• Port Orford Heads State Park offers spectacular views from atop of the headland
• Coast Guard Lifeboat Station Museum tells the story of the Coast Guard in the area
Port Orford Heads State Park is a scenic location on a bluff towering over Port Orford. The views here are truly spectacular. You can see rocky terrain, a sea of greenery, an endless ocean, offshore rocks, Port Orford, and beautiful wildflowers during the blooming season.
In addition to nature viewing and photography, avid adventurers have plenty of other things to do here. Hike one of the three trails, or all of them, visit the Coast Guard Lifeboat Station Museum, have a picnic, or enjoy the refreshing ocean breeze.
Port Orford Heads State Park – Things to Do
Hiking
Trail, the 0.35-mile Cove Trail, and the 0.25-mile Tower Trail. You can also hike the entire 1.2-mile loop. All trails will take you to fantastic viewpoints and historic locations, such as the remnants of the old boathouse. Despite running through rough terrain, all trails are easy and well maintained.
Nature and Wildlife Viewing
Nature and wildlife viewing at the park are among the best in the Port Orford area. High areas let you see far and wide, enjoying views of the Pacific Ocean and rugged rocky terrain, surrounded by coastal greenery.
Whale Watching
Fall whale watching is great here, especially from the Headland Trail, but you can see plenty of other wildlife year-round. You can see a plethora of sea creatures, and birds, and because of the surrounding greenery, a variety of land animals too, from squirrels to Black-tailed deer.
Coast Guard Lifeboat Station Museum
Coast Guard Lifeboat Station Museum is a historic location where you can learn about U.S. Coast Guard history in the area and even see the station's unsinkable 36-foot lifeboat. The station was built in 1934 because the rocky area was very dangerous to seafarers and had already claimed numerous lives.
Guardsmen stayed at the station, and if the lookout tower reported a ship in danger, they would run down from the quarters to the lifeboat at Nellies Cove to provide assistance. The station was closed in 1970, and in 2000, the Point Orford Heritage Society reopened it as a museum.
Port Orford Heads State Park Camping, Lodging & Vacation Rentals
There is no camping at Port Orford Heads State Park. The closest campground is at Humbug Mountain State Park, located approximately 5 miles away. This campground has 84 sites (including 33 with electric and water hookups) and is open year-round.
For more accommodations, visit Port Orford or Gold Beach.
Port Orford Heads State Park | Facts
Open: Year-round
Managed by: Oregon State Parks
Amenities: Restrooms, picnic tables, vault toilets
Activities: Hiking, nature viewing, picnicking, & visiting historic landmark
Distance from the parking area to the beach: Short
Road access: Any passenger vehicle
Day-use fees: None
Port Orford Heads State Park is located:
- 29 miles north of Gold Beach
- 100 miles southwest of Roseburg
- 169 miles southwest of Eugene.
Adventures Nearby
Directions to Port Orford Heads State Park
From Highway 101 in Port Orford,
- Turn left onto 9th St and follow it for 0.1 miles
- Turn left onto Coast Guard Hill Road and follow it for 0.1 miles
- Keep straight on Coast Guard Hill Rd once it turns into Port Orford Highway
- Follow Port Orford Highway for 0.6 miles until you reach your destination.