New resources help more people enjoy coastal parks, beaches and waterways.
Thanks to new adaptive features, the jaw-dropping vistas, uncrowded beaches and quiet lakes of Oregon’s Southern Coast are becoming even more welcoming to visitors. In recent years, improvements like free rental beach wheelchairs and accessible kayak launches have made stunning outdoor experiences possible for more people. Here’s how to plan a great trip to the South Coast your whole crew can enjoy.
Cruise the Beach on a Track Chair
Slippery beach sand can pose special challenges for people who use mobility devices, which often sink into the soft surface. In Gold Beach, travelers can book a free power track chair through a nonprofit called David’s Chair. Instead of wheels, these rugged all-terrain devices have tank-like treads that firmly grip the sand, helping users navigate rough trails, soft dunes and hard-pack wet sand with ease.
To reserve a chair, book it through the company and pick it up at the Gold Beach Visitor Center — conveniently located within rolling distance of the beach. While you’re out on the sand, you’re welcome to take advantage of the building’s charging station for electric wheelchairs. If you have a vehicle with a trailer hitch, you can also book a “Tow and Go” track chair, which comes packed in a custom trailer with a rear door that opens into a ramp. There’s also a “Tow and Go” option with a similar arrangement in Coos Bay.
Places to Stroll and Roll
Southern Oregon has plenty of oceanfront spots that are accessible for multiple mobility levels. Beyond the beach wheelchairs, Gold Beach is in the process of purchasing Mobi-mats — wide, high-traction mats that can be rolled out to the beach for easier access for people who use wheelchairs, strollers, walkers or other mobility devices.
South of Gold Beach, Arch Rock Viewpoint & Picnic Area — part of the breathtaking coastal drive along Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor — has a 1/3-mile paved path to scenic views. From the large parking area, follow it to an overlook of the arch-shaped offshore rock formation that gives the area its name. About 55 miles north, Coquille Point in Bandon has a mostly flat, fully paved 0.5-mile loop trail that leads across an open headland to ocean viewpoints with sweeping views of wide sandy beaches and beautiful rocks and sea stacks. Rough trails lead down to the beach itself, and many have stairs, so accessibility is difficult for the beach itself.
Just south of Charleston, Shore Acres State Park is a fascinating glimpse into the region’s history and landscape. Once the luxurious private estate of a lumber baron, today this historic property is home to a lush formal garden crisscrossed with wide paths, many made from hard-packed gravel. Lovers of flowers appreciate blooms from the first daffodils of late winter to hundreds of dahlias that linger through October. From late November through December, the Holiday Lights exhibit illuminates the gardens with more than 300,000 LED lights. Call the park ahead of time to ask about the availability of free rental wheelchairs, especially during the holiday season.
Want to watch wildlife? Nearby Simpson Reef Overlook offers ADA-friendly parking spots and fully paved access to a viewpoint that’s among the best places on the South Coast to spot sea lions and migrating whales.
Accessible Paddling and Fishing
For kayakers, there are several places to launch boats from an ADA-approved ramp with rails to help maneuver. The Port of Gold Beach has one located alongside the recreation dock to the west of the main port. At John Topits Park near Coos Bay, paddlers can launch their kayaks from an accessible launch into Empire Lakes. No gas-powered boats are allowed on these waterways, so you’ll be able to enjoy wake-free paddling. The park also includes more than 5 miles of wide, paved hiking and cycling trails that are mostly flat.
A few miles to the north, the shifting sands of the Oregon Dunes have shaped Eel Lake and Tenmile Lakes into twisting, narrow waterways perfect for experiencing by boat. Find accessible kayak launches at William M. Tugman State Park on Eel Lake and at Tenmile Lake County Park in Lakeside, where you can also rent watercraft. Fish for a trophy bass from your boat, or visit the accessible fishing dock at either park.
For those traveling east to Powers to enjoy outdoor activities in the Coast Range, you’ll find another accessible launch in the pleasant man-made lake at Powers County Park.
You can find more accessible boat-launch locations — and more ideas for accessible coastal adventures — on the Oregon Coast Visitors Association’s Travelability page.
Header photo: Oregon Dunes by Manuela Durson
