Coastal Majesty

A late September road trip to the southern Oregon coast held the promise of some different and exciting photography for us.

One specific photo we wanted to capture was just a classic coastal view showing beach, sea stacks, ocean, blue sky and rich green coastal forest. From Brookings north to Pistol River, Highway 101 follows the magnificent Pacific coast with numerous viewpoints along the way and several such opportunities. A 17-mile stretch of the highway is referred to as the Samuel H. Boarman State Scenic Corridor, perhaps the most spectacular section of coastal drive in Oregon. Along this route, there are numerous places to park and follow various trails down to beaches or overlooks of the coast. Some offer the experience of watching sea waves thundering against ancient rocks while other locations offer sandy beaches where you can stroll in and out of the water and explore tidal pools. All along the coast, dense forests often drop down almost to beach level.

On the day this shot was taken, we were struggling to find locations free of the “marine layer” that brings in fog, but as we worked our way north, we began to find locations mostly free of that haze, though there is still some apparent in this photo. From numerous stops and locations, this photo best displayed the coastal majesty we sought.   

Tim Cooney   09/2025