A new year is a perfect time to try cycling, disc golfing, paddling and more.
Whatever your adventurous curiosities, there’s nothing like the promise of a new year to start turning aspirations into experiences. And what better place than the Oregon Coast to try an adventure that’s new to you. From mountain biking and disc golfing to guided fishing trips, fat-tire biking and paddling, the Oregon Coast is packed with adventure. Here are five to try.
1. Meander on a Mountain Bike
Want to explore ancient coastal forests, take in expansive ocean vistas and coast through quiet stretches laced with salt-filled breezes? Hundreds of miles of first-class mountain biking trails weave along the Oregon Coast and are a great way to do all that and more.
A relatively new trail system in the forest near Seaside, Klootchy Creek has easy, flat trails through the woods for beginning bikers and little shredders. Plus, you can roll up to the remarkable stump that once belonged to the 750-year-old Sitka spruce which was the largest tree in Oregon until it toppled in a storm in 2007. Farther south, a ride on the Wilder Trails near Newport comes with a unique soundtrack: the crashing surf of the Pacific. The Southern Oregon Coast has also built a mountain biking name for itself with a steller trail complex, Whiskey Run, a forested and fern-filled pocket north of Coos Bay that includes peaceful pedals like the Snag, a green trail great for those new to the sport.
2. Play Among Trees on the Disc-Golf Course
Hiking on the Oregon Coast is fantastic, but if you’re looking for something a little more sporting, disc golf is calling your name. Though it may be a little challenging to toss discs into baskets on a windy day, walking the scenic courses and trying your best makes for a fun outing with friends.
The South Beach State Park course in Newport is one of the only courses that’s mere footsteps from the Pacific on the Oregon Coast, and its amateur-rated option is a great place to throw your first disc. First-timers can also give it a go on the South Coast, where the city of Port Orford has a nice short course at Buffington Memorial Park. It winds through the trees, but the holes are short, so it’s good for newcomers.
3. Try Your Fishing Luck
Perhaps nothing conjures up the Oregon Coast more than the renowned seafood that anglers pull from its waters, from rockfish to steelhead. While it’s not impossible to do so on your own, going with a seasoned guide who knows where the fish are biting takes it to a different level.
Hundreds of guides and charters dot the Oregon Coast, meaning that almost anywhere along the 363-mile shoreline is covered. A few favorite outings include fly-fishing for steelhead in the Rogue River near Gold Beach, deep-sea fishing in the Pacific Ocean out of Garibaldi or Yaquina Bay or crabbing for Dungeness crabs in the Pacific just outside of Charleston. Friendly guides will gladly show you the ropes — and poles.
4. Roll on the Beach on a Fat Bike
What’s better than a breezy stroll along the Oregon Coast? How about a breezy bike ride? It’s possible when you’re riding a fat-tire bike. Equipped with mountain-bike-style suspension and huge tires, fat bikes are made for riding across sand without sinking, so they’re great for beginning cyclists or those who’ve never biked on the beach.
There’s a gorgeous, flat 6-mile route from Cannon Beach that offers an up-close encounter with the iconic Haystack Rock. On the South Coast, head out from Gold Beach on the Banana Belt Loop and take in tide pools, streams and stunning shorelines.
A similar experience can be had via fat-tire wheelchairs and David’s Chair adventurous track chairs, which are available through several accessible options along the Coast.
5. Practice Your Paddling
From stand-up paddleboarding on inland lakes to gentle canoes on winding rivers, there’s a paddling adventure for anyone just getting their feet wet. You can always try a guided paddle for the best tips and lore from an experienced guide.
The Tillamook County Water Trail itself covers just about every kind of coastal paddling over 250 miles of navigable water: calm bays, wildlife-rich estuaries and even whitewater rapids. If it’s a lazy lake for stand-up paddleboarding you seek, try Devil’s Lake in Lincoln City. In addition to kayak rentals and guided trips, you can rent paddleboards just up the road at Safari Town Surf Shop. For a comprehensive overview on South Coast paddling routes and launches from the Umpqua to the Chetco Rivers, check out this guide.
– By Jon Bell
Top photo: By Jeremy Burke