Mile 111
Merchants Beach north end
Coos County
Latitude: 43.244245116331
Longitude: -124.390320334500
Longitude: -124.390320334500
Vehicles:
- Motor vehicle travel is prohibited from south jetty at Coos Bay, (43° 21.1158', Mile 123) southerly to Fivemile Point (43° 13.2228', Mile 109), except as follows: (A) Motor vehicles are allowed at any time on the ocean shore at the south jetty of Coos Bay (43° 21.0990', Mile 123), southerly to (43° 21.0036', 124° 20.4822', Mile 123); (B) Motor vehicles are allowed at any time on the ocean shore at the north end of the Sunset Bay State Park (43° 20.0880', Mile 120) for the purpose of boat launching.
Motor vehicle travel is prohibited from south jetty at Coos Bay, (43° 21.1158', Mile 123) southerly to Fivemile Point (43° 13.2228', Mile 109), except as follows:
(A) Motor vehicles are allowed at any time on the ocean shore at the south jetty of Coos Bay (43° 21.0990', Mile 123), southerly to (43° 21.0036', 124° 20.4822', Mile 123);
(B) Motor vehicles are allowed at any time on the ocean shore at the north end of the Sunset Bay State Park (43° 20.0880', Mile 120) for the purpose of boat launching.
Tides: NOAA Tide Predictions. Click on the station nearest to your location to see predicted tides in graphical and tabular formats.
Mile 111 Reports (51)
2020
September 16, 2020 - TRBishop
This tiny area in Oregon was the first to break free of the putrid smoke that has pevaded the state for more than a week due to the record breaking wildfires. The air was fresh and a welcome change! I spent considerable time just taking deep breathes and exhaling to clean...read more
May 24, 2020 - whiskeydevil
A lot less garbage than last time. Am curious if driving on this portion of the beach is legal, seems like you shouldn't be allowed to drive north of Five mile point. read more
January 9, 2020 - whiskeydevil
Nobody else on the beach. Found lots of plastic bottles and other trash. Two dead gulls and one salmon.read more
2019
March 19, 2019 - whiskeydevil
Overall calm day on the beach. Only 5 people and 3 dogs. Saw a bald eagle at the north end of the mile. There were some newish trails and drainage strips. Above one of the trails looked like a burned area and activity.
January 26, 2019 - TRBishop
One of those beautiful, warm, calm January days.. nothing eventful to report...read more
2018
June 17, 2018 - TRBishop
A beautiul late spring day, with several families treating dad to a great Fathers Day trip to the beach...read more
2017
April 21, 2017 - TRBishop
A beautiful spring day with 6 mph wind coming from NNE. I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of litter. This beach has always had an abundance of it, but today it was nowhere to be seen. I'm speculating it was because of the time of year and conditions. The...read more
2016
May 1, 2016 - TRBishop
A beautiful, warm spring Sunday at the beach - many people out to enjoy it at this location. Nothing unusual to report.read more
February 7, 2016 - TRBishop
A beautiful, warm February day. The winter storms have washed away the large sand build-up from the summer months, so much so that there are rock outcroppings exposed at the surf line that I don't remember ever seeing before, especially at the rock outcropping near the border with Mile 112....read more
2015
August 8, 2015 - TRBishop
Nice day, light traffic; lots of sand built up on the beach. Nothing negative to report. There was an area sectioned off at the rock out-cropping that separates Merchants beach and Agate Beach. It was marked by poles and yellow twine that went from the surf up the hillside, across,...read more January 25, 2015 - TRBishop
A record breaking warm day and one of those beautiful January winter breaks that typically arrive to keep us all from killing each other. . .many people (and almost as many dogs) out to take advantage of the glorious weather, many putting bare feet (and paws) in the sand and surf. . .read more 2014
August 10, 2014 - TRBishop
Beautiful August day; I spotted a large piece of red "gelatin" that looked unusual; in my 30 years of walking this beach, this substance is always clear. I'm not even sure what it is. I'm speculating it's from jelly fish. . . (I'll attach a photo.)The exceptionally high sands are...read more
January 1, 2014 - TRBishop
I arrived at Seven Devils Wayside on New Year's Day to take photos for the King Tide Project, precisely at 11:03 am, tide was 8.76. After waiting for about an hour for the tide to recede, I walked Mile 111. While waiting, I was entertained by a porcupine foraging on...read more
2013
June 27, 2013 - coasster
A beautiful day at the beach, sunny and calm, and the water was warm (almost). At least 14 humans were out to enjoy the scene. Truck tire tracks were on the packed sand indicating someone had driven earlier during low tide and possible came up from Whiskey Run access. The...read more
May 25, 2013 - coasster
The beach has some dunes forming, still small. The amount of debris was moderate. Not many birds about, just a handful of gulls and one group of over flying ducks. Most of the seaweed in the wrack was old looking with a few clumps of more recently detached. One piece...read more
May 5, 2013 - TRBishop
Not the best visit today. First, I decided to access the mile via the coast trail at Toyko Ln. The access has been further blocked with a new locked gate and private property sign, and I was not able to find a place to park, so was unable to access...read more January 20, 2013 - TRBishop
One of those beautiful, warm January days! 26 people walking on the beachwith 12 dogs.read more 2012
December 9, 2012 - TRBishop
Nothing unusual. Some litter on the beach. Four people with five dogs walking on the beach.read more June 16, 2012 - TRBishop
A beautiful late spring weekend, fog rolling in and out along the surf line. Surprisingly, very few people on the beach. No sign of debris from Japan, unless that's where a large yellowish piece of styrofoam floating in Merchants Creek near the shoreline came from. (photo attached)Gulls and pelicans along...read more
January 8, 2012 - TRBishop
Nothing unusaul to report. It was a beautiful, sunny January day with very few people visiting Seven Devil's Wayside. I was concerned about possible erosion due to the high surf advisory from 3 days prior with reported 25' waves, but nothing notable to report.read more 2011
September 18, 2011 - TRBishop
A beautiful late summer day. It was sunny at 11:30 am when I arrived, then thick fog rolled in and remained for the 4 hours I was there, but only along the shore line, but still calm air and warm temp. Kelp/algae in the driftline. Twelve people walking on the...read more March 6, 2011 - TRBishop
Just a beautiful, sunny, late-winter day - a welcome break from the snow and rain of the past few weeks. Pebble-sized, pulverized litter in the driftline. Normal foredune erosion for this time of the year. Eight people with four dogs walking on the beach.read more 2010
October 17, 2010 - TRBishop
Just a beautiful, sunny fall day. Eight people (6 walking and 2 surfing)and five dogs on beach.read more August 8, 2010 - TRBishop
A beautiful summer day on the beach. Nine people walking on the beach with seven dogs.read more May 30, 2010 - TRBishop
Nothing unusual to report - just a beautiful spring day. Twenty people on the beach: 18 walking/running, two rockhunting and one riding a horse.read more February 21, 2010 - TRBishop
Nothing unusual to report, except more people than usual, probably because we were all out looking for relief from the cabin fever we get about this time of year. . . A 500(?) foot-long bed of rocks was exposed at the shoreline about 111.7, so people were enjoying the great agate hunting.read more 2009
October 24, 2009 - TRBishop
Nothing unusual to report. Just a nice fall day. Eight people and four dogs walking or running on the beach.read more September 15, 2009 - TRBishop
Just a beautiful, warm "put your feet in the water" kind of day. Moderate human impact (8)-7 walking and 1 sitting. 8 dogs.read more March 6, 2009 - TRBishop
A beautiful sunny walk successfully taken between rain showers. Nothing out of the ordinary to report. Some beach litter. Low human impact (2)-walking with three dogs.read more 2008
November 14, 2008 - TRBishop
A beautiful sunny day, but dampened by unhealthy air quality on the beach due to an assumed slash burn on the hill above. Moderate human impact (1)- 6 walking,2 sitting and 2 juveniles on 2 ATV's on a closed beach.read more August 23, 2008 - TRBishop
A nice, warm late summer Saturday with little wind and more than average people (20)-12 walking, 2 playing in surf and 6 sitting. Kelp/algae in the driftline.read more May 9, 2008 - TRBishop
A beautiful spring day. All is OK. Low human impact (3)-2 rockhunting. One dog.read more April 17, 2008 - J Grove
Kelp/Algae, small rocks and wood pieces in driftline. Low human impact (5)-walking. One dog. Concerned about kelp/algae collection.read more January 16, 2008 - TRBishop
High surf is doing a good job with erosion and moving driftwood around this year. Retreat of bluff with newly exposed roots and trees falling. Erosion of vegetated foredune and wave overtopping. Low human impact (3). Five dogs.read more 2007
December 11, 2007 - J Grove
No unusual activities or conditions observed. Minimal human activities-3 people walking with one dog. Small rocks and wood pieces in driftline. One dead Brown Pelican. No sea life issues.read more September 25, 2007 - J Grove
Small rocks and wood pieces in driftline. Shorebirds moving in response to humans and dogs. Retreat of bluff and erosion of vegetated foredune. Moderate human impact (8)-walking, 3 dogs.read more July 30, 2007 - TRBishop
An absolutely gorgeous day and secluded stroll on the beach - life at its best on the south coast! Kelp/algae in the driftline. Low human impact (6)- walking. Two dogs.read more February 4, 2007 - TRBishop
Restrooms closed and replaced by portable toilet at Seven Devils Wayside. Also, old drinking fountain replaced by interpretative sign. Asphalt path and firering removed and reseeded. New access stairs to creek and beach. Heavy human impact (20) walking, playing in surf and sitting. Concerned about beach litter.read more 2006
December 16, 2006 - TRBishop
2 deer in surf-one standing guard, younger one with “happy hooves” running around. Litter in driftline. Moderate human impact (6)- walking.read more December 3, 2006 - TRBishop
Large amounts of seaweed on beach. Moderate human impact (10)-walking and panning for gold.read more September 30, 2006 - TRBishop
Moderate human impact (10)-walking, playing in surf, playing in sand, and panning for gold. Concerned about litter.read more June 9, 2006 - TRBishop
Small Velella velella in driftline. Landslide around Waterfall Gully (Mile 111.5). Foraging surfbirds. Beach litter. Moderate human impact (5)- walking, playing in sand and rockhuntingread more March 16, 2006 - TRBishop
Small rocks, land and ocean based debris in driftline. Landslides, retreat of bluff and erosion of foredune. 2 dead Rhinoceros Auklets. Shinny, gray, oily substance seeping out of hillside. Low human impact (0).read more 2005
April 21, 2005 - TRBishop
Animal casing in driftline. Foraging shorebirds. Large Califonia Sea Lion carcass on beach. Low human impact (3)-2 walking, 1 fishing and 1 mining. Concerned about beach litter.read more 2004
November 15, 2004 - TRBishop
Hundreds of jellies wshed up on beach. Some still alive and moving a little bit. At middle of mile, counted 100+ jellies in a 150ft radius. Most were about 1 inch in diameter but some were as large as 15-20 inches. Low human impact (5)-3 walking and 2 gold mining.read more November 9, 2004 - TRBishop
Two seal carcasses on beach. Low human impact (6)-walking, rockhunting and driving golf balls. Walked the mile four times since the last report. No major problems except occasional OHV in restricted area. Concerned about beach litter.read more February 13, 2004 - TRBishop
Low human impact (2)-walking. Concerned about beach litter.read more 2003
December 21, 2003 - TRBishop
Foraging shorebirds. Shipwreck debris on beach. Moderate human impact (12)-4 walking, 8 rockhunting. Concerned about beach litter.read more May 23, 2003 - TRBishop
Foraging shorebirds. A probably "sick" porcupine sitting next to car tire. One dead bird. Low human impact (2), walking. Concerned about beach litter.read more May 18, 2003 - TRBishop
Animal casing in driftline. Shipwreck debris on beach. Styrofoam and land-based debris in driftline. Foraging shorebirds. Moderate human impact (12)-5 walking, 4 playing in sand, 2 sitting and 1 surfing.read more