Southern Oregon Coast: Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor
Between the cabin and Harris Beach State Park are some of the most scenic coastal highway viewpoints, pullouts, and picnic areas (connected by an 18-mile stretch of the Oregon Coast trail) in all of Oregon: the 12-mile Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor. This was supposed to be our “Day two at The Cabin” day trip, but it turned out to be one of the smokiest so we didn’t spend much time outdoors other than to snap some moody pictures.
A dramatic view from Arch Rock Viewpoint, looking south towards Brookings and Harbor, with smoke coming down from the Chetco Bar Fire. I can’t get over the way the smoke affected the color of the ocean, an unmatchable, unnameable steely greenish blue. The hillsides and sea stacks are nearly silhouettes. If you were to guess the time of day of this photo, I assume you wouldn’t choose 11:14am.
Arch Rock is a giant natural rock arch, this section of the corridor is littered with them. I found this quote from the Oregon Coast Visitors Association to explain the formations well:
The particular geology of this coastline creates plenty of sheer cliffs, sea stacks, and natural arches. Eons of erosion from winds and waves grinds down the rocks and forms these beautiful features. The natural arches form from cracks and crevices that weaken and fracture into notches. These notches grow into sea caves in the cliffs and sometimes collapse to form blowholes. After thousands of years, only the strongest parts of the rock remain even after the shoreline has receded hundreds of feet.
Looking north up the rugged coast from Arch Rock Viewpoint. I think you can just make out Mack Arch in the smoky distance of the upper left in the photo. The far headland is Crook Point.
Just about a mile south of Arch Rock is a cluster of magnificent rock bridges and arches at the Natural Bridges Viewpoint. We didn’t go down the trail far due to air quality, but got there in time for the tide to be favorable to capturing two of the bridges in a small cove.
We made one more stop at Whaleshead Beach, but by that time of the afternoon the air was so filled with smoke, we decided to call it a day and head back to the cabin.
From the Oregon Coast Visitors Association:
Whaleshead Beach is one of the most gorgeous locations along the Oregon Coast. Offshore there is a sea stack that looks like the head of a Whale. The sea stack is cut with a rock channel and when a wave hits it, it spurts a spray that actually looks like a whale spouting, hence the name Whaleshead Beach.
The rest of the day we spent at the beach below the cabin, taking pictures of rocks and waves and marine life underneath a hazy sky.
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