Tucked Away Behind Oregon Coast Towns There Are Beachfronts With Some Different Qualities

Published 05/13/22 at 4:55 PM PST
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Oregon Coast) – There are what could be new places on the Oregon coast that are just dying to meet you. (Above: Seaside, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

They're not new in the sense they've just come to be, but they may be new to you. And they're lurking behind a few very popular coastal towns, but tucked away just out of sight. You've probably driven past or near them and not even known.

To top it off, they've got some very unique characteristics that are often quite different from the little coastal burgh they reside in. Here's three rather standout examples.

The Cove at Seaside

At the extreme southern end of this north Oregon coast hotspot, the beaches abruptly get less populated - except by rocks. Larger cobblestones begin to cover the sand, and the beach gets a little rougher.

As you may have noticed from historical photographs, Seaside was once made of cobblestones and much shorter. In fact, it looks like the Cove does now. This southern end is a bit like walking into the town's past.

There are many strikingly different things about the Cove, mostly pointedly that it's much more dramatic than the rest of Seaside. Waves, especially in winter, have more to knock against and it creates some rather wild sights in winter storms. Occasionally, these get dangerous too.

The stretch between here and Avenue U is one of the most deserted areas of Seaside, even more so than the Cove (which can get bustling.) Here, it soon returns to all sand and surf, where finding yourself the only soul on this beach is not uncommon. Hotels in Seaside - Where to eat - Seaside Maps and Virtual Tours

Bandon's Whiskey Run Beach

Photo courtesy Manuela Durson - see Manuela Durson Fine Arts

A wee bit north of the famed town of Bandon, Whiskey Run Beach is like many south Oregon coast spots – a secret hiding in plain sight. If you've done the whole Bandon Dunes Golf Resort thing, then you've seen it stretching out below you. But to get there you have to do a little traveling, namely the twisting, winding Whiskey Run Lane.

It's a lengthy stretch of wonders, which include miles and miles of sand in either direction but also some striking geologic features that sometimes give it the vibe of being another planet. Here, there's a sprawling set of cliffs that occasionally break down for a beach access or two. You can even drive on parts of this beach.

In some areas of this stretch, rocky objects create homes for tidepools at the tideline, often gargantuan colonies of marine life. Sea stars create much of the bursts of colors, but look more closely and you'll see intense shades coming from other lifeforms.

Five Mile Point to the north of the access doesn't always let you through, depending on conditions. Still, it's several miles before you even reach Bullards Beach at Bandon, and hardly an access between. This makes Whiskey Run technically a kind of hidden spot, even if there's decent name recognition for the place. See Whiskey Run Beach Near Bandon a Subtle Wild Card on South Oregon Coast

Behind Depoe Bay

In a central Oregon coast town full of little secrets, what is called North Point is a rather special place.

Keep an eye out for Vista St. along the northern part of Depoe Bay, and follow that to a startling new little headland. Long stretches of basalt cliffs are the big deal here - some parts smooth with odd patterns, while the rest is mostly craggy, pointy structures.

The northern end of the park contains a spot with a strange, railroad-like shape, loaded with incredible views of this wild cove. Other sections of the place seem to form natural seats, perfect for sitting and viewing the crazed tide. There's a spot that's sunken and slightly flat, like the remnants of a basement - and a stairway-like structure formed naturally. It's rather ironic and miraculous.

Walk around a wee bit and you may soon notice that North Point just feels different: depending on conditions you can actually often feel the tide shake and rattle these rocks ever so slightly. Meander to the south and the rocks take on a smoother and more colorful texture, with a long arm-sort-of-rock structure stretching out into the sea. Often, fishermen can be seen on these rocky shelves so close to the ocean.

On occasion you may spot a whale feeding very close to this spot, and you'll often notice the whale is gazing at you too. Hotels in Depoe Bay - Where to eat - Depoe Bay Maps and Virtual Tours

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