Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor

Permit Information

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Special Use Permit. Most elopements here do not require a permit as long as your group is under 50 people and you are not bringing decorations, rental furniture, arches, or props. Anything larger or with decor requires an Oregon Coast Special Use Permit at $150 base for up to 50 guests ($100 application fee plus $50 day use), then $1 per person over 50. As of January 1, 2026, the OPRD review period was extended to 120 days, so apply early. Liability insura…

Planning Your Day at Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor

One-Spot Day

Samuel H. Boardman is the southern Oregon Coast stretch between Brookings and Gold Beach on US 101, 6 hours south of Portland. Medford (MFR) is the most reliable airport for the corridor, North Bend (OTH) and Crescent City (CEC) each see only a single airline on a sporadic schedule and almost never line up cleanly with connecting flights, photographers based in Brookings consistently route couples through Medford instead. Base in Brookings (less expensive) or Gold Beach (more remote). The corridor is 12 miles long with dozens of unmarked pullouts, each one hiding a different ceremony site. Plan 2 to 3 days to explore. Heads up on trail apps: AllTrails data for the SHB corridor is widely unreliable (Secret Beach especially), trust the official Oregon State Parks corridor map and a local photographer or ranger over crowdsourced trail descriptions. Couples typically anchor the day at Cape Ferrelo (wildflower headland, intimate groups only) or Lone Ranch Beach (much easier guest access and room to spread out without trampling fragile coastal plants), and pair with a private spot like Secret Beach for portraits. Jedediah Smith Redwoods sits 30 minutes south of Brookings, so most couples staying in town pair SHB with a Redwoods day, two iconic parks in one trip. Note: the trail to the Natural Bridges arches closed in 2022 for safety reasons. The viewing deck is still open, but you can no longer get a couple-with-arches-behind composition there, so we no longer recommend Natural Bridges as a ceremony or primary portrait site.

Ceremony + Portraits Split

Three ceremony anchors plus a portrait standout. Cape Ferrelo is the wildflower headland with Pacific panorama (permitted up to 30 standing), but the ground is fragile coastal plant cover and erosion is a real concern in this area, larger groups inevitably trample the meadow even with care, keep parties intimate or stay at the bare trail-end ceremony spot rather than spreading out. Lone Ranch Beach (1.2 miles south of Cape Ferrelo via the connector trail, or directly off US 101 at milepost 353) is the guest friendly anchor we now point larger groups toward, a wide driftwood strewn cove with easy beach access for families and elderly guests, plenty of room to spread out, no plant impact concern. Secret Beach is the hidden cinematic cove with waterfall on the sand, reached by steep 0.3 mile trail, tide dependent (up to 20). Most elopements now anchor a ceremony at Lone Ranch or Cape Ferrelo and walk to Secret Beach for portraits. Whaleshead Beach is gorgeous but the access road is 4WD recommended only and most rental cars cannot handle it, do not plan a Whaleshead ceremony if guests are arriving in standard rentals. China Creek and House Rock viewpoints are additional unmarked spots worth scouting. Natural Bridges is now a brief viewing deck stop only; the trail down was closed in 2022 for safety, and the deck angle does not allow the iconic arches-behind-couple composition that defined the spot.

A Note on Light

May through September is the dry season with most reliable weather and all trails safely passable. April and October are shoulder seasons with softer light and fewer crowds. Winter storms create dramatic coastal photography but trails turn dangerous on slick clay. Gray whale migration (April through May, then September through November) is visible offshore from Cape Ferrelo. The corridor is remote, cell service is spotty to nonexistent, plan drive times accordingly. OPRD review period is now 120 days if a permit is required, apply early.

Ceremony Spots at Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor

• Secret Beach — A hidden sea stack beach where couples exchange vows beside a small waterfall spilling onto the sand.
• Natural Bridges Viewpoint — A short stop at the viewing deck above the arches. No longer viable as a ceremony or portrait anchor since the 2022 trail closure.
• Cape Ferrelo — A wide wildflower headland meadow with panoramic Pacific views, the most guest friendly spot on the corridor.