Contact Information
1115 Commercial Street NE
Salem, OR 97301
541-347-2209
Cape Arago may be lands end in some respects (the road out of Coos Bay goes no further), but it's really only the beginning for visitors wishing to explore the southern Oregon coast. Cape Arago is a scenic headland jutting into the Pacific Ocean. Long used by native Americans, Cape Arago was first sighted by Europeans during one of Sir Francis Drake's expeditions in the late 1500s. Today, visitors can scan the horizon for migrating whales and other marine mammals, as well as fishing boats and ships entering and leaving nearby Coos Bay.The south cove trail leads down to a sandy beach and superior tidepools where you can visit intertidal plants and animals (but please enjoy them with your eyes only). The north cove trail provides access for fishing, beachcombing, and viewing the offshore colonies of seals and sea lions at Shell Island -- a designated National Wildlife Refuge. The trail is closed March 1-June 30 to protect seal pups. Picnic tables, restrooms and a gazebo shelter are available for daytime use.
Cape Arago offers beach access, interpretive trails, and opportunities for picnicking, group picnicking, fishing, hiking, viewing marine and terrestrial wildlife, and viewing scenery.
The Oregon coast receives abundant rainfall, mostly between October and April. July and August bring the best chance for clear days. Summer temperatures are normally moderate and almost never hot. Winter temperatures are normally cool at the lower elevations and cold at the higher elevations. Although snow is possible in the lowest elevations, it is infrequent.
