{"id":604,"date":"2020-03-16T23:04:38","date_gmt":"2020-03-16T20:04:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/100steps.info\/?p=604"},"modified":"2020-03-16T23:04:38","modified_gmt":"2020-03-16T20:04:38","slug":"port-of-gold-beach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thisamericandream.com\/port-of-gold-beach\/","title":{"rendered":"Port of Gold Beach"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In many editions of Oregon Coast Magazine I\u2019ve seen a partial or full-page Gold Beach advertisement listing an agenda of engaging entertainment to fill several days. Due to this superb promoting, my husband and I had allocated a day of our Brookings camping trip to head north 28 miles and explore. Bravo Gold Beach tourism board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We set off for this apparently bounteous section of southern Oregon coast with no particular game plan. Beaches and boardwalks are usually not hard to find in coastal Oregon towns, and based on the slew of published activities, fun would be available around every corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We headed first to the Port of Gold Beach. As you enter you are greeted with, well, a floating pile of junk. Finding no explanation near the heap, I later found this on the Port\u2019s website:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe world famous Mary D. Hume, constructed in Gold Beach in 1881, has enjoyed a colorful life up and down the coast.  She spends her final days in the Port of Gold Beach.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"port-of-gold-beach-6542680\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Wikipedia<\/a>\u00a0tells us she is on the National Register of Historic places, but at this point she is just the rotting carcass of an old steamer. I value history and I appreciate sea vessels, but I can\u2019t say Ms. Hume is a welcoming view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steering past this rather jarring entrance, we passed a few meager shops and found some picnic tables by the river, but no boardwalk per se. We continued to the neighboring Rogue River South Jetty, which is rugged and tumultuous, as are most Oregon jetties. Although not optimal for walking, it turned out to be a highlight of the region. After perusing these areas we drove both upriver and north seeking choice spots to walk. With no such luck, we gave up and returned to Brookings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ll be blunt\u2026Gold Beach did not rate high with us. Some places \u201cclick\u201d for one, and some just don\u2019t. It was a soggy gray day, so maybe that was a contributing factor. I\u2019m sure there are plenty of folks who have had a fabulous time in Gold Beach. Me, if I visit the south coast again, I\u2019ll stick to\u00a0Brookings<\/a>, which is a wonderful mecca of coastal excursions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I recently took a closer look at a Gold Beach ad. If you read more carefully than I did originally, you see that many posted activities are for points elsewhere \u2013 north in\u00a0Port Orford<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Bandon<\/a>, south to the California redwoods. And, of course (although absent from the ad), Brookings is close. So perhaps Gold Beach is best as a hub for points nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Port picnic area<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

25 Steps<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patterson Bridge is a picturesque sight visible throughout the Port of Gold Beach. The picnic tables situated in grass by the water and boat moorage provide seated viewing of this\u00a0Conde B. McCullough<\/a>-engineered Rogue River overpass. The tables are close, but you can stroll along the sidewalk to lengthen your walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Jetty<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

25 Steps<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019d like to see where the Rogue River tumbles into the sea, continue past the Port of Gold Beach to the Rogue River South Jetty. A lone table sits overlooking the river mouth and jetty. The walking is rougher than the Port picnic area, but the white caps rolling in are more raw and rewarding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n