There’s a lot to see as you drive along Highway 101 on Oregon’s Wild Rivers Coast: rugged sea stacks, lighthouses and turn-offs for spotting sea lions and whales, just to name a few. But as you drive by the little towns of Langlois and Port Orford, don’t forget to slow down and treat your taste buds.
The Wild Rivers Coast Food Trail is a collaborative effort to connect people to the bounty available on the Southern Oregon Coast. Supporting local food is a way to support our communities and the producers who work hard to grow and use our local ingredients.
Before you head out, find out more about your themed route below or download the official brochure.
Also, don’t forget to sign up for your Wild Rivers Coast Passport below. The passport works on any mobile device and grants you access to deals and savings at selected sites on the Food Trail. Sign up today to receive your Digital Passport and enjoy discounts, free tastings, and more.
Berry Byway
Ramble along the berry trail from Port Orford to Bandon for a bucketful of sweet tastes.
Start your morning at Port Orford Community Co-op, where you can pick up a basketful of picnic provisions, including seasonal produce like sun-kissed, handpicked strawberries from Valley Flora Farm. On Saturday, you can also stop in at Wild Woods Gypsy, just north of Port Orford, for more locally produced coastal goodies to go in your picnic basket.
Head north on Highway 101 to Peters Cranberries farm stand for homemade cranberry jams, syrups, concentrate and vinegars, all made from their own sustainably grown cranberries. Keep heading north, stopping along the way to enjoy blueberry u-pick experiences at family farms like Jensen’s Blueberries, Valentine Blueberries and Twin Creek Ranch Blueberries.
Spread your picnic blanket in the sunshine at Dragonfly Farm & Nursery in Langlois and enjoy a post-lunch stroll through the verdant grounds and greenhouses. Make sure you pick up a bottle of Grandpa Jack’s cranberry concentrate — made with Bowman Bogs cranberries — before you leave.
In Bandon, sip a fruity pre-dinner drink at one of the local watering holes — cranberry rum at Stillwagon Distillery or cranberry cider at Bandon Rain, plus a bottle or two of each to take home with you. Top off your day back in Port Orford at Redfish, enjoying both a fresh-caught seafood dinner and a gorgeous sunset from their oceanfront location above Battle Rock.
Seafood Search
This made-for-grownups culinary treasure trek starts with a 3-day weekend booking at Endicott Gardens Bed & Breakfast Spa Retreat in Gold Beach.
Arriving on Friday afternoon, swing by Fishermen Direct Seafood to pick up some edible souvenirs like freshly canned albacore tuna and crab to enjoy after you return home. Then head into town for an early dinner at Barnacle Bistro — try the crab cakes made with locally caught Dungeness crab and Oregon bay shrimp.
Saturday morning, start with a pastry and coffee at Leavened Bakery before heading north to Port Orford for a two-hour exploration by kayak with South Coast Tours. Fish from the boat, forage for mussels and edible seaweeds, or just enjoy bird watching in the refreshing sea breeze. Following your kayaking fun, check out the working waterfront, where the unique dolly dock lifts boats in and out of the water by crane. Then head south to Brookings for an early dinner at Catalyst Seafood in the Port of Brookings-Harbor before heading back to Gold Beach for the night.
Sunday morning, make sure to leave early enough for plenty of stops on your way home. In Gold Beach stop at Old Agness Store for gluten-free brownies and Coastal Market for gourmet Oregon goodies; in Bandon stop at Bandon Farmers Market at the Warehouse to pick up smoked salmon; have lunch in Coos Bay at Sharkbite’s Seafood Cafe; and make a stop at Umpqua Triangle Oysters in Winchester Bay for fresh oysters (packed on ice, of course).
Timeless Beauty
This dreamy drive from Reedsport to Brookings passes through some of the South Coast’s most stunning landscapes.
From the Umpqua River Scenic Byway catch a glimpse of majestic Roosevelt elk at the Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area, followed by a hearty breakfast at Reedsport’s Harbor Light Restaurant. Further south in Coos Bay, stop in at Coos Head Food Co-Op for energy-packed snacks and beverages, before making a side stop to stroll through the lush formal gardens outside of Charleston at Shore Acres State Park, where you can view dramatic surf crashing below the soaring cliff line.
The most direct route from Shore Acres back to the iconic Highway 101 is down 7 Devils Road (and if you’re a mountain biking buff, take note of the signpost to the Whiskey Run Mountain Bike Trail for a future trip). Once you’re back on the 101, head south, toward the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, a 12-mile stretch of gorgeous coastline between Gold Beach and Brookings, featuring one turnoff after another, each with access to picnic areas, viewpoints and trailheads that connect an 18-mile segment of the Oregon Coast Trail.
End your day in Brookings with dinner at Fat Irish Restaurant & Pub (in the harbor), topping things off at Chetco Brewing Company’s lively tasting room, where you can also get a growler to go before turning in for the night.
More tasty stops
There are 39 stops on the Wild Rivers Coast Food Trail, from bakeries to restaurants, farms and growers markets, to breweries and distilleries, to seafood stands and indulgent take-home treats. Make your base camp in one of these charming towns and find a delicious farm-to-table meal around the corner. Here are some of the locales to explore.
Reedsport to Coquille
Bandon, Langlois and Port Orford
Gold Beach to Brookings
Travel Tips
The Wild Rivers Coast Food Trail is open to visitors throughout the year and is designed to be explored at your own pace – you are welcome to start and finish wherever you like. To ensure a positive experience, please check the hours of operation for each business online or by phone and note when advance reservations or appointments are required.
Before setting out along the Wild Rivers Coast Food Trail, plan ahead by mapping your route to make it easy to navigate remote areas without cell service. Also check road conditions and fuel up, since gas stations can be harder to find on country roads.
High season varies per business but is typically June – November. Seasonality of key products is listed below:
- Blueberries are available July through August
- Cranberries can typically be harvested mid-October through early December
- Pumpkin patches are often open late September through October
- Dungeness crab available late December through August
The working farms along this trail provide some of the most unique and engaging experiences. We ask that you respect the invitation to enter each property and be cautious around farm animals and equipment. Children must be supervised at all times and you should be prepared to follow all site-specific rules. For your safety and comfort, be prepared with appropriate footwear, sun protection and water.
Your experience along the Wild Rivers Coast Food Trail should not end when you leave the area. We encourage you to bring a taste of your journey back home to share with friends and family as a reminder of the bounty available along Oregon’s Wild Rivers Coast.
Learn more at wrcfoodtrail.com.
