Dark Sky Week is Prime Along Oregon Coast: Where and Where Not to Go

Published 04/14/25 at 6:29 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Manzanita, Oregon) - International Dark Sky Week is coming to Oregon on April 21 - 28, part of a global celebration of the night. This state has some of the most dark sky areas in the nation, and its coastline is really one big, long star-friendly region. (Bandon Photo Manuela Durson - Manuela Durson Fine Arts)

Weather issues aside, of course. However, when it's dark along these beach towns, it can be pitch black. The universe can explode in front of you.

However, there's a kink in Dark Sky Week or just dark sky viewing in general on the coast: safety. You don't want to be stumbling around pitch black trails to reach the sweet spots. And many rocky beaches or beaches with rounded stones are just a bad idea at night. It's important to stay off all trails at night and stick to easy access beaches or to paved viewpoints. Even with the latter, make sure you're at one with a good fence between you and oblivion.

Don't think you're safe on a trail with a flashlight, either. It's not enough to keep you from a fatal misstep.

So where are the optimum dark sky spots? Higher vantage points are your best friend in this case, but many beaches will definitely do.

Here's a brief guide, starting from the south.

Brookings area, courtesy Solution 7 Media (with glowing phytoplankton and green night glow)

Rainbow Rock Viewpoint just north of Brookings, Cape Ferrelo and the Arch Rock State Park viewpoint are some of your best bets in the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor, but much of that stretch is dangerous to walk around at night.

The Pistol River area, Nesika Beach and Kissing Rock have great low access beaches, and Otter Point is a somewhat high vantage point. Sisters Rock and around Humbug Mountain have fairly lofty pullouts as you tread between Gold Beach Port Orford.

Rockaway Beach - Oregon Coast Beach Connection

Once you get to Bandon, accesses get fairly easy but high spots aren't that elevated, and some of the more commonly-known ones will have some light pollution (though it's not going to take away much).

Keep in mind, some viewpoints are state parks or belong to other agencies and may be closed at night.

Among those is Shore Acres State Park, said Oregon's Adventure Coast director Janice Langlinais.

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“Technically all the state parks close at dusk.,” she said. “But there is always a way to access the areas at night. You can’t get into Shore Acres because the gate is closed. I think the gate is probably closed at Cape Argo. But there are a lot of parking areas along the road.”

She noted a lot of spots in the Coos Bay area have dense forest, so it's not great for sky viewing. But one can give you an eyeful.

“One such place would be the Shell Island Simpson reef overlook, which does not have gates and allows people to park in that area,” she told Oregon Coast Beach Connection. “The other area would be sunset Bay State Park that does have some parking lot available at night.”

From here northward until Florence there really are no high vantage points. However, with the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area so off-the-beaten path in many ways, you're guaranteed to get the full interstellar experience.

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As you roll past Florence, note where the road rises. It's the first real elevation gain since the Coos Bay area. As it gets to the pinnacle, there is a pullout or two (Above Baker Beach – Scenic Florence Bend), and the big one right at the curve is your best bet.

Up the road from here is Cape Perpetua, which will be stunning at night if it's not closed (although officially it is, though some have managed to get in and take night photos). The next great vantage point is a mile or two down the road, a couple miles before Yachats. However, all the beaches between northern Florence and just south of Yachats have no light interference at all. It's a matter of finding one that's safe at night. Upper Lane County Maps and Virtual Tours

The 804 Trail at Yachats is excellent for stargazing, but stay on the trail and don't get on the rocks. You can't see what the ocean is lobbing at you.

Yachats - Oregon Coast Beach Connection

From here northward a highlight for lack of light is Seal Rock as well as the parking areas for Moolack Beach where you can stand away from traffic. Cape Foulweather is the real stunner, between Newport and Depoe Bay. 500 feet above it all and the stars seem close enough to touch at times. However, in 2025 it is closed until June because of repairs. Depoe Bay Maps and Virtual Tours - Newport Maps and Virtual Tours

Near here, the parking lots at Boiler Bay and Rocky Creek state parks are stunning at night, as is Rodea Point just south of Depoe Bay.

Finding seriously dark beaches in Lincoln City is not hard, but many do have floodlights on the surf. Dark beaches are fab for finding glowing sand, and the accesses are quite easy and thus safe at night.

Also see: Best Beaches of the Oregon Coast at Nighttime: Safest, Most Impressive

From Neskowin through Pacific City, Netarts and Oceanside it's smooth sailing for black skies, and the Three Capes Loop has several awe-inspiring vantage points to check it all out. One of the best along the whole of the Oregon coast is Anderson's Viewpoint above the southern end of Cape Lookout State Park.

Just inland from Pacific City, Mt. Hebo is downright magical, according to generations of beach regulars, and it's enough inland you could be getting away from many offshore layers. Three Capes Maps and Virtual Tours

Garibaldi's Three Graces are quite photogenic after dark if you're into doing night shots, and Rockaway Beach and Manzanita boast plenty of spots empty of lighting.

Some of the best views at any hour happen at Neahkahnie's overlooks just above Manzanita, though the view to the north and east is blocked by the mountain. Just north of all that and directly south of Cannon Beach, Silver Point is the last of the great viewpoints along the coast that's open at night. Manzanita, Wheeler Maps and Virtual Tours

Cannon Beach is incredible in some spots for lack of light, as is Gearhart into Warrenton. Seaside, however, is lit up just about everywhere except for the 12th Ave access at its northern edges.

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