Oregon – Cape Arago II

After Crater Lake we made a beeline for the coast. In 2014 we traveled along the Washington and Oregon coast getting as far south as Cape Arago, so that is where we wanted to pick up the coast on this trip. We camped at the middle of five parks lining the cape – Sunset Bay State Park.

Each park differs. Sunset Bay has a campground across the road from a small beach and coastal trail accessed via a tunnel under the road. From the trail one can spot the Cape Arago Lighthouse sitting on an island off shore.

Nearby Bastendorff Beach County Park also has a campground and beach. We walked the long beach sharing it with only a couple dog walkers.

Later we walked the coastal trail from our campsite over rugged sandstone cliffs to Shore Acres State Park. Once a grand estate, this park has cliff-side trails, a lovely garden, and a secluded cove. You can read more about the park in our post from 2014.

We stopped at most viewpoints along the trail and watched waves crashing on the rocks. No seals or sea lions this visit, but the coast is still spectacular.

Even on October 18th the garden still had some blooms.

 

Bill at Simpson Beach

A great 5-mile hike!