around the boulders and back onto the beach right at Arch Rock.
Offshore of the main north portion of the beach is Bird Island (aka Goat Island – not sure why), Oregon’s largest coastal island. It’s a protected National Wildlife Sanctuary, home to a rare puffin colony as well as other seabirds. In addition to birds and tidal life, look for gray whales during their winter and spring migrations. There are also a lot of wildflwers near the beach in spring and summer as well as uncommon succulents growing on the cliffs and rocks. Deer also frequent the park. Basically there’s a ton of cool nature here!
The Oregon Coast Trail touches the park on the north end, connecting Harris Beach with nearby Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor three miles to the north. A bike trail through the park is currently under construction as well, with competion expected in November 2023.
I’m happy to report Harris Beach is one of the few handicapped-accessible beaches in the state, with a ramp that leads down onto the sand from the north parking area viewpoint and picnic area!
Harris Beach is truly gorgeous. It’s a photgrapher’s dream, with everything from seascapes to forests. It’s big enough that it’s easy to carve out your own stretch of sand and not feel crowded. Oregon State Parks has done a tremendous job developing this beatiful park and making it accessible to all. The campground is both large and highly sought after, so make reservations well in advance if you mean to camp here. If not there are plenty of accomodations in Brookings, as well as restaurants, grocery stores, a boat launch and marina, and of course my favorite Dutch Bros! For me, this is one of the state’s best beaches and also one of the top 10 best State Parks in Oregon. If you’re visiting Oregon’s fabulous south coast, do not skip Harris Beach State Park!
Cautions
The park is well developed, so cautions are minimal as long as you stay behind railings. The ocean is very cold year-round. Watch for sneaker waves. Be careful and know your limits if you climb on rocks, and be especially careful not to injure of crush the barnacles, mussels, and limpets that live on the rocks. There is some poison oak hiding in the brush here and there. The main (north) day use parking gets locked after sunset so don’t linger too long or your vehicle will be locked in for the night!
Getting There
Harris Beach State Park is just north of Brookings, Oregon on Hwy 101. The park entrance and various park areas are all well-signed.
Photographer’s Tip
This is a fantastic spot for photography! A variety of lenses could be useful. There are plenty of macro opportunities, both of sea creatures and wildflowers. Arch Rock is immensely picturesque. The big pool near the main day use beach access can produce beautiful reflections when the winds are calm.
Links
https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=58
https://www.brookingsharbororegon.com/harris-beach-state-park
Tide Chart
https://www.tide-forecast.com/locations/Brookings-Chetco-Cove-Oregon/tides/latest
