Muriel O. Ponsler Memorial State Scenic Viewpoint is a small Oregon Coast wayside with a grassy picnic area, scenic views, and beach access. It sits along Highway 101 between Yachats and Florence, near the mouth of China Creek.

Carl Washburne State Park lies just south of Muriel O. Ponsler Viewpoint and offers a second way to reach the mile-long sandy beach, locally known as Roosevelt Beach or Rock Creek Beach.

The beach is connected to Big Creek Beach, 0.5 miles north, and to Hobbit Beach, 2 miles south. From this one access point, you can enjoy about 5 miles of sandy beach, simple walks, beachcombing, fishing, and rockhounding, without big crowds or long hikes.

Muriel O. Ponsler Memorial State Scenic Viewpoint History

The land for the Muriel O. Ponsler Memorial State Scenic Viewpoint was given to the state in 1938 by J. C. Ponsler, an auto dealer from Florence, Oregon.

He donated it in memory of his wife, Muriel Olevia Grant Ponsler, who was born on September 21, 1897, in Dallas, Oregon, and died on March 29, 1939, in Florence.

During the Great Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped build early-day-use facilities at the site through federal and state programs.

Muriel O. Ponsler Viewpoint – Things to Do

Rockhounding and Beachcombing

The beaches between Rock Creek, Big Creek, and China Creek can be very productive for Oregon Coast rockhounding, especially after winter storms. The most common finds here are agates of different colors, small jasper pieces, smooth quartz pebbles, and other gifts of the ocean.

Fishing

The wayside offers direct beach access for surf fishing. You can walk right down with a rod and fish along this section of Roosevelt Beach.

There is no camping at the beach or viewpoint. The closest campground with yurts, RV, and tent sites is Carl Washburne State Park, just 0.9 miles south. Rock Creek Campground, about a mile north, offers 15 campsites, a day-use area with a trail to the beach, water, and restrooms. For hotels and long-term rentals, go to nearby Florence or Yachats.

Lodging in Florence

Affordable vacation rentals for short and long-term stays in Florence

Lodging in Yachats

Affordable vacation rentals for short and long-term stays in Yachats