10 Best Viewpoints Along the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor

Discover the very best viewpoints along the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, from quick overlooks to short hikes out to beaches and views of the rugged coastlines. We will also provide photographs of each viewpoint, a map, plus a list of which viewpoints to skip.

The Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor is one of the most spectacular stretches of coastline in Oregon. Found in the far southwestern corner of the state, this 12-mile section of highway is dotted with beautiful cliffs, beaches, sea stacks, and overlooks that rank among the best on the entire Oregon coast. For road-trippers, this scenic drive is an absolute must.

We visited the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor during a California–Oregon road trip that included Lassen Volcanic National Park, Crater Lake, and the Redwoods. We spent several hours exploring nearly every viewpoint and hiking multiple trails to determine which stops are truly worth your time.

We put together this guide to the best viewpoints, short hikes, and beaches worth stopping for — plus which overlooks you can safely skip if you’re short on time.

Oregon Coast Best Viewpoints on the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor

The Essentials

DRIVE LENGTH | 12 miles

TIME NEEDED | 3 to 5 hours

DON’T MISS | Natural Bridges, Secret Beach, Arch Rock

BEST SHORT HIKE | Secret Beach

GOOD FOR | Road trips, photographers, coastal scenery

ENTRANCE FEE | Free

How to Drive the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor

The direction doesn’t matter all that much, and which way is best really depends on where you are coming from. We traveled from south to north and found this route fantastic, as the viewpoints kept getting better as we went farther north, ending with some of the most stunning scenery toward the end of the drive.

Most stops are only 1–3 minutes apart, so expect frequent pullouts rather than long stretches of driving.

How Long Does It Take to Drive the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor?

Give yourself at least three hours to drive the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor and stop at the viewpoints along the way. This gives you enough time to stop at many of the overlooks on this list and do one to two short hikes. Add more time if you plan to relax at a beach.

We spent 4 hours visiting the viewpoints, but this included multiple hikes, plus the hike out to Secret Beach twice.

From the town of Brookings, it only takes 15 minutes to drive north along the Oregon Coast Highway and reach Arch Rock State Park, the furthest viewpoint on our list. Expect to spend a small amount of time in the car, with your day instead devoted to overlooks and beaches.

Some stops on this list involve a short 10-minute walk, but for the most part, many of the overlooks are short visits. Four hours gives you enough time to see most, if not all, of the stops on our list if you move quickly. Spend more time if you’d like to slow down and enjoy a picnic on the beach. Alternatively, pick a few highlights and you could see some great viewpoints in under an hour.

Map of the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor

Below is a map showing the viewpoints, hiking trails, and beaches along the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor.

How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. To take this map with you, click the star next to the title of the map which adds it to your Google account. Next, within your Google Maps app, select ‘Saved’ and then select ‘Maps’. This map title will now appear in your list.

Our Favorite Viewpoints in the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor

If you have limited time and can only visit a few spots, here are our top picks for the best viewpoints along the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor.

Secret Beach
Arch Rock State Park
Natural Bridges
House Rock Viewpoint
Whaleshead Viewpoint

As a bonus, and if you don’t mind a little bit of additional hiking, Indian Sands is also interesting to visit.

Please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trail, pack out what you bring to the hiking trail, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife.

Best Viewpoints Along the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor

Our list below highlights the top viewpoints to visit while driving through the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor. Our list is organized geographically, working south to north. At the end of this guide, you can see them all on a map.

PRO TRAVEL TIP: The Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor is free to visit and open all year.

1. Lone Ranch Beach

Why Visit: One of the most accessible beaches in the Corridor
Time Needed: 5 – 10 minutes, longer if you want to relax on the beach
Worth It?: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hiking Required: No, but it is a very short walk from the parking lot to the beach

Your first stop along the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor is a large sandy beach complete with beautiful coastal views. There’s also a public picnic area along a grassy field, making this a great spot to relax and take in the view.

Choose to either snap a quick picture or spend an hour unwinding in the sun. We found few people here when we visited in September, so you’ll undoubtedly find plenty of open space along the beach.

There’s a fair amount of parking at Lone Ranch Beach. There are also a few additional parking spaces along the coastal highway if this fills up. From the nearby town of Brookings, Lone Ranch Beach is a 10-minute drive north.

Safety Note: Swimming at Lone Ranch Beach, along with other beaches on your scenic drive, is not recommended. Water temperatures are cold, usually peaking around 65°F (18°C), and there is a risk of rip currents. There are also no lifeguards, so swim at your own risk.

2. Cape Ferrelo

Why Visit: For panoramic views of the Oregon coast
Time Needed: 5 minutes
Worth It?: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hiking Required: No

Cape Ferrelo Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor Oregon Coast

Catch glimpses of nearby beaches as well as massive rocks jutting from the ocean while at Cape Ferrelo. A very short stop on your drive, Cape Ferrelo provides a high vantage point overlooking the Oregon coast.

Cape Ferrelo is a short, 1-minute drive north of Lone Ranch Beach. Since you can get a good view directly from the parking lot, it’s worth a quick stop. Plus, the higher vantage point allows you to see more of the surrounding coast.

3. House Rock Viewpoint

Why Visit: Better panoramic views than from Cape Ferrelo
Time Needed: 5 minutes
Worth It?: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hiking Required: No

The view from House Rock Viewpoint

This overlook provides another high vantage point of the surrounding Oregon coast. A very short walk from the parking lot, visitors are treated to panoramic views both up and down the coast, with great visibility off into the distance.

House Rock Viewpoint is a very short 1-minute drive from Cape Ferrelo. Since they’re so close, the view doesn’t change much between the two. However, since you have more panoramic views of the coast both north and south from here, we recommend this spot over Cape Ferrelo.

4. Whaleshead Viewpoint

Why Visit: For views of the coast and sea stacks; since this beach is more remote, you could have it all to yourself (and it is prettier than Lone Ranch Beach)
Time Needed: 10 – 15 minutes
Worth It?: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hiking Required: You can get a view from the parking lot, but for the best experience, hike out to the beach on a rugged trail (about 10 minutes out-and-back)

From Whaleshead Viewpoint, enjoy coastal views along with a forested trail down to a beach. This is a great stop for those who want to stretch their legs and see more of the coast on foot.

The view from the parking lot

From the parking lot, there’s a small clearing in the trees where visitors can look out over large ocean rocks. This view is good, but walking the short trail down to the beach is the real highlight. There are great viewpoints along the way, and best yet, hardly anyone on the beach.

The trees along the trail are so cool!

Whaleshead Beach

Including the short hike, this was one of our favorite viewpoints along the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor. This is a great choice for those who have a little more time and want to enjoy a short 10-minute hike.

Parking for Whaleshead Viewpoint is a 3-minute drive north of House Rock Viewpoint. There’s a fair number of parking spaces, but we were the only ones here when we visited.

5. Whaleshead Beach

Why Visit: To visit Whaleshead Beach without doing the short hike
Time Needed: 10 minutes, longer if you want to relax on the beach
Worth It?: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hiking Required: No

Alternatively, if you prefer to drive right to Whaleshead Beach, add this next stop to your list. However, be prepared to drive on a steep, somewhat rough gravel road down to the beach, where you’ll find parking. There are also a few parking spaces at the top of the gravel road, along the scenic highway.

There’s no need to visit both Whaleshead Viewpoint and Whaleshead Beach, especially if you do the short hike from Whaleshead Viewpoint. If you want direct beachfront access, visit Whaleshead Beach instead.

6. Diamond View

Why Visit: For a unique view of the rugged coastline through the trees
Time Needed: 5 minutes
Worth It?: ⭐️⭐️
Hiking Required: No

Diamond View on the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, Oregon

This quick overlook provided one of our favorite views along the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor. Right from the parking lot, visitors get a neat view through the trees looking south at the coast.

You’re high above the coast at Diamond View, making for a great vantage point. From here, you can look down at the nearby bluffs and watch the waves crash against the rocks jutting from the ocean.

Diamond View is worth a very short visit. There’s a small parking lot here where you can pull out, take a picture, and continue up the road. Diamond View is a very short 1-minute drive from Whaleshead Beach. Note that there is no signage along the coastal highway indicating the viewpoint, so make sure to mark it on Google Maps (we also have it marked on our map above).

7. Indian Sands

Why Visit: To see one of the most dramatic stretches of coastline
Time Needed: 30 – 60 minutes
Worth It?: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hiking Required: Yes. This is one of the longest hikes on the list. To get out to the coast and back, we walked about 0.75 miles with 270 feet of ascent, making this a short but strenuous hike.

Follow a maze-like trail through a forest and out to a sandy beach. The view from the beach is good, looking out over the coastal cliffs, sand dunes, and plenty of giant rocks emerging from the ocean.

Tyler hiking the trail down to the beach

View from the trail that runs along the beach

Compared to other viewpoints on this list, you’ll have a long downhill walk through a forest before reaching the beach. The trail is not well defined, with a number of offshoots that break off and reconnect to the main trail. It’s easy to get lost on your way to the beach and then on the return hike to your car.

Indian Sands is only worth it if you are up for a short, strenuous hike. There are more interesting hikes to do, if you are only up for one or two while visiting the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor.

8. Natural Bridges

Why Visit: To see the natural bridge and go on a short but adventurous hike.
Time Needed: 30 – 60 minutes
Worth It?: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hiking Required: No. You can see the natural bridge from a viewpoint next to the parking lot. For the most interesting experience, hike down to the coastline.

Photo of Natural Bridges in the afternoon

Natural Bridges offers one of the most scenic and iconic views along the entire Oregon coast. When you picture the Oregon coast, chances are you imagine the view at Natural Bridges.

Giant moss-covered rocks emerge from the ocean, with tiny forests growing on top. These rocks form a narrow waterway where waves swell and crash. The main highlight, however, is the natural arch in one of the rocks that acts as a bridge.

Hiking down to the water’s edge was one of our favorite experiences in the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor. This is a steep, rugged trail that will have you scrambling over and under fallen trees. It feels like an adventure, and once near the water, the views are stunning.

There are a few photos online showing people walking across the natural bridge. When we visited, we saw no way to get on top of the rock, most likely due to safety reasons. We recommend you stay on the trail and enjoy the view from there.

The view of the Oregon Coastline from the Natural Bridges Trail

Here’s the view from the bottom of the trail

9. Secret Beach

Why Visit: This is our favorite viewpoint in the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, with sea stacks lining a hidden, gorgeous beach.
Time Needed: 30 – 60 minutes
Worth It?: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hiking Required: Yes. It is about one-mile out-and-back, most of this on a rugged trail. It’s a downhill walk to the beach and an uphill hike back to the parking lot. But it’s worth it!!

Secret Beach quickly became our favorite location along the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor. The beach itself was one of the most scenic stops on the coast. We liked the view so much that we did this twice on our visit.

Lone man standing on a large rock overlooking Secret Beach, Oregon

Walk out to a large sandy beach flanked by cliffs, with many prominent rock formations along the beach and in the water. It’s a beautiful location and one of the most iconic sights along the Oregon coast. The best part is that there are generally few people who visit here.

There’s a short but steep forested trail down to the beach. You’ll be hiking a rugged dirt trail that can get slippery, so watch your step. Expect a 10-minute walk down to Secret Beach from the parking lot.

There’s a small parking lot for Secret Beach directly off the scenic parkway. To get here, it’s a 1-minute drive north of Natural Bridges.

10. Arch Rock State Park

Why Visit: For one of the most photographed, iconic views of the Oregon coast.
Time Needed: 15 minutes
Worth It?: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hiking Required: No

Arch Rock State Park is another must-see when driving through the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor. From giant ocean rocks, sandy beaches, stunning cliffs, and a natural arch, there’s a lot to view here.

Arch Rock is easy to visit with fantastic views. We had great views as soon as we parked our car, and they only get better as we walked out onto the short wooded peninsula.

This small park has numerous viewpoints offering panoramic views out over the Oregon coast. This was our last stop along the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, but it’s one of the best.

Here are a few of our favorite photos ↓

Iconic view along the Samuel Boardman State Scenic Corridor

This viewpoint is located very close to the parking lot

Arch Rock

Another view of the coast…all these great views are just a short walk from the parking lot, making this a must-see spot along the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor.

To get here, it’s a very short 1-minute drive north from Secret Beach. There’s a large parking lot with public bathrooms here.

Viewpoints to Skip Along the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor

Not all overlooks are created equally. The ones we list below are better skipped in the interest of time, as there are better views that require less effort.

Thomas Creek Bridge Viewpoint

This is one of the few overlooks that doesn’t look out at the Oregon coast. Instead, you’ll be looking at Thomas Creek Bridge, the tallest bridge in Oregon. You’ll also drive across this bridge as you head north for more viewpoints.

This was our least favorite overlook along the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor. From the ground, you don’t see much, just the side of the bridge, so this is one to skip if you’re short on time. However, if you have a drone, views look much better from the air. You can get a better sense of scale for the bridge as well as coastal views.

Spruce Island Viewpoint

This is an interesting walk along a forest trail that leads to a coastal viewpoint. It’s a nice view, but this experience takes about 15 minutes, and with so many other great viewpoints and short hikes to do, this one is skippable, in our opinion.

Spruce Island Trail

Spruce Island Viewpoint

North Island Trail

The North Island Trail is another viewpoint to skip if you’re short on time. You’ll hike a very overgrown trail through a lush forest before reaching a mediocre view of the coast. Visibility is limited both on the trail and at the viewpoint. There are better viewpoints that are easier to reach.

If you have the time and want a short hike through a forest, consider the North Island Trail. Just know that hiking the half-mile trail is more entertaining than the destination.

The view from North Island Trail

What is the Best Time to Visit the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor?

The best time to drive the Oregon Coast is from April through October. The weather will be pleasant for outdoor sightseeing and warm enough to stand on a few beaches.

From June through August you’ll have the warmest weather but also larger crowds. You’ll find more people looking to relax along some of the beaches you visit.

Visiting during the spring and fall is a less popular time to visit among tourists, so you’ll find fewer people. However, expect colder temperatures and a larger chance for rain in the spring.

Our visit was in mid-September. We had warm weather, sunny skies, and very low crowds.

If you have any questions about how to visit the the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, let us know in the comment section below.

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