For those escaping California to experience the Oregon Coast, Brookings is the first stop on Highway 101. The Chetco River, running down to the Pacific from the Kalmiopsis Wilderness, is the only place in Oregon to find redwood forests. But it is the warm climate (in comparison to surrounding areas), busy harbor and tax-free shopping that draws many visitors over the border to Brookings.

Destinations just out of town, like the Samuel H Boardman State Park and the Alfred A Loeb State Park, appeal to those more interested in catching a glimpse of tiny island chains or crumbling rock arches than tax-breaks. One end of the Oregon Coastal Trail is located in Boardman State Park. Follow any number of short trails to explore the area, or drive up the Chetco River road for a choice of hikes.

If it's fish, not physical effort you're after, the Chetco River runs with steelhead in winter and Chinook salmon in fall. There are also sport fishing trips that leave from the harbor. Gold Beach, a small town 27 miles north of Brookings, is where most visitors go to access the Pacific end of the Rogue River. Book a jet boat tour up-river into the Wild Rogue Wilderness Area to do some wildlife spotting.

For camping, Loeb State Park is a safe bet, just a stone's throw from water and forest. Traverse one of the trails along Chetco River, and jump in for a swim before finishing off the day with a walk through ancient redwoods.

Brookings is six miles north of the Oregon-California border, 100 miles west of Grants Pass and 100 miles south of Coos Bay. To learn more about the area, please select a topic of interest from the navigation bar on the left.