Chetco Estuary
Seasons
Checklists
Location
Access to the Chetco estuary and the Port of Brookings Harbor is just south of Brookings in Harbor, OR. From Brookings at Highway 101 and 5th St, travel 1.2 miles south on Hwy 101, crossing the Chetco River Bridge. Immediately at the south end of the bridge turn right onto Lower Harbor Road and continue for 0.1 mile to the first public parking area on the right. Here there is a small boat/kayak launch and you can walk along the levee 0.3 mile between the small boat basin and river. Driving another 0.2 mile on Lower Harbor Road is another larger public parking area that accesses the small boat basin. You can park and walk 0.3 miles from here, skirting around the harbor from the small boat basin heading south to the large boat basin. Continue driving on Lower Harbor Road another 0.6 miles to the intersection of Boat Basin Road. Turn right (west) onto Boat Basin Road which also accesses the large boat basin. A side road on the left leads to parking for Sporthaven Beach. Both roads lead to the mouth of the Chetco River where there is parking for views of the river from the south side.
Directions
Habitat and Birds
The Harbor Area is the best place in the county for Black-crowned Night-herons. Other birds include sea ducks, rocky shore birds, loons, Brown Pelicans, cormorants, and sea ducks. The river mouth and north jetty should be checked for Black-legged Kittiwakes, Elegant Terns, and other Larids, as well as ocean species. Unusual species seen here include Yellow-billed Loon.
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