Port Orford Heads State Park is a coastal state park in Curry County, Southern Oregon. Established in 1976, the park offers meandering trails and spectacular views of the Pacific Coast. In addition to the trails, there is a lifeboat museum and remains of the US Coast Guard lifeboat launching station.
As you enter the park, follow Port Orford HWY until you reach the end where it loops back around. Here, you will find free parking and access to the trails leading to the coast. There are a few trails here, but don’t worry, they all eventually lead to the coast.
A view of one of the trails as it breaks out from the forest and onto the coast.
From this viewpoint you can see Klooqueh Rock with the great rocks of Orford Reef in the background.
A better view if the rocks at Orford Reef.
Looking South, you can see the tip of the head (Tichenor Rock) and the rest of the Oregon Coast peaking around in the background.
A closer look at some of the spectacular geographical formations that make up Port Orford Head.
See if you can pick out the seals.
Looking South towards the Oregon Coast. The seals from the previous photo can also be found in this photo.
Another shot of Klooqueh Rock.
Stepping out off the main path and looking North, you can get a view of Cape Blanco State Park.
or if you look down, you can easily find harbor seals basking on the rocky shoreline.
Here’s a few more seals basking on rocks, protected from the surging waves.
With my obsession not quite over, I decided to take a couple more photos of Klooqueh Rock.
My final photo of Klooqueh rock, I promise.
Back on the trail and heading South, we had to make our way down a little side trail in order to get a view of Tichenor Rock and Hells Gate.
This is as close as I could get to Hells Gate. Just imagine a lifeboat having to pass through there during a storm with 20ft crashing waves.
Here are a couple wildflowers found along the trail.
Along the inside of the park, at Nellies Cove, you will find the remains of the US Coast Guard lifeboat launch station.
One of the monoliths in Nellies Cove.
Zoomed out a little, you get a better view of Nellies Point with the Oregon Coast in the background.
As we started to leave, a snorkeler was making his way out to do some diving in Nellies Cove.
From this point on, you continue back up the trail to the Lifeboat Museum or back to your car along the road. During our visit, the museum was closed, but we still were able to check out a restored lifeboat found outside of the building.
If you are planning to visit the Southern Oregon Coast and have a couple hours to spare. Then you definitely need to check out Port Orford Head State Park. The entrance is free and the views are amazing. I know that if I am ever in the area again, I will be stopping in for a second visit.
