Coos Bay
Around Coos Bay
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Oregon · 64k people
Coos Bay
Locals say South Coast · “Cranberry Capital”
Coos Bay · North Bend
Where the sea and forest embrace.
ocean blueforest greencranberry red
Welcome to the South Coast, where the ocean meets the dunes and the cranberry bogs. Whether you're here for the seafood, the trails, or the laid-back coastal vibe, you'll find a friendly community ready to share its secrets.
Clubs for Coos Bay
No clubs for Coos Bay yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Coos Bay. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Coos Bay. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Shore Acres State Park Formal gardens and dramatic ocean cliffs, famous for winter storm watching.
- Sunset Bay State Park Sheltered beach and campground with calm waters for swimming.
- Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area Vast sand dunes stretching along the coast, great for hiking and ATVs.
- Cape Arago State Park Headland with trails, tide pools, and views of the lighthouse.
- Coos Bay Boardwalk Waterfront walkway with interpretive signs and views of the bay.
- Coos History Museum Local history museum covering maritime, logging, and cranberry culture.
- Outdoors Hike the trails at Shore Acres
- Outdoors Ride ATVs on the Oregon Dunes
- With kids Visit the Coos History Museum
- With kids Play on the beach at Sunset Bay State Park
- Evenings Catch a show at the Egyptian Theatre
- Evenings Visit a local brewery
- Locals love Seafood shacks
- Locals love Fishing piers
Through the year
- Bandon Cranberry Festival September Celebrates the local cranberry harvest with food, crafts, and a parade.
- Oregon Coast Music Festival July Classical, jazz, and pop concerts held at various venues around Coos Bay.
- Coos County Fair August Classic county fair with livestock, carnival rides, and local exhibits in Myrtle Point.
- Charleston Seafood Festival Summer Fresh local seafood, live music, and marine-themed activities in the fishing village of Charleston.
- Bay Area Fun Festival October Street fair with art vendors, live entertainment, and family activities in downtown Coos Bay.
Mild maritime climate with wet, cool winters and dry, pleasant summers. Best time to be out is July through September. Best: July through September is the sweet spot—sunny, mild, and dry.
Talk like a local
- “South Coast”
- The region's nickname, used by locals to refer to the Coos Bay area.
- “The Bay”
- Short for Coos Bay, often used in casual conversation.
- “The Dunes”
- The Oregon Dunes, a favorite local playground.
- “Cranberry Coast”
- A nickname for Bandon, known for its cranberry bogs.
Getaways
Local flavour
Rooting for Oregon Ducks, Oregon State Beavers, Portland Trail Blazers, Portland Timbers, Seattle Seahawks
Eat and drink
- Dungeness crab crab is a local staple
- Oysters from local bays
- Salmon fresh from the Pacific
- Cranberry products Bandon is the cranberry capital
- Fish and chips from seaside shacks
- Clam chowder often made with local clams
Where people go
- Seafood shacks and crab houses casual waterfront dining
- Cranberry bogs especially around Bandon
- Sand dunes Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
- Lighthouses Cape Arago, Coquille River
- State parks e.g., Sunset Bay, Shore Acres
- Working fishing harbors Coos Bay, Charleston
Heritage and traditions
The South Coast is proud of its rugged coastal beauty, working harbors, and a tight-knit community built on fishing, logging, and cranberry farming, where the ocean and the dunes are the backyard.
This time of year in Coos Bay
- Cranberry harvest Fall Bogs are flooded and harvested in fall.
Say it like a local: “Going to the dunes” — Visiting the sand dunes
Festivals
- Blackberry Arts Festival August Celebrates the wild blackberries that grow everywhere with crafts, food, and music.
- Bandon Stormwatchers Festival January A winter event for watching dramatic storms roll in off the Pacific.
- Myrtlewood Festival July Celebrates the local myrtlewood tree with carvings, crafts, and demonstrations.
- Mill-Luck Salmon Celebration September A celebration of salmon and Native American heritage with salmon bakes and tribal performances.
- Charleston Crab Feed February A community crab feed where locals gather to enjoy fresh Dungeness crab.
Landmarks with a story
- Coquille River Lighthouse Historic lighthouse at the mouth of the Coquille River, a symbol of maritime history.
- Cape Arago Lighthouse Off-limits but visible from shore, this lighthouse has guided ships since 1934.
- Coos Bay Carnegie Library Built in 1912, this Carnegie library is a local landmark.
- St. Monica's Catholic Church Historic Catholic church in Coos Bay, reflecting the area's immigrant heritage.
- Bandon Old Town Historic District Quaint shops and galleries in historic buildings, a hub of local culture.
- Coos Bay Downtown Historic District Includes the Egyptian Theatre and other early 20th-century buildings.
Food traditions
- Dungeness crab season Locals go crabbing off the docks and enjoy fresh crab with melted butter, a winter tradition.
- Clam digging At low tide, families dig for razor clams and fry them up, a classic coastal activity.
- Oyster farming Local oyster farms and oyster roasts are a staple, with fresh oysters served at community events.
- Cranberry harvest In fall, bogs are flooded and cranberries are harvested, leading to cranberry products and festivals.
- Salmon bakes Community events like the Mill-Luck Salmon Celebration feature traditional salmon bakes, honoring the region's fishing heritage.
Music and arts
- Myrtlewood carving Local artisans carve the distinctive myrtlewood tree into bowls, jewelry, and sculptures.
- Native American basket weaving Coos and Coquille tribes are known for their intricate basketry, a tradition passed down through generations.
- Maritime folk music Sea shanties and folk songs celebrate the working harbors and fishing life.
- Oregon Coast Music Festival A classical music festival held each July, drawing musicians from around the region.
A little history
- Pre-contact Native American heritage
- 1850s Settlement and founding of Marshfield (now Coos Bay) as a shipping and logging town.
- Late 1800s Timber and shipping boom, with lumber mills and schooners making the port a major exporter.
- Early 1900s Cranberry cultivation begins, turning bogs into a signature crop.
- 1916 Railroad arrives, connecting the coast to inland markets.
Rivalries
- Coos Bay vs North Bend Friendly high school sports rivalry between the twin cities.
- Oregon Ducks vs Oregon State Beavers College football bragging rights split among locals.
- Seattle Seahawks vs San Francisco 49ers NFL rivalry with strong local fan bases.
- Portland Timbers vs Seattle Sounders Soccer rivalry that gets the South Coast fired up.
- Game day Prefontaine Memorial Run
- Game day High school football rivalries
- Outdoors Hiking the dunes
- Outdoors Watching sunsets at Cape Arago
- With kids Visiting the Prefontaine statue in Coos Bay
- With kids Watching crab boats come in at Charleston
Locals speak with a Pacific Northwest accent, laid-back and friendly. They often call the region 'the South Coast' and use terms like 'the dunes' and 'crab feed'. The name 'Coos' is pronounced 'koo-oss'.
Only here
- The Oregon Dunes are the largest expanse of coastal sand dunes in North America.
- The Egyptian Theatre is one of the few atmospheric theatres left in the US.
- The Coquille River Lighthouse is one of the most photographed lighthouses on the Oregon coast.
- Marshfield High School's mascot is the Pirates, honoring the town's shipping history.
New here? A few tips
- Bring a raincoat; it rains a lot.
- Learn to pronounce 'Coos' as 'koo-oss'.
- Try the Dungeness crab and clam chowder.
- Get a tide table for clamming.
- The dunes are fun but stay on designated areas.
Make this page better
Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.
Sign in and join a club here to suggest.
Nearby
Every areaRoseburgOregonWhere the river meets the pines.Eugene–SpringfieldOregonWhere rivers, trails, and a love of sport meet.Grants PassOregonWhere the river bends and the mountains breathe.NewportOregonWhere the forest meets the sea, and the catch is always fresh.BrookingsOregonWhere the ocean meets the forest, and every day is a fresh catch.CorvallisOregonWhere the valley meets the forest.MedfordOregonWhere the Rogue flows through wine country.AlbanyOregonWhere the river bends through the valley.
Coos Bay-North Bend, OR. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.