Come to the beautiful Southern Oregon Coast and stay in sunny Gold Beach. Located in Oregon’s Banana Belt, this remote little sea town features both ocean and river fun and has more sun hours than any other town on the Oregon or Washington coasts. You will find things are very different here. Uncrowded beaches, quiet roads, pristine wide-open spaces, incredible hiking trails, vast forests and rugged mountains all invite you to relax and explore.
Combing the beach in Oregon is a very different adventure from many beaches around the globe, and that’s mostly because of the driftwood that makes its way down Oregon rivers to the sea. Dramatic new shapes wash in almost daily, and a favorite sandy cove can look entirely different from one day to the next, especially in stormy weather. Agates are another local treasure, a colorful stone that’s considered a real prize; December through April is the best time to spot them, as well as jasper, fossils and petrified wood.
Gold Beach is synonymous with jet boats and is the gateway to the Wild & Scenic portion of the Rogue River. Departing from Gold Beach is the only way to get jet boat access to this pristine "Wild Section." The trips are considered a must-do during any Gold Beach visit — at least in the months between May and October. Two outfits run the boats up the Wild and Scenic Rogue River on trips of 64, 80 and 104 round-trip miles, the longer, the wilder — in terms of whitewater and scenery. Gold Beach is an ideal home base for windsurfing adventures. Considered among the choice spots is the stretch of coastline 10 miles south of Gold Beach, from Cape Sebastian to Pistol River. Depending on which way the wind is blowing and surf conditions, you’ll see colorful sails surfing and soaring typically between mileposts 334 and 339 on US 101.
There are two ways to go about whale watching in Gold Beach: You can charter a boat and get up close and cozy with a California gray whale, or you can just keep glancing out to sea every time you’re on a bluff hiking, biking, walking or driving. Chances are excellent that you’ll eventually spot a plume of water spouting from a blowhole. Carry binoculars and you may get to see the magnificent mammals breaching the surface of the water. Several boats congregating in close proximity often means they’ve spotted a pod, so keep your eyes open.
December through March is one of the locals' favorite times of the year, because Gold Beach typically has multiple days of sunshine and mild weather. Steelhead fishing reaches its peak in February, with opportunities to cast in as many as five rivers within a five-minute to one-hour drive from the center of town. You can fish in a variety of ways depending on the river and conditions, and can cover up to 12 miles of river a day. How does a covered, heated 21-foot powerboat sound? Or an open drift boat with heater? These vessels carry two to four people, depending on conditions and fishing method; guides, boats, licenses and tackle are available in Gold Beach.
Come to Gold Beach and we promise to send you home feeling the way a getaway should make you feel!