Camping at Cape Blanco State Park for five days — beaches, sea stacks, and trails along this rugged stretch of the Oregon Coast.

Cape Blanco State Park is located on the southern Oregon Coast near the town of Port Orford. It’s the westernmost point in the state and is known for strong winds — something I experienced firsthand on a previous camping trip in January, when we ended up changing our plans because of the forecast.

This time was different. While my first evening brought steady winds around 25 mph with gusts up to 35, conditions calmed down overnight and stayed relatively mild for the rest of the trip.

I spent the first two nights solo, with friends joining me on parts of the trip.

Day 1

Once I arrived, I set up my camp kitchen under a canopy attached to my car, and also organized my car for sleeping. The wind made getting the canopy secured tricky — it kept pulling out the stakes — but after a bit of wrestling, I finally had it in place.

The campground sits in a scenic Sitka spruce forest, with just over 50 campsites and four cabins. All sites have electrical hookups and water spigots for RVs. I didn’t think I needed the electric hookup, but I ended up using it to recharge electronics, so it turned out that it was handy to have.

My campsite was just a short walk from the Oregon Coast Trail, which leads to beaches on both sides of the cape. From the open meadows above the shoreline, the forest gives way to sweeping sights of Port Orford and Humbug Mountain to the south and Cape Blanco Lighthouse to the north.

Offshore, sea stacks from Blanco Reef rise out of the water — hazards that made the lighthouse necessary in the first place.

Day 2

By morning, the wind had died down, and I was grateful to be here in the calmer conditions. On this trip, high tide consistently fell in the late morning, with low tide closer to sunset, so it was important to know when it was safe to be on the beach. From my vantage point above, I could see that Cape Blanco Beach, south of the lighthouse, would be best explored later in the day at low tide, while Sixes Beach to the north would work at higher tide.

My friend from Coos Bay joined me for the day, and we followed the Oregon Coast Trail from the campground to Sixes Beach. Parts of the route are steep, but not difficult.

Sixes Beach is incredibly scenic, with a rugged, rocky shoreline at the base of the cape and sea stacks along the beach. It also has a wilder and more remote feel than many other beaches I’ve been to – and we only saw a couple of people all day.

The beach consisted of loose sand, and my feet sank a bit with each step, slowing me down slightly. In the distance, I could see Blacklock Point — where I had hiked on my January trip. I always enjoy those moments when different trips start to connect.

After walking up the beach for a while, we decided to explore the rocky area at the base of the cape for tide pools. I saw a couple of hermit crabs but not much else.

Later in the afternoon, after my friend headed out, I spent some time photographing gear that I’m reviewing on my website. That evening, I headed out again for sunset. There wasn’t much color in the sky, but it was still a peaceful way to end the day.

Day 3

I had most of the day to myself before another friend arrived later in the afternoon, so I decided to explore Cape Blanco Beach to the south.

To get there, I followed the OCT to an open meadow above the ocean, then continued for about a mile down a narrow, one-lane road to the beach.

Cars are allowed on this beach — which isn’t my favorite — but I headed north toward the cape with the goal of reaching The Needle, a tall sea stack visible from above.

Aside from a small group of surfers near their vehicles, I saw only one other person, so the beach felt quiet and remote. In the distance, the Cape Blanco Lighthouse stood high atop the bluff.

The weather was incredible — sunny and warm — so I lingered for a long time on this beach by myself.

At the base of the cape, the beach includes a stretch of driftwood that looked like it had spent years tumbling in the surf — giving it a weathered, frayed, and shaggy-textured look.

After exploring for a while, I headed back to camp for a shower. Not long after, my friend arrived and set up in the neighboring campsite.

That evening, we walked out to the lighthouse for sunset. With the road and lighthouse closed for the season, we had the area completely to ourselves. The setting felt surreal, and the warm light of sunset made it seem like the lighthouse was lit from inside.

Looking back from the cape, the coastline stretched out in both directions, with soft light hitting the sea stacks. Even without clouds, the sunset color was intense — almost fluorescent — and lingered longer than expected. On the way back, we spotted a deer making its way down the bluffs.

Day 4

We woke up to heavy fog, with the coastline completely hidden from view. Instead of waiting it out, we decided to explore farther south along Highway 101.

Our first stop was Sisters Rock State Park, a lesser-known spot that’s easy to miss if you don’t know what to look for. There’s no formal signage, but the three towering rock formations are visible from the highway. There was a thick fog bank all along the coastline when we arrived.

We parked at a nearby pullout and followed a short trail to the rocks. Two of the formations are connected to land, while the third stands offshore. Small beaches sit on either side, and one of the rocks contains a sea cave.

Fog drifted in and out while we explored, sometimes obscuring the formations entirely. Since I knew about the cave, I made my way toward it. From a distance, you can see a large opening in the rock, but getting closer reveals waves crashing inside.

The tide was too high to walk along the beach, but it turned out to be perfect for viewing the cave. We climbed up a short rocky section and looked in — waves surged through from both sides, filling the space with motion and sound.

The beaches looked like they would be nice to explore at low tide on a less foggy day.

Next, we stopped in Port Orford at Battle Rock Wayside. We wandered along the beach for a while, walking past sea stacks with waves breaking around them.

From here, we could also see Port Orford’s harbor, where boats are lifted out of the water by crane — a unique setup along the Oregon Coast.

Two of the formations had openings at their base, offering a view straight through them.

After a quick lunch, we headed to Port Orford Heads State Park. This small park combines sweeping coastal views with a fascinating history. It was once home to a Coast Guard lifeboat station that served this rugged stretch of coastline for decades, and today the remaining buildings house a small museum with exhibits and artifacts from that time.

Trails wind through the headland, offering viewpoints in every direction. Even in the fog, it was easy to tell how scenic this area would be on a clear day, with steep cliffs dropping down to the ocean below. It’s definitely a place I’d like to return to in better conditions.

It was foggy at camp when we returned too, but I love the feel it gives the forest.

Day 5

With about a five-hour drive ahead of me, I took my time packing up camp in the morning. On the way home, I stopped in Old Town Bandon for one of my favorite places for fish and chips at the coast — Bandon Fish Market.

Summary

I absolutely loved this trip! Between the dramatic scenery, quieter beaches, and ever-changing conditions, it feels like a place I could return to again and again — and I’m sure I will.