Oregon

Boardman Scenic Corridor

Secret

Fried

Immersive

Natural Bridges ❘ Francesco Vaninetti Photo/Getty Images

Tony's Crab Shack restaurant ❘ Leigh Smith Images/Alamy

Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor ❘ Panoramic Images/Alamy

Sea stacks and low tide reflecting pools ❘ Dennis Frates/Alamy

Bandon beach ❘ Francesco Vaninetti Photo/Getty Images

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Quiet cliff shores and fresh seafood shacks a few hours from Portland.

The Coquille River Valley, just inland of Bandon, is perfect for growing grass and raising cows, making it one of the best dairy regions in the country.

About four hours south from Portland is the start of one of the most gorgeous and peaceful parts of the Pacific Northwest: the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor. While most people head north along the shore to places such as Cannon Beach and Astoria (home of The Goonies), the southern part can be otherworldly and often overlooked.

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Named for the Oregon State Parks department’s first superintendent, the corridor stretches 12 miles along Highway 101. It’s all rocky bluffs and secluded beaches, studded with some of the West Coast’s best seafood shacks.

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About an hour north of Samuel H. Boardman, Coos Bay makes a great base for exploring the area. The Boat Fish & Chips is a converted houseboat known for its titular dish, but the Captain’s Platter is the menu’s secret star, loaded with fried clam strips, oysters, fish, scallops, and prawns.

Coquille Valley ❘ Manuela Durson/Shutterstock

In North Bend, you’ll find Clausen Oysters, the largest oyster farm in Oregon. Clausen has an onsite restaurant selling seafood towers and fried snacks, but they also sell fresh oysters, best shucked on one of the many hidden beaches nearby, if you have the tools and the skill.

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September through December is the best time for crabbing, so grab some pots, bait, and a permit, and wait for peak high or low tide (also known as slackwater) to catch your own. Most local restaurants are usually willing to steam them for you. Clamming is just as easy and runs on the same timeline. For those less interested in catching their dinner, Tony's Crab Shack in Bandon offers steamed Dungeness crab and steaming bowls of rich chowder.

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This part of the Oregon coast is known as “The Banana Belt” due to its year-round moderate climate. The Coquille River Valley, just inland of Bandon, is perfect for growing grass and raising cows, making it one of the best dairy regions in the country. Based out of Bandon, Face Rock Creamery has cheeses ranging from apricot-honey flavors to garlic curds. Sample the many options, then take a few favorites for the rest of your adventures.

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There are 11 main viewpoints along the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor, and though you can drive between them, hiking provides a more immersive experience. Grab a coffee and explore Natural Bridges at sunrise to see rock arches and blowholes. Or pack a picnic and discover Secret Beach at sunset. Or prepare for the 27 miles of the Oregon Coast Trail within Samuel H. Boardman, full of rugged coast, lush forests, and offshore sea stacks. Keep your eyes peeled for migratory whales, as well as sea lions and seals. They might be the only company you’ll encounter.

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— Farideh Sadeghin