the wandering chick
...Port Orford

Somehow I missed out on all that Port Orford has to offer. It doesn't help that I lost a couple of days to rain. Unfortunately, when it's gloomy and rainy out, I become a hermit witih no desire to fight the elements. As was the case at Port Orford. But when I think back to the sights I saw but never returned to to explore more in-depth, I realize I missed a lot.

For a town of only 1200 people, what it has to offer is amazing. Three state parks, two of which are beaches, is a plus to any location. And P.O. has just that.

In addition, is Battle Rock Beach with all its picturesque sea stacks. Seemingly, the town hang out, it's where the locals go to watch the whales that come into Port Orford Bay; where the local men congregate to talk fish talk and weather; it's where bicyclists take a break on their journey south; and where tourists stop in to check out the Visitor Center and take a picture of Battle Rock, the site of a long-ago battle between American Indians and settlers. Located on the south end of town, right off the 101, you can always find someone there.

Paradise Point State Park, on the other hand, is more remote, at the end of a road just as you enter town from the north. It's the place to go for a perfect sunset and a long walk. If you walk far enough south, you come to Tseriadun State Recreation Site's Agate Beach, with its great rock formations and ferocious waves.

At Port Orford's southwest corner lies the massive headlands, Port Orford Heads State Park where trails meander through the heavily forested area and where views of the coast in both directions are free for the taking. It's also a black-tail deer habitat.

lots of highlights
rock formation
Above and Below: A couple images of Battle Rock
Battle Rock
rock formations in bay
rock formation with arch
Battle Rock Beach is popular to both locals and tourists. It's a great walking beach, and the numerous seastacks are picturesque; some are close enough to explore at low tide.
sea stacks
bench and clouds
walking on the beach
flowers and driftwood in sand
seastack
seastack with arch
seastack with arch
seastack
hut made of driftwood
From north to south along the Oregon coast, there have been very few beaches I've walked that haven't had at least one driftwood construct. It's an Oregon thing, I guess.
forest trail
seastacks
The Port Orford Headlands is a wonderful area to take a few short hikes. There may not be any mile-length trails, but that just means there's no chance of getting lost!
a path among trees and shrubs
the Headlands
path in the Headlands
view of the coast looking south
A view of the coast looking south from the Port Orford Headlands. In the distance is Humbug Mountain.
Agate Beach
dunes grass leading to the beach
Agate Beach, another of Port Orford's highlights, is reached through the Tseriadun State Recreation Site.
The short walk to Agate Beach is on this trail leading from the Tseriadun State Recreation Site.
sun setting through dunes grass
setting sun hits side of cliff
The setting sun hits the side of the cliff where above cars are parked at the Paradise Point State Park. Frankly, I'm not sure what qualifies it for a state park, but just the same, it's the perfect spot in P.O. from which to see sunsets. In the distance is part of the P.O. Headlands.
Sunset at Paradise Point
person sitting on driftwood watching sunset

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restaurant exterior with nautical theme
This very casual eating establishment is Griff's on the Dock. Its food is good, but its location was the draw for me,, sitting it the middle of the Port Orford loading dock.