Once known as Ellensburg, Gold Beach is a coastal town in the far south-west of Oregon. Its name was changed in 1890 after gold was discovered near the mouth of the Rogue River. Gold Beach serves as a base for mailboats that have been delivering mail to the tiny community of Agness since 1895.
Things to do in Gold Beach
Learn about the people and events that have shaped Gold Beach at the Curry Historical Museum, where you’ll find military artefacts, household objects and old photographs on display. It’s located opposite the Curry County Fairgrounds where festivities take place each summer. In addition to livestock shows and auctions, the Curry County Fair is renowned for its live music and amusement rides.
In the south of Gold Beach is Kissing Rock, a famous rock formation where local lovers are said to meet. It watches over a grass-backed beach that hosts an annual treasure hunt designed for young and old. You can enjoy a stroll along the sands while marvelling at the boulders at the mouth of Hunter Creek.
A short drive from Gold Beach will take you to the Pistol River Scenic Viewpoint, which is located where the Pistol River flows into the Pacific Ocean. It was the site of a significant battle during the 1856 Rogue River Indian War and takes its name from a pistol that was lost during the fighting. A spectacular hiking trail hugs the rocky shoreline to Hunter’s Cove where you can watch local windsurfers in action.
Getting around Gold Beach
Gold Beach is just under two hours’ drive from North Bend and Southwest Oregon Regional Airport, which has regular flights to San Francisco. The much larger Eugene Airport is 3.5 hours away. Regular buses connect to Gold Beach and the town is compact enough to explore on foot.