Curry County Oregon

So many things to do!

You'll find so many interesting, entertaining, educational, adventurous and just plain fun activities here. With over 80 miles of pristine Pacific Ocean beaches, a fascinating collection of historic sites, two seriously exciting jet boat river tours, deep sea and fresh water fishing, shopping and culinary experiences, Curry County is definitely a great place to be.

Whether you like to pick your own fruits and vegetables, go antiquing, or simply dig your toes in the sand as your read a book, it's all here. You'll also find annual events such as the county fair, food and wine festivals, concerts and a wealth of cultural and ethnic affairs to spend your time.  So much to do. So much to enjoy.

Adventures     Arts & Culture     Beach Activities     Birding
Events & Festivals     Fun Stuff     Historical Interest    
Nature Activities     Romance     Shopping     Tours

Adventure

Catch a wild salmon We have three of the nationally designated 'Wild and Scenic' rivers; Chetco River, Rogue River and Elk River. Salmon, Steelhead, and Cutthroat Trout offer excellent fishing adventures.

Golfing Challenging courses, beautiful scenery. We have two unique courses, Cedar Bend and Salmon Run, sure to challenge you, no matter your ability.

Hiking Whether you want to hike to coastal trail or advenure into the rugged mountains, you will find hundreds of trails to suit your adventurous nature. Check out our hiking information.

Ride the Jet Boats Ride the wild and scenic Rogue River in one of our exciting jet boat adventures. Jerry's Rogue River Jets and Rogue River Mail Boats

Wind Surfing Curry County has many popular spots to soar across the ocean and lakes.

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Arts & Culture

Art Galleries We have more than 30 art galleries in our county. Check out our gallery map and enjoy the works of local and visiting artists.

Artists Many artists have made their home in here, inspired by our natural beauty and serene lifestyle. Many local artists work in their home studio and offer studio tours through out the year. Check our events calendar for more information.

Concerts Brookings features an outdoor concert series during the summer, and Pistol River Concert Association features nationally recognized musicians monthly. See our events calendar for dates and locations.

Live Theater Performances Delightful performances throughout the county. Check our events calendar for performance dates.

Native Cultural Events Native celebrations and festival flow through our region because of our rich and diverse history. Evertything from Native American Pow Wows to Cedar tree festivals. See our Events calendar for more information.

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Beach Activities

Beachcombing Agates, jaser, seashells, mud crabs, anemone, and other treasures can be sighted during low tide, but please be mindful of this delicate habitat.

Collecting seashells True beachcombers will enjoy the hunt for unique seashells along the many beautiful beaches.  Best time to find them is at low tide, but watch out for sneaker waves.

Hike the coastal trail Youll enjoy scenic vistas and rugged mountains on the coastal trail. Download the coastal trail maps here:  Bandon to Humbug Mountain, Humbug Mountain to Pistol River,   Pistol River to the California border.

Horseback riding on the beach Enjoy a horseback ride along the uninterrupted stretches of beach on Oregon’s most beautiful coastline.

Pan for gold Panning for gold on the south coast is still a popular and sometimes lucrative activity.  Experienced prospectors say that the best time of year to pan for gold is in winter, and best places are on the beach near fresh water runoff.  So grab your pan and start digging!  For details on best sites, see the Oregon Gold website.

Whale watching Our coastline is ideal for whale watching whether you are on one of our high coastal peaks or walking the beaches. Watch for the spouting, flukes, or breaching.  For best sites, see Oregon State Parks whale watching sites

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Birding

Bald Eagles Keep your eye out for the American bald eagle which is frequently spotted along the coastline and high lakes. Bald eagles and osprey often battle for territory or prey.

Egrets Along grassy wetlands, marshes, estuaries, bays and rivers is where you'll find the statuesque great egrets and snowy egrets.

Oregon Coast Birding Trail For birdwatching enthusiasts, there are more than 450 types of birds along the Oregon coast.  The  Birding Trail is a self-guided tour.

Osprey Osprey migrate to the Oregon coast  in early spring where they mate, build their nests and raise their offspring.  If you take a drive up the Rogue River, you will see their nests high in trees overlooking the river.

Pelicans Most pelicans feed off the surface of the water, but the brown pelican, which is what you will see in Curry County, prefers to plunge in the water from as high up as 30 feet to capture its prey.

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Events & Festivals

4th of July Celebrations The fourth of July along the coast is a spectacular celebration of American life and freedeom. Watching the fireworks explode over the Pacific Ocean offers a double view, with the fireworks being mirrored off the ocean.

Azalea Festival A long-running festival in Brookings on Memorial weekend, featuring a parade, flower and art shows, car show and tons of family fun. Sponsored by the Brookings Harbor Chamber of Commerce.

Curry County Fair Held annually in July...hometown traditions and old-fashioned fun. Check out their website for more details.

Farmer's Markets Held outdoors through the summer months along Highway 101. Local produce, hand-crafted goods, arts & crafts.  Brookings has an indoor market during fall and winter months, as well.

Wine & Art Festival Meet Oregon wine makers, wine tasting, brew pub, food vendors, local crafts, live music & floral show. Annual event. Sponsored by the Gold Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Check out our calendar for a complete listing of events.

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Fun Stuff

Azalea Park Located in Brookings, Azalea Park features native plants, a Capella by the Sea, Holiday Lights in December, the Stout Mountain Railway, and Kid Town for the young at heart.

Camping Camping is simply wonderful in Curry County. Camp on the beach, in the mountains, by a river, on a lake. Just about anywhere you go, you will find the perfect camping spot.

Cape Blanco State Park Visit the most westerly point in the continental U.S., tour the historic Hughes House, hike the Blacklock Point trail, or just enjoy the view. Download the  brochure here.

Port Orford Boat Dock One of the most unique docks on the west coast. The boats are hoisted out of the ocean to the dock above.

Prehistoric Gardens This is a fun, family outing located in the Oregon coastal rainforest, with life-size replicas of prehistoric animals and lush primitive plants. Just south of Port Orford.

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Historical Interest

Cape Blanco Lighthouse Just north of Port Orford, this isolated lighthouse holds at least four Oregon records: it is the oldest continuously operating light, the most westerly, it has the highest focal plane above the sea, and Oregon’s first woman keeper - Mabel E. Bretherton signed on in March 1903.

Historic Port Orford Jail Built in 1936 when the lumber mill was booming, then condemned in 1965, the jail sits alone at Jefferson and 7th St with ivy growing like hair on its roof and rust dripping from the windows like tears.

Hughes House Victorian architecture, the Hughes ranch house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1898 by P.J. Lindberg, it was a celebration of 38 years of hard work by Patrick and Jane Hughes.

Mt. Emily Bombsite Sixteen miles east of Brookings is the site of the first bombing of the mainland United States by enemy aircraft.  The bombs were dropped on the slopes of Wheeler Ridge on the sides of Mt Emily with the hope of starting a forest fire that would weaken the war resolve of the United States.

Mary D. Hume Shipwreck The Mary D. Hume, built at this spot in 1881, had the longest active service of any commercial vessel on the Pacific coast, a total of 97 yrs as freighter, whaling vessel, to towboat service. She, broke after being docked here, and the wreck remains.

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Nature Activities

Beaches More than 80 miles of Pacific Ocean beaches all open to the public, ready for you to run, play, dig and find treasures. Check out our beach map and find your spot.

Botany Discover Curry County’s beauty in its native and rare plants. Sea grasses, rare Darlingtonia, bog moss and more.

Hiking Nature enthusiasts will love hiking in Curry County where there are plenty of opportunities to see and learn about geology, trees, wildflowers, ferns, berries, animals, birds, mushrooms, marine mammals, and more.

Mushrooming We have many varieties of wild mushrooms, but please, before you go  hunting, get expert advice about our wild mushrooms...which ones are delicious and which ones are dangerous.

Wildlife Pacific Ocean to rugged mountains, we are home to hundreds of animals: Bear, elk, mountain lion, beaver, sea otters, whales, pelicans and so many more.

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Romance

Get Married on the Beach What is more romantic than a wedding on one of our beautiful beaches?

Spend a day at the Spa A sanctuary of harmony and healing where people can come to rejuvenate physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Curry County offers several opportunities for a relaxing massage, saunas, skin rejuvenation and more.

Watch Sunsets on the Beach With over 80 miles of public beach, just pick your romantic spot.

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Shopping

Antiquing Whether you are just window shopping or a serious antique hound, you'll find plenty of opportunities to locate past treasures.

Crafters Markets Hand-crafted items for any occasion can be found at many of our local retailers, special events, festivals and farmers markets.

Hospice Rummage Market The Hospice Marketplace in Gold Beach puts on an annual Rummage Market which is the largest of its kind on the Oregon coast - a bargain hunters dream.

Local Products Locally produced products are the pride of Curry County. Everything from food products to myrtlewood carvings. Check local retailers for these items.

Quaint Shops Outdoor malls, boutique shops, art galleries, crafters niches, spas & salons, bookstores, cafes, and so much more.

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Tours

Brandy Peak Distillery Dedicated to the art of creating the finest brandies. Fruits are carefully fermented and slowly distilled in wood fired pot stills to produce a drink that captures all of the natural flavors and aromas. Check out their website.

Fish Hatcheries Elk River and Indian Creek Fish Hatcheries are dedicated to increasing the number of Chinook salmon in area streams and rivers.  Come feed the fish and learn about the salmon life cycle.

Myrtlewood Shops The wood of the myrtle tree is used to make a variety of unique products including miniature lighthouses, gun stocks, bowls, clocks, jewelry and more.  Visit a local myrtlewood shop and ask for a tour of their workshop. The Oregon Myrtlewood tree grows uncultivated only in a small area along the Pacific Coast. The only other place you will find Myrtlewood is in the Holy Land.

Petting Zoo in Pistol River A thrill for children of all ages. The petting zoo features fun and curious farm creatures. By appointment only.

The "Betty" The Betty, a 47-ft. sailing vessel-auxiliary cutter, designed by Albert Strange and built in 1909 in England, has had a colorful career, including winning the 1927 Fastnet Race as Tally Ho, wrecking on a Pacific reef and rebuilt at Rarotonga (Cook Islands), and operating as a motor fishing vessel (Escape) out of Brookings. Check out their website.

Click here for a detailed complete listing of tour opportunities.

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