Hi there,
I have periodically visited the Oregon Coast since the 1980s, and I have always enjoyed driving along the coast or hiking to remote beaches throughout the year. Summer of course is the most busy season, with numerous motor homes and families, but still the beaches are nowhere near as crowded as resort areas in California, the East Coast, or Europe. Winter can be cold, with heavy rain, strong gales, and brisk storms pounding the beach, but the climate is temperate and snow is quite rare. Spring and autumn are a good mix of warm breezy days and cool damp weather, but without as much traffic along Highway 101. The mist covered waves, the tall cliffs next to the beach, flashing lighthouses in stormy weather, and diverse wildlife ranging from sea anemones to migrating whales are what make the Oregon Coast such a spectacular place year around.
I have periodically visited the Oregon Coast since the 1980s, and I have always enjoyed driving along the coast or hiking to remote beaches throughout the year. Summer of course is the most busy season, with numerous motor homes and families, but still the beaches are nowhere near as crowded as resort areas in California, the East Coast, or Europe. Winter can be cold, with heavy rain, strong gales, and brisk storms pounding the beach, but the climate is temperate and snow is quite rare. Spring and autumn are a good mix of warm breezy days and cool damp weather, but without as much traffic along Highway 101. The mist covered waves, the tall cliffs next to the beach, flashing lighthouses in stormy weather, and diverse wildlife ranging from sea anemones to migrating whales are what make the Oregon Coast such a spectacular place year around.
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| Sunset in Newport |
Last October (2013) we stayed in a condominium right next to Agate Beach in Newport, when a late Indian Summer allowed temperatures to reach the seventies. The wooden complex was built on a forested ridge overlooking a wide beach of windswept sand that shifted positions each day as sharp breezes cut abstract patterns in the dunes. After crossing that weird landscape, we arrived at the surf where waves crashed against rocks and sand all day while seagulls scurried about. Large pieces of driftwood strewn along the beach suggested how powerful the surf had been in the past.
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| Rough Surf at Yaquina Head
The sunsets there were really spectacular. Sometimes heavy clouds blotted out the sun for much of the day while rain pelted the sandy beach as I walked along the waves, taking pictures of seagulls or the cliffs. Even on days like that sun could appear quite suddenly through a dense cloud layer and glow behind the dark blue clouds just before dipping below the horizon. I especially enjoyed walking along the beach in the evening until I reached the rocky cliffs of Yaquina Head, where a cold stream meandered through the sand before it emptied into the ocean. I patiently waited next to the tall cliffs while the sun slowly sank below the horizon. The sky glowed with brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow for several minutes before it faded to a pale pink blended with blue that slowly darkened into night as the glowing white lights of fishing boats dotted the horizon.
Please share your experiences of the Oregon coast in the comments below. I'll also be happy to answer your questions concerning the topic. I would love to connect on social media. Regards, Sam |
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| View from our Condo in Newport, Oregon |
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| Seagulls in the surf in Newport, Oregon |
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| Sea Anemones at the Oregon Aquarium, Newport |
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