• McVay Rock Site has a unique giant redwood stump stuck in the beach sand
• The beach has great rockhounding and tidepool watching opportunities
McVay Rock State Recreation Site is a scenic rocky beach a few miles south of Brookings near the Oregon-California border.
The park combines a manicured grassy area and a developed dog park with a rough gravel-and-coarse-sand beach featuring basalt lava formations, towering cliffs, and sea stacks.
A short but steep trail leads from the parking area to the shore. The only amenity is a vault restroom.
At low tide, an extensive shoreline opens, allowing you to walk south toward the Winchuck River mouth. During minus tides, you can also walk north to Sporthaven Beach. Always be mindful of tide levels to avoid being stranded.
The site is named after the massive McVay Rock that once stood nearby. Although it was destroyed for fill rock and gravel, the name remains.
McVay Rock State Recreation Site - Things to Do
McVay Rock State Recreation Site offers hiking, picnicking, nature viewing, whale watching, surf fishing, clam digging, and classic South Coast beach exploration.
A fenced, off-leash dog park makes it an excellent stop for four-legged family members. The area is also one of the better rockhounding and tidepool-watching spots on the southern Oregon coast.
McVay Rock Beach - Agate Hunting
McVay Rock Beach is a productive rockhounding area, thanks to gravel bars influenced by the nearby Chetco River.
Agates can often be found immediately upon reaching the beach, though most pieces are marble-sized or smaller.
Other finds include brecciated jasper, quartz, petrified wood, sea glass, and occasional nephrite jade.
McVay Rock Beach - Tidepool Watching
The rocky shoreline creates an excellent environment for tidepool exploration. Starfish, anemones, sea urchins, and crabs are commonly seen.
Please tread carefully and avoid disturbing marine life.
Redwood Stump in the Sand
A unique attraction many are unaware of is a giant redwood stump stuck in the beach sand. You can climb right on it to see the growth rings.
Widely spaced rings indicate when the redwood grew and developed in good conditions with abundant nutrition. Narrowly spaced rings show when the area around the tree was scarce.
Interestingly, the severe winter storms of 2007 moved the redwood remains about 15 feet inland.
McVay Rock Camping and Lodging
There is no camping allowed at the McVay Rock State Recreation Site. The nearest lodging is in Brookings.
Affordable vacation rentals for short and long term stay in Brookings
McVay Rock State Recreation Site | Facts
Open: Year-round
Managed by: Oregon State Parks
Amenities: Dog park, outhouse restrooms
Activities: Hiking, nature viewing, rockhounding, surf fishing, clamming, whale watching, tidepool watching, and picnicking
Distance from the parking: Short
Road access: Any passenger vehicle
Day-use fees: Free
McVay Rock State Recreation Site is located:
- 4 miles southeast of Brookings
- 32 miles southeast of Gold Beach
- 93 miles southwest of Grants Pass.
Adventures Nearby
Directions to McVay Rock State Recreation Site
From Brookings,
- Take US-101 South/Chetco Avenue
- Turn right onto Pedrioli Drive and follow it for 0.7 miles
- Turn left onto Oceanview Drive and follow it for 1.2 miles.