Secret Beach
Southern Oregon Coast
SECRET BEACH
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF SECRET BEACH
The Oregon Coast, known for its towering cliffs, rugged rocks, and endless sea stacks, is a paradise for landscape photography. Secret Beach is located in the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, just north of the small community of Brookings, Oregon.
Accessing Secret Beach is not difficult, though it does involve a moderately steep trail. It is a favorite spot for tourists, sightseers, wedding photographers, and more. One unique feature of Secret Beach is its southern view, making it an excellent location for capturing the Milky Way. If you find yourself in the area between May and September on a clear night, consider hiking down to this beautiful spot after sunset to experience the Milky Way Galaxy firsthand, both with your eyes and through your camera lens.
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
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DATA POINTS INCLUDED WITH SECRET BEACH SUMMARY
I would rate the difficulty of this trail as a 3 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being most difficult). There are two paths leading down to Secret Beach. The path I used for this summary starts at THUNDER ROCK COVE. From the THUNDER ROCK COVE parking area, the hike is a well-maintained and clearly marked trail that is approximately half a mile long, featuring moderate to steep sections in certain areas. There are a couple of forks along the path, but just follow the direction toward the beach.
There are several locations at Secret Beach to photograph from. I liked the location above as it opens up the scene a little better than other places. It is best photographed at sunset through blue hour or during Milky Way season. When photographing at sunset to blue hour, this location great benefits from clouds on the horizon. The shot above was taken at at 1:30 AM as I wanted the Milky Way to move west of the hillside.
The shot above was stacked and blended. The sky is from 10 shots stacked (13 sec, @ f 2.2 and 6,400 ISO) using ....
For the best results, use a wide to ultra-wide lens. The shot above was taken with a 14 mm lens.
Sea Level
Other Resources Available with Membership
KMZ Trail File
Directions
Best Time of Day to Shoot
Best Time of Year to Shoot
Equipment Needed
Permits Required
Direction of Shot
Google Maps Birds-Eye-View
Number of Photographers to Expect
Cell Service
Overnight Lodging/Camping
Nearby Restaurants
Area Guides and Workshops
Other Resources
LOCATION SUMMARIES WRITTEN BY PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
