Camping, hiking, more at state, county parks
There are dozens of day-use sites and waysides provided by the state of Oregon. Several of the most popular of these places are listed below. State Parks manages many more day-use and camping parks along the South Coast. For information on those parks not listed, those interested can go to www.oregonstateparks.org
• Golden and Silver Falls State Natural Area, a day-use site that contains more than 157 acres and two waterfalls. Hiking trails take visitors through soothing green ferns and forest to the tops of both falls. It is located 24 miles northeast of Coos Bay at the end of the road beyond the little community of Allegany. The road narrows and it is not advisable to take RVs there as the parking and turn-around areas are limited. Trails range from easy to leg-aching.
• William Tugman State Park, located along U.S. Highway 101 north of Lakeside on Eel Lake. It is a large park with groomed lawns, picnic and camping areas, a boat ramp (under 10 mph speed limit on the lake), swimming area, yurts, lakeside hiking trails and a playground.
• Sunset Bay State Park is a beautiful, sheltered cove located about 31⁄2 miles south of Charleston. It is popular for water sports such as kayaking and has plenty of room for wading and swimming. There also is a wind-sheltered campground with developed sites, yurts and picnic areas near the beach. The office number is 888-3732.
• Shore Acres State Park, once the estate of lumber baron Louis Simpson, is located on high oceanside bluffs, and the gardens that he planted there are now beautifully maintained by the state. The park with its blooms and shrubs is popular for weddings. It is located 2 miles south of Sunset Bay State Park. The office number is 888-3732.
• Cape Arago State Park provides visitors with spectacular views of the ocean and the rugged coastline to the south, and has trails, sea coves and picnic areas. It is about 21⁄2 miles south of Shore Acres State Park.
• Bullard's Beach State Park is 2 miles north of Bandon, along the bay of the Coquille River and on the ocean beach. Bando• 's well-photographed old lighthouse is located there. The park is large and has 92 sites with full hookups and over 100 other sites for camping. The office number is 347-2209.
• Harris Beach State Park is at Brookings' northern edge. Named after the Scottish pioneer and rancher George Harris who settled here in the late 1880s, the park offers camping and RV hookups. It boasts the largest island, Bird Island, off the Oregon coast. The park also features sandy beaches interspersed with eroded sea stacks.
• Alfred A. Loeb State Park is 10 miles northeast of Brookings. This park is nestled in a grove of old myrtlewood trees, beside the Chetco River. There are campsites and three rental cabins, and the park offers fishing, swimming and rafting, along with a self-guided streamside nature trail. Also, the northernmost redwood grove in the United States can be reached by hiking a three quarter-mile, self-guided trail adjacent to the river.
