Page 70 - SOM Summer 2017

t h e g o o d li f e | Adventure

SECRET BEACHES

t h e h i d d en g em s o f c u rry co u n t y

and by John Shewey

ighting through dense old-growth buckbrush ranks about a zero AN UNNAMED BEACH
on the fun-factor scale, and that’s the least of the difficulties faced The route to the unnamed beach south of Humbug Mountain begins
Fby explorers hiking to perhaps the least-visited foot-accessible at a wide gravel pullout on the west shoulder of Highway 101,
beach in Oregon. The narrow, mile-long strip of gleaming sand extend- milepost 310.6. Park here, walk north behind the guardrail for
ing south from Humbug Mountain is about 10 miles south of Port about 200 yards, and watch for a scramble trail leading down the
Orford. embankment to faint westerly routes through the brush. Pick your
way west a short distance, then turn northward down the brushy
At least buckbrush doesn’t bite back; but the short cross-country route slope facing the beach. Head down toward the big black rocks
to this pristine beach leads through copious stands of poison oak, prickly guarding the beach’s south terminus. When the terrain flattens, aim
trailing blackberries, and even pricklier gooseberry. These verdant just to the right of the largest monolith and carefully scramble down
inconveniences are the price of admission to just one of several fantas- through the rocks to the beach. Throughout the short hike remain
tic hidden beaches along Curry County’s gorgeously rugged stretch of ever vigilant to poison oak.
coastline. Curry County is a long ways from everywhere and home to
only 25,000 people; its relative isolation and splendorous geology assure Once on the beach, you can explore a mile northward, but avoid high
quietude on most of its beaches and especially its hidden gems. tides, especially big tides, when this narrow beach all but disappears,

68 www.southernoregonmagazine.com | summer 2017