CHETCO POINT PARK
A Perfect Picnic Site
Chetco Point Park is a large area with thick rye grass, two picnic tables, horseshoe pits . . . and one of the most stunning ocean vistas in this arm of the galaxy. Follow the walking trail south of the grassy area. It provides beach access to Chetco Cove Beach on your left and Mill Beach on your right. Chetco Cove Beach contains rich troves of shells, stones and marine life. The dance of surf and rock on Mill Beach never repeats itself. Continue on the main trail climbing up rather than descending to the beach, and you will cross an attractive, sturdy wooden bridge spanning a narrow gap in the trail. A short climb past the bridge takes you out to the bluff and the south end of Chetco Point.
Beauty in All Directions
You will be standing on a hundred foot high plateau surrounded on three sides by the Pacific Ocean. Looking straight out on the horizon is the St. George Reef Lighthouse near Crescent City. The waters are likely to be dotted with fishing boats, pleasure crafts and – during their migration seasons – the occasional whale. The unforgettable vista will justify your decision to visit Brookings and settle your determination to return. Standing free on that outlook, you will have little question about what you are going to remember longest when you return home. Regardless of the weather, the view from Chetco Point Park is always dramatic and beautiful.
Getting There
To get there you need to locate Brookings’ wastewater treatment facility. Really! Find the post office and drive half a mile toward the ocean on Wharf Street. You will find a graveled area with parking for a dozen cars on the left. Behind the sign at the park entrance is a trail running beside the treatment facility. In fifty yards the trail opens to the Point.
You are not likely to have a more satisfying day on the coast, or a more satisfying encounter with a water treatment facility plant.
