• Carl Washburne State Park is a great coastal area for hiking, camping, and beachcombing
Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park is an amazing area for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, picnicking, beachcombing, and enjoying breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean.
Located on both sides of Highway 101, 12 miles south of Yachats and 14 miles north of Florence, the park features lush coastal forest, spacious campground along China Creek, a network of hiking trails, and access to broad extensive beach, known as Roosevelt Beach or Rock Creek Beach.
Hiking
Carl Washburne State Park is a popular hiking destination. In addition to relaxing walks along the beach, you can also choose one of the several trails in the area. Trails vary in difficulty from the simple paved walking trail to more advanced ones.
China Creek Trail also known as Valley Trail is a 3.3-mile loop trail that starts from a day-use parking area on the west side of the highway.
Valley Trail can be found at the southern edge of the campground and leads to Hobbit and Heceta Head Trails. From the point of trail junctions, you can hike half a mile (one way) downhill to secluded Hobbit Beach or head uphill to Heceta Head Lighthouse on a 1.8-mile trail.
Rockhounding
This section of the Pacific shoreline is an excellent spot to search rocks for your collection. You can find agates of various colors, jasper, and seashells. You can't use any digging equipment, a rock pick, or metal detectors in Oregon State Parks.
The best time for rock hunting is between November and April when winter storms and king tides remove top layers of sand.
Note: A permit is required to collect vertebrate fossils.
Cautions: Beware of changing tides, rip currents, driftwoods, sneaker waves and never turn your back to the ocean.
Carl Washburne State Park Camping and Lodging
The campground at the park offers a diverse range of camping options for visitors. Choices include 41 full-hookup sites with water, electricity, and sewage, 14 sites with electrical and water hookups, 7 tent sites, 2 yurts, and a hiker/biker camp. Yurts require advance reservations, while all other sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Facilities at the campground include drinking water, flush toilets, showers, picnic tables, fire rings, a dump station, and firewood for sale.
Situated just a few miles away from the cities of Yachats and Florence, the park provides easy access to various accommodations in the vicinity. This makes it convenient for visitors to choose lodging options that suit their preferences.
Affordable vacation rentals for short and long term stay in Florence
Affordable vacation rentals for short and long term stay in Yachats
Carl Washburne State Park | Facts
Open: Year-round
Managed by: Oregon State Parks
Amenities: Picnicking sites and restrooms
Activities: Hiking, biking, beachombing and rock collecting
Day-use fees: None
Dogs: Must be on a leash
Carl Washburne State Park is located:
- 11 miles south of Yachats
- 120 miles southwest of Salem
- 150 miles southwest of Portland.
Adventures Nearby
Directions to Carl Washburne State Park
From Yachats,
- Follow 11 miles south on Highway 101 to the destination on the right.
Attention Fellow Beachgoers
Unfortunately, our beautiful Pacific North West beaches are stained with trash, especially plastic. We, at Oregon Discovery, as well as other unaffiliated groups of nature lovers made a commitment to do our part in keeping our beaches clean, but we need your help too!
Every time you go out to enjoy nature at your favorite spot, please bring a garbage bag or two and help us pick up garbage. Even picking up a little bit here and there will make a huge difference long term.
Please, help us save our beautiful nature for the generations to come!