Simpson Beach at Shore Acres State Park
Charleston, OR
Simpson Beach sits directly below Shore Acres, a former timber baron's estate turned formal garden, reached by a short trail down from the garden grounds. The pocket cove itself is small and framed by cliffs, less a swimming beach than a scenic overlook with sand, but the combination with the gardens above makes it a genuinely different experience than any other beach on this stretch.
The gardens above make this a genuinely unique combination, though the beach itself is a small pocket cove rather than a place to spend a full day.
How we score beachesVisit in December for the garden's holiday lights display, when the whole property, including views down to the beach, is lit up after dark.
A day use fee applies at Shore Acres State Park.
A paved garden path leads to a trail and stairway down to the small beach below.
Winter storm watching from the gardens above is dramatic, roughly November through February, while summer brings calmer conditions down at the beach itself.
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