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

Trail Difficulty - MODERATE

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.

GPS Coordinates & Elevation

42°11'42.4"N 124°22'18.6"W

Sea Level

Download KMZ Trail File

Click Here to download the KMZ file for this location.

Photography Tips

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 StarryLandscapeStacker and the foreground was a 30 second exposure (f2.2 and 6,400 ISO). I used RC-Astro NoiseXTerminator for noise reduction in the sky and DxO PureRaw5 to eliminate noice and sharpen the foreground.

Directions

CLICK HERE to get driving directions to the THUNDER ROCK COVE parking area.

From Brookings, OR, drive north on US 101 for approximately 11.5 miles until you reach a parking area on your left, marked with a sign that says THUNDER ROCK COVE. Once you park, head to the far right side of the parking area to find the trailhead. Follow the trail for about 100 yards until you encounter a fork. Turn right, following the sign that directs you to the beach. Continue on the winding, well-marked trail for about half a mile until you arrive at Secret Beach. At Secret Beach, the location for your shot is on the prominent rock in the center, situated at the end of the trail, just before descending onto the beach.

View In Google earth

EXIF Data

Focal Length – 14 mm
Exposure – 13 sec @ f 2.2 for Sky, 30 sec @ 2.2 for foreground
ISO – 6,400
Date – June 7th
Time – 1:30 AM

Best Time of Day to Shoot

Secret Beach is most photogenic during sunset to blue hour, or when capturing the Milky Way core in the southern sky.

Best Time of Year

You can photograph this location year-round. However, for Milky Way shots, the ideal time is from May to September, when the core is positioned to the south and southwest.

Lens(es) Needed

For the best results, use a wide to ultra-wide lens. The shot above was taken with a 14 mm lens.

Birds-Eye View

Permits

No permits are required at this location.

Direction of the Shot

The shot is taken facing south at approximately 172°.

Equipment Needed

For landscape photography, a sturdy tripod and a polarizing filter.

For Milky Way photography - a sturdy tripod, a flashlight, and a headlamp with red and white lights. Other equipment - good hiking boots, bug spray, trekking poles, a small camp chair, snacks, and water.

Number of Other Photographers to Expect

Secret Beach is no secret! On a weekend, this is a popular location for wedding photos, tourists, hikers, and folks building a beach fire and relaxing. For sunset, there will still be several folks at Secret Beach during the peak season. Milky Way can be a lonely place, but the sound of crashing rocks is soothing.

Weather

Current Weather

It rains a great deal in this part of the country. If it is raining, the trail down to the beach becomes EXTREMELY SLICK and potentially dangerous.

Secret Beach