Brays Point: Expansive View Near Middle of Oregon Coast Hiding in Plain Sight

Published 01/25/26 at 12:55 a .m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Yachats, Oregon) – One of the coastline's more engaging tracts of scenic highway exists in a kind of nowhere land, an oft-traveled yet off-the-beaten-path chunk of Highway 101 where the secrets are hiding in plain sight. Between Yachats and Florence, you're approaching the very middle ground of the Oregon coast and about to switch over to the south coast. Yet here, the central portion seems to linger longer, to stick around for one last visual jolt as cross over from the northern half to the southern half. (All photos Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

This part of northern Lane County weaves and bobs up and down, sometimes enclosing you in thick tree coverage and others letting the views explode. Along that stretch of some 20 miles or so there's a handful of pullouts – probably countable on one hand. One pops up fast and is really the only true pullout in the area with a full name.

Brays Point, the sign reads. No apostrophe - it's not "Bray's." No explanation who that's for. No description. It's just a pullout – but oh, what a knockout view.

It's all just a bit shy of MP 170, a mere few hundred feet south of the famed Bob Creek Wayside spot. Indeed, Brays Point is right above part of the Bob Creek access. And Brays Point may well be the only pullout viewpoint on the coast with a cave directly beneath it. Bob Creek Wayside Northern Delights

That's right: Brays Point has a secret, and one that's a tad Goonies-esque.

Speaking of films: this area is a little famous in that realm. Cable TV's prequel to Psycho was the series Bates Motel, which was set in a kind of mythical Oregon coast town. Incidental scenery shots of coastal highways and expansive vistas were actually filmed right around here. It was more quick-moving travel scenes where Norman and Norma, et al, were supposedly roaming this area. One pullout just south of here – near Ocean Beach Picnic Area – was a regular spot for filming cars winding down the road.

It could well be that Brays Point or areas closeby were included.

Either way, the main attraction here is the view. You're about 60 – 70 feet above the surf and cloistered little Bob Creek beach, giving you prime perspective on these incoming waves that batter little basalt structures below. Crane your neck a bit and see more of the rocky stuff at the bottom.

Then, seasonally you'll note it changes vastly. During summer, there's less of these slabs visible and yet the tide is a little farther out. That's because summer brings in sand and covers more up, but it also pushes the tide out – which, paradoxically – can reveal more rock features.

In winter, sand is scoured out and the rock structures look higher and the areas between them deeper.

Look to the north and you'll see Bob Creek spread out before you. Look south and the long tracts of Stonefield Beach are visible, with its soft and bright yellow sandstone cliffs rising and falling in the distance.

Yet below you, out of sight, there's a cave. You have to head to Bob Creek and then wander to its southern edge. There, directly below some of the highway barrier of Brays Point, is a cave that grows taller or shorter depending on season.

If it's winter - again - sand levels are lower, thus increasing the height of the cave and its interior. It's not a major cave: there's not a lot to it and it doesn't go back far. But getting to goof around inside an Oregon coast cave is always a kick in the pants, and it brings on thoughts of pirate's booty and maybe even that famous movie. Or maybe that epic ELP tune.

The cave, admittedly, seems to almost glisten at times. Wet rock in here acquires a kind of sheen, and for a split second you think you might've spotted rubies or such. But no. It's just a weird old cave.

Brays Point is about a mile north of Stonefield's access. Its GPS coordinates are 44.23920670290397, -124.11169865932658, and its address is listed as Florence, Oregon, even though it is a little over ten miles to Florence and within five miles of Yachats. Magical, Time-Tripping Stonefield 

Hotels in Yachats - Where to eat - Upper Lane County Maps and Virtual Tours

 

In Manzanita, Susan's Beach Cottage is Elder Oregon Coast Statesman with a Mo...
One vacation rental no one seems to know about. Manzanita hotel reviews, Oregon coast lodging news

Manzanita's Ocean Inn Adds More Ways to Preserve, Give Back to Oregon Coast E...
About to become an Ocean Friendly Hotel through Surfrider. Manzanita hotel reviews, Manzanita hotel news

Newport Hotel Review: Agate Beach Motel A Retro 1940s Escape
7 Sep 2026 at 11:11pm
Truly a masterpiece of retro meets modern above Newport. Depoe Bay hotel reviews

Nehalem River Inn Video Review
7 Sep 2026 at 11:11pm
In the middle of bucolic forestland and farmland just outside of Manzanita. Rustic, upscale and a tad mysterious. Just outside Cannon Beach

More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging.....

More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining.....

Washington Coast / Oregon Coast Articles (stories are random: hit reload to see different articles)

Oregon / Washington / Coast Holiday Weekend Travel: AAA Says Higher Gas Prices, Busier
30 Aug 2026 at 3:25pm
Coast is extremely popular but bad news on gas. Traffic

Seaside Museum Blooms with Historic Dahlia Show Returning to N. Oregon Coast
2 Aug 2026 at 9:36pm
Seaside Dahlia Show Saturday, August 22. Seaside events

ISS Sightings Abound Over Washington, Oregon, Coastlines - and Wow, Are They Bright
22 Aug 2026 at 10:12am
Now through at least Thursday you can see the space station. Astronomy, Seattle, Portland, Weather

South Oregon Coast's Circles in the Sand Lands at Florence for Two Days
14 Sep 2026 at 8:50pm
Florence on October 24 and 25: Heceta Beach gets gigantic art

Mussel Harvesting on Part of S. Oregon Coast Nixed Due to Biotoxin
30 Aug 2026 at 8:46am
From Cape Blanco south to the California border after new tests showed domoic acid. Safety, sciences. Port Orford, Gold Beach, Brookings

Tonight Begins Meteor Shower Peak for Oregon, Washington, Coast - and Eclipse Coming
10 Aug 2026 at 10:28pm
The Perseids peak tonight through August 13, followed by a celestial coverup. Astronomy, weather

This Weekend Sees Launch of Roman Space Telescope to Look at Dark Matter, Early Universe
30 Aug 2026 at 8:46am
Big moment comes Sunday, Aug 30. Astronomy

Oregon's Hood to Coast Relay Aug. 28 - 29: Watch for Traffic Issues
26 Aug 2026 at 8:55pm
Highway 202, 101, Hwy 26 near Mt Hood and others impacted. Portland, Astoria, Gresham

Back to Oregon Coast

Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection
All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright © Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted