7 Best Things to Do in Port Orford, OR

By VacationIdea Staff on June 22, 2022 - Updated

James Eddy/stock.adobe.com

Port Orford is a city in Curry County on the southern coast of Oregon. Port Orford is the westernmost community in Oregon, and the westernmost settlement in the 48 contiguous states. It is also the oldest town on the Oregon Coast. Port Orford is a charming fishing port and very active and renowned art community. Visitors come for the spectacular natural beauty and the lack of crowds. Port Orford is home to the Cape Blanco Lighthouse built in 1870. Cape Blanco State Park was established to protect the lighthouse and the 19th century Irish settler’s home. Humbug Mountain State Park is the 1,850-acre park and campground on the slopes of Humbug Mountain and surrounded by forested hills. The 1934 Port Orford Lifeboat Station is today a museum and interpretive center.

We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.

1.Cape Blanco Lighthouse

Cape Blanco Lighthouse in Port Orford, Oregon, was built in 1870 on the site originally covered by spruce forest that had to be cleared. It was constructed using locally made bricks, in order to warn ships away from the reefs and to offer a position fix for navigators. This isolated historic lighthouse is the Oregon’s oldest continually operating light, the most westerly lighthouse, the light with the highest focal plane above the sea at 256 feet and Oregon’s first lighthouse with a woman keeper - Mabel E. Bretherton. Cape Blanco lighthouse is open to visitors, who can climb into the still working lantern room and see the historic lens. .

Port Orford, Oregon

2.Cape Blanco State Park

Cape Blanco is a state park located at the Oregon's westernmost tip, perched high above the Pacific Ocean. The park features a 19th-century lighthouse as well as an early Irish settler's home. Cape Blanco Lighthouse was built in 1870 and is the oldest lighthouse on the Oregon coast. It is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Historic Hughes House was built in 1898 for Patrick and Jane Hughes. The 3,000-square foot farmhouse still has its quaint Victorian charm. Volunteers offer tour of the home, which allows visitors to learn about early 20th century farm life. The park has a number of sheltered campsites and eight miles of hiking trails along the area’s rugged coastline that lead to the beach.

Port Orford, Oregon

3.Humbug Mountain State Park

About six miles south of Port Orford, Oregon, is the 1,850-acre Humbug Mountain State Park and campground. The park is dominated by Humbug Mountain and surrounded by forested hills. The campground is famous for having some of the warmest weather on the Oregon coast since the surrounding mountains provide protection from sharp ocean breezes. Humbug Mountain is one of the tallest mountains in Oregon directly rising from the ocean. Its slopes are home to an old-growth temperate rainforest that includes Douglas-fir, grand fir, Oregon myrtle, spruce, alder and Western red cedar.

Port Orford, Oregon

4.Port Orford, Oregon Things to Do: Hughes Historic House

The Hughes House is a charming, meticulously restored Victorian home that provides visitors with a glimpse of the life at the turn of the last century. The 3,000-square-foot, 11-room ranch house was built in 1898 for the Hughes family, who owned more than 2,000 acres and operated a dairy farm on Cape Blanco. The house was constructed of old growth Port Orford Cedar on a terrace on the north side of Cape Blanco, enjoying panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean, the Sixes River and the distant hills. It is now operated by the Cape Blanco Heritage Society as a historic house museum. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places

91816 Cape Blanco Road , Port Orford, OR 97465

5.Port Orford Heads State Park

Port Orford Heads State Park is located in Port Orford, on the coast of the northwest Curry County, Oregon. This day-use only park was established in 1976 and is now operated by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The park is located on a scenic bluff above the city and has three main walking trails that run through it: the Cove, Tower and Headland. Depending on the time of the year, the trails offers spectacular views of commercial fishing boats, gray whales, orcas, California and Steller's sea lions, and many seabirds. All along the Headland Trail there is an unrestricted view of Cape Blanco. The trail is a popular whale watching spot in the fall. The 1934 Port Orford Lifeboat Station, today a museum and interpretive center, is located in the park.

Port Orford Heads St Wayside, Port Orford, OR 97465, Phone: 800-551-6949

6.Port Orford Lifeboat Station Museum

The 1934 Port Orford Lifeboat Station, today a museum and interpretive center, is located in Port Orford Heads State Park in Port Orford, in the northwest Curry County, Oregon. From 1934 to the 1960s U.S. Coast Guard was home to US Coast Guard “surfmen,” always alert for ships in distress. When a call came they would scramble down 532 steep, slippery steps on a 280-ft. cliff to reach their 36-ft boat. The self-righting motor lifeboat number 36498 can be seen today on the grounds of the museum, which is located in the former barracks/office building. The 101-acre site has four other historic buildings . This is the only Forge River-type station left on the West Coast.

92331 Coast Guard Hill Rd, Port Orford, OR 97465, Phone: 541-332-0521

7.Port Orford, Oregon: The Wooden Nickel

The Wooden Nickel is a very special gift shop. It is located in Port Orford, on the south coast of Oregon, home of the myrtlewood tree. It is that myrtlewood tree that The Wooden Nickel artists use to make a range of wooden objects including beautifully crafted and polished bowls, candle holders, vases, plates and even religious objects. The store has been in continuous operation for more than 38 years. Visitors can come and take a tour of the gift shop and see how these amazing handmade gifts are made. Besides their signature Myrtlewood, they also work with Maple, Redwood and Port Orford Cedar, using wax, satin, and gloss finishes. All their products are available for sale online from their catalog. They also can create custom orders.

1205 Oregon St, Port Orford, OR 97465, Phone: 541-332-5201

7 Best Things to Do in Port Orford, OR

Cape Blanco Lighthouse, Photo: James Eddy/stock.adobe.com
Cape Blanco State Park, Photo: Muriel Lasure/stock.adobe.com
Humbug Mountain State Park, Photo: Randy King/stock.adobe.com
Port Orford, Oregon Things to Do: Hughes Historic House, Photo: Sven Böttcher/stock.adobe.com
Port Orford Heads State Park, Photo: Diana Vyshniakova/stock.adobe.com
Port Orford Lifeboat Station Museum, Photo: dmitrimaruta/stock.adobe.com
Port Orford, Oregon: The Wooden Nickel, Photo: The Wooden Nickel
Cover Photo: James Eddy/stock.adobe.com

More Ideas: South Coast Tours

The Oregon coast is one of the most unique and beautiful stretches of coastline in all of North America. Running from the Columbia River in the north down to the state border separating Oregon from California in the south, this 360+ miles of coast is filled with pristine rocky and sandy beaches, small coastal towns, amazing ocean views, whale-watching spots, hiking trails, kayaking routes, and much more.

The South Coast, which is generally regarding as running from Reedsport to the state border, is one of the best areas to explore if you're heading out to the Oregon Coast as it sees the warmest weather and is also home to some of the coast's largest and most interesting cities like Coos Bay and sites of interest like the Oregon Dunes and many sea cliffs of this area. If you're heading down to enjoy the South Coast of Oregon, South Coast Tours is a company you need to contact.

Scenic Tours of the Southern Oregon Coast with South Coast Tours

South Coast Tours is a leading tour provider operating along the southern stretch of the Oregon Coast. You can enjoy all kinds of activities and experiences with South Coast Tours from kayaking and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) tours to brewery tours, beach tours, bike tours, and fishing tours.

In short, this is the company to choose if you want to head off and explore the South Coast, making some unforgettable memories along the way and learning a lot from the experienced, trained, friendly guides who head up each trip. Read on to learn all about the scenic South Coast Oregon tours you can enjoy with South Coast Tours.

Best South Coast Oregon Kayaking Tours

Kayaking is a big speciality of South Coast Tours, with a huge range of kayaking options available ranging from short 1-2-hour journeys designed for total beginners and young kayakers to overnight trips for advanced paddlers. Here are a few examples of the trips you can take:

-Kayak and Sup Wild and Scenic Rogue River Trip - Designed with intermediate kayakers in mind, this trip runs for 5 miles along the beautiful Rogue River. Featuring some choppy waters and calmer spots, it offers a nice degree of challenge and relaxation and lasts for up to 2 hours, with prices starting at $80.

-Kayak Arches Overnight Trip - As the name indicates, this is a full overnight trip, so it's a real long-lasting adventure for folks who want to enjoy a very special, memorable kayaking experiences around the famous arches and rock formations off the beaches of the South Coast. This trip covers 20+ miles in total and departs from Gold Beach, with prices starting at $350.

-Kayak South Slough Coos Bay - Leaving from the biggest city on the Oregon Coast, Coos Bay, the Kayak South Slough Coos Bay trips runs for between 2-3 hours and is ideal for all kinds of kayaker, from beginners to those with a little more experience. Prices start at just $80.

Best South Coast Oregon SUP Tours

As well as kayaking tours, South Coast Tours also runs routes for people wishing to enjoy a little SUP paddling. Here are a few of the options you can enjoy:

-SUP Arches Territory - Running for around two and a half hours, this SUP tour covers around 3-4 miles in total and runs around and in between some of the amazing arches and unique rock formations that have made the Southern Oregon Coast such a beloved and beautiful spot.

-SUP Chetco River Estuary - Available at just $80 per person, this SUP tour is one of the most affordable SUP tours on the Oregon Coast. It runs for around 90 minutes in total and is fully suitable for beginners, setting off from Brookings Harbor all around the Chetco River estuary.

Best South Coast Oregon Van Tours

If you'd prefer to keep your feet dry and enjoy the land-based activities and attractions of the South Coast of Oregon, the van tours of South Coast Tours are perfect for you. Here are some details on a couple of the top choices:

-Beach and Breweries Tour - Available for just $95 per person, this wonderful tour takes in some of the most beautiful beaches in the Brookings area of the South Coast, letting you see some amazing sights and take some stunning photos, as well as stopping off at some super breweries to sample the best beers of South Oregon.

-South Coast Fat Bikes and Fat Brews - Running for 3 days in total and available at just $420 per person, this incredible tour is an amazing, multi-layered experience in which you'll get to ride fat bikes along beautiful coastal trails and enjoy some breathtaking views, as well as stopping off at some of the top breweries around Coos Bay, North Bend, and other South Coast areas.

27436 Hunter Creek Rd, Gold Beach, OR 97444, Phone: 541-373-0487,

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