Harris Beach State Park, State park along Pacific coast in Oregon, United States.
Harris Beach State Park is an Oregon state park north of Brookings where a wall of blocky sandstone and conglomerate rises above wet gray sand strewn with dark rocks and green algae. Flat-topped boulders coated in seaweed sit at the base, and Bird Island, the largest island off the Oregon Coast, lies offshore.
A Scottish farmer named George Harris purchased the land in 1871 and operated a sheep and cattle ranch there until the area became a state park in 1926. The conversion from private farmland to public protected area marked the start of its role as a nature reserve.
Bird Island, also called Goat Island, lies offshore and is reported to be the largest island off the Oregon Coast; it is a National Wildlife Refuge. The island is a breeding site for rare birds such as the tufted puffin, which visitors watch from the shore.
The day-use area has a restroom and picnic tables, and the campground offers RV sites, yurts and tent sites year-round. The park sits on US Highway 101 just north of Brookings, with Bird Island visible offshore. Expect wet sand and seaweed-coated boulders along the shore.
Bird Island, also called Goat Island, lies just offshore and is reported to be the largest island along the Oregon Coast; it is a National Wildlife Refuge and a breeding site for tufted puffins. Visitors scan it from the shore with binoculars, since landing is not allowed.
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