Port Orford Heads State Park

By America's State Parks Editorial TeamOutdoor Editor & Trail ExpertFebruary 5, 2026 · Updated May 11, 2026

Port Orford Heads State Park is a public state park in Oregon near Port Orford. Spanning 103 acres and established in 1976, this park offers a peaceful retreat into nature for visitors of all ages.

Quick Facts

Location & Getting There

Port Orford Heads State Park is located near Port Orford, Oregon. The park’s coordinates are 42.7400, -124.5136.

Things to Do

Oregon’s state parks showcase the Pacific Northwest at its finest — from towering sea stacks and tide pools along 362 miles of public coastline to ancient forests of the Coast Range, volcanic Cascade peaks, and high desert canyonlands east of the mountains. Popular activities include hiking through old-growth forests and along dramatic ocean bluffs, tide pooling at rocky shores, beachcombing for agates and fossils, camping at oceanfront sites, kayaking and paddleboarding on mountain lakes, fishing for steelhead and salmon, mountain biking volcanic singletrack, rock climbing at Smith Rock, and cross-country skiing on Cascade passes. Oregon’s waterfalls — including Multnomah Falls and Silver Falls — are among the most spectacular in the western United States.

Best Time to Visit

Oregon’s west side (coast and valleys) is wettest from November through March, making June through September the prime outdoor season with warm, dry weather. The coast can be enjoyed year-round — winter brings dramatic storms, whale watching (gray whales migrate December–January), and uncrowded beaches. Eastern Oregon and high desert parks enjoy more sunshine but can be extremely hot in summer. Cascade mountain parks are best visited July through October, when snow clears from trails. Spring brings the famous wildflower blooms in the Columbia River Gorge and waterfall season at Silver Falls. Fall foliage peaks in October, particularly along the McKenzie River and in the Cascades.

Visitor Tips

Oregon state parks are free to enter on foot or by bike. Vehicle access at most day-use parks requires a $5 day-use permit or a $30 annual permit, available at park kiosks or online. Oregon’s entire coastline is public by law — you always have the right to walk on the beach. Camping reservations are made through the Oregon State Parks reservation system up to 9 months in advance. Coastal campgrounds (especially at Cape Lookout and Nehalem Bay) book up fast for summer. Cell coverage is spotty on the coast and absent in remote Cascade parks.

Explore More Oregon State Parks

Port Orford Heads State Park is one of many outstanding state parks in Oregon. Discover more parks in our Best State Parks in Oregon guide, or use our Park Finder to search by activity, location, or features.

Wildlife & Nature

Port Orford Heads State Park occupies a dramatic headland overlooking the Pacific — the site of a former Coast Guard lifeboat station (1934-1970) that rescued mariners from some of the most treacherous waters on the Oregon coast. The headland provides exceptional wildlife viewing — gray whales migrate past in winter and spring, while resident grays feed here year-round. Harbor seals, Steller sea lions, and occasional northern elephant seals rest on the rocks below. The headland’s wildflower displays — including coast buckwheat, sea thrift, and wild iris — peak in spring and early summer. Peregrine falcons hunt from the cliffs. The Tichenor Cove viewpoint reveals Port Orford’s unique dolly dock — the only port in the US where boats are lifted by crane.

Nearby Attractions

Battle Rock Beach in Port Orford commemorates an 1851 conflict between settlers and Qua-to-mah people. Humbug Mountain State Park offers a 1,756-foot coastal mountain hike. Cape Blanco — Oregon’s westernmost point — has the state’s oldest lighthouse (1870). Hughes House (1898) is a preserved Victorian ranch. Elk River provides pristine salmon and steelhead fishing. Grassy Knob Wilderness protects old-growth Port Orford cedar. Prehistoric Gardens has life-sized dinosaur models in old-growth forest.

Keep exploring: The closest neighbors are Humbug Mountain State Park (a short drive away) and Cape Blanco State Park (a short drive away).

About the Author

America's State Parks Editorial Team

Outdoor Editor & Trail Expert

America's State Parks is an independent online guide to the state parks of the United States. Our editorial team compiles and reviews each park profile from official state park agency sources and other primary references, and follows a published editorial and review methodology (see /editorial-review-methodology/). We update profiles and correct errors on an ongoing basis.

200+ state parks visited across 42 states | 8+ years of outdoor writing

View All Articles by America's State Parks Editorial Team →