Landslide Shuts Down Access to S. Oregon Coast's Shore Acres, Flooding at Sunset Bay

Published 01/03/25 at 5:45 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Coos Bay, Oregon) – A landslide has undercut part of the road to Shore Acres State Park near Coos Bay this morning, cutting off that park and Cape Arago. Nearby, flooding has closed Sunset Bay State Park campsites, where campers had to be evacuated early Friday. (Photos OPRD)

Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) oversees this road and not ODOT. OPRD said that while the Sunset Bay day-use area and some trails remain open, the two big south Oregon coast landmarks of Shore Acres and Cape Arago may be cut off for weeks and perhaps longer.

“The road to Shore Acres State Park on the Cape Arago Highway has slid and undercut the highway significantly,” OPRD spokesman Stefanie Knowlton told Oregon Coast Beach Connection. “The road is closed. Shore Acres State Park and Cape Arago State Park are inaccessible to vehicle traffic. The road could be closed for weeks or even months depending on how long it takes to repair. We don’t have an estimate at this point.”

Knowlton said they did not know if both lanes would be affected in the long run.

Storms and heavy rains also created major flooding from Big Creek at Sunset Bay State Park, with guests having to be evacuated at 8 a.m.

“The campground will likely remain closed through the weekend due high water and tide conditions,” Knowlton said. “The Sunset Bay Day-Use Area remains open at this time but could close if flooding continues. The restroom is closed, but there are portable toilets available.”

OPRD does not have any have any idea what it will take to repair the Cape Arago Highway as well. Park staff need to wait for at least of the rainstorm to back off to inspect the area.

“The road slide is located between Sunset Bay and Shore Acres state parks,” OPRD said.

It is a mess out there.

Janice Langlinais, executive director of Oregon's Adventure Coast, said the rain on this part of the south Oregon coast has been the worst she's ever seen.

“We have seen lots of flooding in many areas - downtown Coos Bay, the Coquille River, and Sunset Bay campground,” she told Oregon Coast Beach Connection. “Weather looks like it will improve next week but we could get an additional 2 inches of rain over the weekend.”

Langlinais said to be careful of the rumors out there. Check with Oregon's Adventure Coast or the state parks site for updates, not random social posts.

“Oregon State Parks is on top of this and will keep us posted on how long they think the road will be closed for repair,” she said. “In the meantime, we want everyone to be safe. Please stay away from that area until such time as the road is passable. Hiking trails in the area are accessible for the most park, though the trail closest to Sunset Bay is currently flooded. Those waters will recede.”

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Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast.

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