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The 174-acre Harris Beach is a popular destination with an annual day-use attendance of more than 930,000 visitors. Considering that the nearby city of Brookings, Oregon, has a population of just more than 6,000 residents, this beach draws visitors from a large area—and for good reason.
Harris Beach is the location of the largest island off the Oregon coast: Bird Island (also called Goat Island). The island is a National Wildlife Sanctuary, where rare birds such as the tufted puffin breed. Harris Beach also features rocky shores that provide panoramic views up and down the coastline, tide pools with a variety of life and numerous sea stacks just off shore. Wildlife viewing opportunities are also plentiful: in addition to harbor seals and California sea lions, you may see gray whales migrating along this coastal area in the winter and spring.
Harris Beach is named after George Harris, a Scottish pioneer who settled the location in the late 1880s. He used the land to raise sheep and cattle.
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A profound concept originally envisioned by governor Oswald West, in 1967 the Oregon legislature ultimately realized his vision of making the entire Oregon Coast forever open to the public in a piece of landmark legislation titled the Oregon Beach Bill, officially making all 363 miles public land. "The People's Coast" is truly a one-of-a-kind coastline, a unique blend of mountains and rocky stacks, towering old growth forests, marine sanctuaries, tide pools and kelp forests, charming towns, historic fishing communities, world-class golfing, breweries, and simply jaw-dropping scenic beaches. We encourage you to plan your next trip at visittheoregoncoast.com or by calling (541) 574-2679.
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