So you’ve scoured the internet and found an amazing location for your elopement in Brookings, Oregon with the most epic views and picturesque photos. But before going all in on location, make sure that you’re not making this one mistake.
Know Before You Go
If you’ve seen photos of elopements in Brookings, chances are you’ve seen some wildly epic shots of couples at the Samuel H. Boardman Corridor walking along the natural bridges. The shots are absolutely gorgeous and so incredible, but they may not be telling you the whole story. The path down to the land bridge has been blocked off with a sign giving you lots of warnings that the trail is off limits, and to ignore the signs at your own peril.
So if you’re flying in from out of town and were looking forward to getting those exact photos replicated, I definitely recommend managing expectations if you don’t want to risk it and follow Leave No Trace guidelines.
Check Out the View
However, if you’re content just to look at the Natural Bridges at the Samuel H. Boardman Corridor there is an incredible viewpoint you can walk down to from the small parking area with a railing to get some gorgeous photos of the bridge and take in the incredible scenery. There is still a trail you can hike with beautiful views, but it can be very steep in areas and is not recommended for inexperienced hikers.
Getting to the Overlook
While you may not be able to get down to the Natural Bridges themselves, there is a beautiful overlook you can hike down to that’s part of the trail and leads you to a small clearing. Here’s how to get there:
- Park at the Samual H. Boardman Trailhead parking lot and take the path to the right
- Look out for your first fork in the road where the trail leading to the left will be blocked off with trail closure signs, and keep following the trail to the right.
- After that, pick the left path any time you come to another fork in the road and it will lead you down to this scenic overlook!
Nearby Locations
If you want the full Brookings experience check out these nearby spots with beautiful views!
Secret Beach
You can find the trail entrance to this beach about 1/3 mile south of milepost 345 on U.S. 101 at the Samuel H. Boardman scenic corridor, there’s a small gravel parking lot that leads down to the beach but I definitely recommend visiting at low tide.
Whaleshead Viewpoint
This viewpoint is about 7 miles north of Brookings, with the option to park at the viewpoint parking area with a lovely little forested picnic area, or you can drive down to Whaleshead Beach Road for direct beach access.
Arch Rock Picnic Area
Arch Rock is a giant natural rock arch standing tall in the middle of the ocean waves. There’s a short loop trail with picnic areas and a forested area with beautiful views of the Arch Rock.
Brookings Elopement Photographer
If you’re looking for a photographer to capture the candid belly laughs, the intimacy of stolen glances, and all the moments in between, then you’re in the right place. My name is Olivia and I love being able to document the day in a way that captures how it truly happened, without the awkward stiff poses, ensuring you have an elopement day you’ll never forget. Inquire with me today for your free consultation call!
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