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You’ve probably seen the famous view point at Samuel H Boardman State Scenic Corridor on social media, you’ve maybe pinned it or saved it for later and even looked up how to get there. I had Samuel H Boardman State Scenic Corridor on my bucketlist to visit on the Oregon coast drive for so long but when I came to researching how to find its exact location on the southern Oregon coast I was stumped.
Following the Oregon coast trail was a weekend trip I’d wanted to take from Portland, Oregon for so long and it makes the perfect Oregon weekend road trip. You can see my full Oregon Coast Road Trip Guide here.
When I’m really stuck on finding a location during my trip research, my last resort is Google Satellite view (honestly if you don’t already use it, give it a try!). From this map of the Oregon coast I managed to find the rock formations I was looking for - this is what it looks like on Google Maps.
How to get to the famous view point
There is a car park labelled Natural Bridges right next to the 101 highway (marked with the green flag on the screen shot - you can search for Natural Bridges in Google Maps to find it). It is literally a dirt area right off the road so be carefully pulling off suddenly and warn any cars behind you in plenty of time. There is only space for around 6-8 vehicles, we went in February and had no issues with space as no one else was even around but might be worth planning your trip here to arrive earlier in the day if you’re exploring here in summer.
From the car park is the paved walkway to the viewing platform on your left as you face the ocean. Instead what you need to do is go to the right hand side of the car park. Here you will find a small dirt path through the undergrowth and trees and this is what you need to follow. The rough trajectory is marked in red on this screenshot.
Keep roughly heading along here towards the ocean.
From this point I have to emphasise that this route should only be taken with the proper preparations and precautions, the route is steep, slippy and uneven with sheer drops on either side of a relatively thin rocky path to get to the last bit of the view point.
I would NOT recommend doing this if:
you do not have proper hiking/climbing footwear or shoes with a good grip
you are with children
if you are afraid of heights
during bad weather or winter when the ground is excessively wet/slippy or icy
by yourself - please always be with someone else or at least let someone know where you are if you are an experienced walker on your own.
From here the path gets very steep through the trees, if you head over to the left you will see one of the other famous views over Patricks Creek (as labelled on the screenshot) with the archway through to the ocean.
Continue down until the ground flattens out a bit and head towards the left where the trees stop and you can see a rocky walk way. On your left should be the Patrick Creek pool which you can see from the car park viewing platform. On your right is the ocean and other small rocky islands.
Patricks Creek, the view to your left
The Pacific, coastal view to your right
On this last bit when the ground has flattened out and you’re pretty much out the trees, the path you need to take is a pretty thin rock walkway, still keeping Patricks Creek on your left and the ocean on your right. The picture of the Pacific above shows you how much the ground drops away from the edges and this is why I gave my warnings earlier not go here alone, with children, if you hate heights or don’t have the correct footwear. The Oregon coast weather was also not on our side so you must really factor that into your planning.
The below photo is the thin path you will walk along to see the famous view down the coastal corridor.
There is the view point from this thin path which looks straight down the coast, which is the photo I took with me in the yellow coat (see below) I’ve also seen people go down onto the lower rock ledge which is straight ahead and below of where I’m standing in this photo. It was too wet and slippy for us to attempt that on our visit as the rocks kept getting hit by waves.
Where to stay near Samuel H Boardman State Scenic Corridor
We stayed nearby overnight so we could arrive at the viewpoint early the next morning, we had hopes of a sunrise but the weather was not on our side! If you do plan to stay in the area, Gold Beach is just north of the Park and Brookings in south.
If you're planning to stay in Gold Beach, check out this secluded coastal lookout cabin with a hot tub. Or this modern and spacious apartment with a deck and water views. If you're on a budget, check out these cottage rentals.
If you're staying in Brookings, check out this gorgeous bright loft rental in Brookings. This ocean view cabin is perfect for a romantic couples getaway with a hot tub. Or check out this amazing treehouse cabin for 4 people to be more immersed in nature. If you're on more of a budget, these cabins are great too.
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