Sunset Bay State Park


Three miles southwest of town on Cape Arago Hwy, this state park is nestled in a small, protected bay that once served as a safe harbor for fishing boats, and possibly pirates as well. Today it's popular with swimmers, hikers and tidepool explorers. A 6-mile, cliff-edge stretch of the Oregon Coast Trail continues south from here to link all three state parks in the area. Cape Arago Lighthouse sits just offshore on a rocky crag.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Shore Acres State Park

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Beautiful rehabilitated gardens are the highlight of this unusual state park, 4 miles southwest of Charleston. Louis Simpson, a shipping and lumber…

2. Cape Arago State Park

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About 5 miles south of Charleston at blustery Cape Arago you can scan the horizon for whales, seals and watch ships passing into Coos Bay. The 0.2-mile…

3. Charleston Marine Life Center

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This fantastic new little museum/aquarium has lots of interactive displays plus views out over the harbor. Touch a whale on a screen to hear its song, pet…

5. Coos Art Museum

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6. Coos Historical & Maritime Museum

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In gigantic and fancy new digs on Coos Bay's waterfront, this museum displays exhibits from Native American culture to maritime shipwrecks, plus mining,…

7. Washed Ashore Gallery & Workshop

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This tiny but cool gallery features gigantic sculptures made from trash washed up from the sea. Walk through a life-sized whale skeleton made from plastic…

8. Bandon Historical Society Museum

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This museum has exhibits on the area's historical industries and the Coquille Native Americans, along with memorable photos of Bandon's two devastating…