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Whaleshead Beach

4.6 (15 reviews)

Whaleshead Beach Photos

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Dave O.

I took a hard left after seeing the sign to this secluded beach along Oregon's beautiful coast line, my QX80 handled the steep grades of loose gravel just fine after finding the far left side of the road offered a much smoother ride as I whipped it around the switch backs to the tiny parking lot, almost proud of my off-road excursion only to find a few nimble cars and motorcycles had taken the same route without issue - I guess the sign suggesting four wheeled drive vehicles beyond a certain point is somewhat overstated - but I did enjoy the ride down even though my embellishment was only in my head. Once you park it's a fairly short hike down a well marked path, you may be tempted to take in all the scenery from the small park at the top but believe me the awesomeness will meet you at the waters edge. There's a small creek dividing the open area at the bottom of the trail it's a cake walk to cross it and if you've come this far you have to find a way to cross it, its about thirty feet wide but on this day it was merely a few inches deep, of course if there's a flash flood warning when you visit then your story may differ from mine. The sand is mostly silty in and around the creek but loosens up as your approach the water. As you stand amongst the giant rocks the waves atomizes the cool ocean water as it crashes into the rocks gently misting you with its salty spray, today the weather was quite warm so it was a welcoming anointment. The drift wood and rugged terrain is prehistoric and it's easy to imagine the Jurassic world when you stand so close to creation. The relentlessness of the ocean is almost deafening as the waves march ashore but yet it's a tranquil paradise filled with life forms that dance in the foam and tidal pools. If you can't find your sanity here all may be lost...

View from parking lot
Lacey T.

Thick tangles of equisetum, fragrant wild dill and blackberries, mussel shells, driftwood, aquamarine water, and spots of nearly black sand. Littered with looming dark rocks, edged by emerald pines and wild greenery, here is a scene epitomizing the glory of Oregon's beaches. Whaleshead is exceptionally beautiful. A visit requires driving over rough, uneven gravel at a strong decline, but the reward is great. There were hardly any others present the morning I stopped by, and this ended up being my favorite beach on a road trip along Northern California and nearly the entirety of Oregon's coast. There are picnic tables, a restroom, and no fee required.

Through the forest
Andrea U.

Very nice overlook with plenty of parking. Yes, the rock didn't look like a whalehead below. Very scenic and beautiful

Emily L.

Such a beautiful beach - you can't beat those gigantic sea stacks against the blue sky's and brilliant ocean. It's like waking amongst ancient giants. I'd recommend coming here to watch the sunset because it's stunning. The sun starts sinking behind some of the rock and it really looks like a million bucks. The kids liked running around and climbing on the Little Rock's upon the shore. The beach closest to the parking lot was fairly wet and almost mud like. Not my favorite with the kiddos, but it looked like further down you get more smooth sandy beaches. Some great things about this beach: - it's easily accessible (you do have to drive down a fairly uneven gravel road however) - Bathroom - picnic tables - gorgeous views

Whaleshead Beach. Sunset September 2012. Breeauna's Photography
Breeauna G.

Beautiful beach!!! You can walk down a trail to it, or you can drive to it. Great picnic area to enjoy with your friends and/or family. Gorgeous and picturesque. Don't forget your camera, especially if there is a summary set The Whaleshead Resort is a great place to stay as well. Each unit is individually owned. You can go online and view the unit before reserving which is nice. I have stayed there twice and love it!

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7 years ago

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6 days ago

I wanted to sit at a beach awhile and so we stopped here to spend some time. The breeze was a bit much but it was a beautiful little beach.

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Review Highlights - Whaleshead Beach

This is one of my favourite "hidden" beaches along the Oregon coast.

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Battery Point Lighthouse - Coffee at the Lighthouse

Battery Point Lighthouse

4.7(65 reviews)
28.6 mi

It's so beautiful, can park and walk through beach to get to light house. Short hike from parking…read morelot.

Living in Northern California, I've been trying to take advantage of all the beauty our state has…read moreto offer, and the Battery Point Lighthouse is definitely one of those gems worth visiting! It's not just a lighthouse, it's actually a California Historical Landmark with so much character and history. You can only access it during low tide, which makes it even more magical (and a bit adventurous!). There are signs warning people not to cross during high tide and seriously, don't do it. The ocean can get wild out there! I went on a Saturday evening after 5 p.m., and the tide was already too high, so I played it safe and came back Sunday morning. Totally worth it. We had our coffees up there, and it honestly felt like being in a romantic movie scene. The weather was perfect, the ocean breeze was fresh, and the view was absolutely stunning. The lighthouse itself has such a cute, storybook charm. It even survived the 1964 Alaska earthquake and tsunami, which adds this incredible layer of resilience and history to the place. I didn't get to see any whales this time (though I heard you can spot them sometimes!), but there were plenty of seabirds flying around, adding to the coastal vibe. There's a park nearby with parking, so it's super convenient. And fun fact, according to their website, you can actually have your wedding there! How unbelievably romantic is that? If you're ever in Crescent City, take the time to visit Battery Point Lighthouse. Go early, bring a coffee, and just soak it all in, it's one of those places that makes you fall in love with the California coast all over again.

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Battery Point Lighthouse
Battery Point Lighthouse
Battery Point Lighthouse

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California Oregon Border - 11.23.23 Welcome to Oregon

California Oregon Border

4.0(1 review)
12.6 mi

Coastal views If…read moredriving on the California coastline of Highway 101 North overlooking the North Pacific Ocean the last city on the California side is Crescent City in Del Norte County. We passed by some of the most beautiful beaches along the coastline including Pelican State Beach (known as one of the loneliest beaches in California) just some 21-mi North of Crescent City. We didn't stop here. Then there's the only supermax facility that housed the most dangerous maximum security men offenders... Pelican Bay State Prison, (13 miles from the Oregon/California Border). For sure we didn't stop here. LoL After crossing the stateline the first city on the Oregon side is Brookings in Curry County. Brookings is a small town just over the California border on the west Oregon coast. I believe the first building we passed by was a dispensary establishment called Stateline Cannabis. LoL Anyway, entering the Samuel H Boardman State Scenic Corridor we chose to stop at some of the scenic spots along the coast: Lone Ranch Beach - lots of scenic sea stacks and offshore rocks visible from the beach. Natural Bridges Viewpoint - at this viewpoint there's not only one but TWO natural sea arches! Oooh! Aaaaah! So pretty! Whaleshead Viewpoint - the rock formation looks like a whale. Overgrown trees were blocking the view of the "tail." There's a beach and coast trail access from this viewpoint. Current gas prices at Fred Meyer's in Brookings was $4.06/gal. (2/20/22) Review #2524

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California Oregon Border
California Oregon Border
California Oregon Border

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Issac Lee Patterson Bridge - 1932 opening of bridge.

Issac Lee Patterson Bridge

5.0(1 review)
18.5 mi

Beautiful bridge spanning the mighty Rogue River in Gold Beach, Oregon. www.Bridgehuter.com noted…read morethis structure was "constructed with the Freyssinet method of arch ring decentering and stress control, (and) named after its French inventor. The American Society of Civil Engineers designated the bridge a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1982. It was placed on the National Register of Historc Places in 2005. The success of the bridge led to the widespread use of prestressing techniques in concrete construction. The structure is dedicated to Isaac Lee Patterson, the Oregon governor who promoted its construction." The Patterson Bridge carries U.S. Route 101 across the Rogue River, near the point where the river empties into the Pacific Ocean, and connects the towns of Gold Beach and Wedderburn. Driving along Highway 101 between Medford and Grant's Pass, it is difficult not to cast an admiring glance towards the majestic bridge build in 1932 and incorporating a strong Art Deco influence. Park at the Port of Gold Beach near the Mary D. Hume shipwreck & walk the path along the river's edge. This will give you a great vantage point of the bridge and good camera angles too. Here you can drink in the beauty of the bridge up close and see swallows building their nests under the bridge; sea lions swimming by; birds diving for fish and salmon fisherman hoping to get lucky. Due to the elements, the Rogue River Bridge has required much preventive maintenance. The bridge needs consistent mitigation due to deterioration from the location's salt air. A $20 million rehabilitation ran from 2001 to 2004. A previous project in 1976 mitigated scouring problems at pier 2. Here's hoping this transport's beauty never fades. 5 YELP STARS.

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Issac Lee Patterson Bridge - Waymarketing from Mary D. Hum wreck.

Waymarketing from Mary D. Hum wreck.

Issac Lee Patterson Bridge
Issac Lee Patterson Bridge - Streider/Facebook photo.

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Streider/Facebook photo.

Whaleshead Beach - beaches - Updated July 2026

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