Revision as of 02:52, 13 July 2018

View of the three Sisters Rocks (bobcat)

Looking down on Frankport Beach (bobcat)

Gullet of the sea cave, Big Sister, Sisters Rocks (bobcat)

Middle and Big Sister from Frankport Beach (bobcat)

The walking route at Sisters Rocks (not a GPS track) (bobcat) Courtesy: Google Maps

• Start point: Sisters Rocks South Trailhead
• End point: Sisters Sea Cave
• Trail log:
• Hike Type: In and out
• Distance: 1.6 miles
• Elevation gain: 260 feet
• High Point: 210 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Seasons: All year
• Family Friendly: Yes, in sections
• Backpackable: No
• Crowded: No

Hike Description

This picturesque headland came into the state system in 2009 through lottery dollars. The three stacks known as Sisters Rocks (One of them is offshore) dominate the landscape. In the largest of these stacks, the Sisters Sea Cave is a roiling cauldron fed by three entrance passages. The other point of interest is Frankport Beach. Frankport was once the site of a dock which uploaded tanoak bark from the area for transport to the S.H. Frank Tannery in Redwood City, California. The operation continued for about 12 years until 1905, and some rusting components lie scattered among the driftwood. Before the place was named Frankport, the sheltered cove had been a landing spot for eager prospectors in the 1850s and 1860s seeking their fortunes in gold from southern Oregon’s rivers. From the 1950s to the 1980s, the area was the site of a rock quarry.

The trail from the south parking area heads into a scrubby hillside of coyote brush, blackberry, Scots broom, cow parsnip, buckwheat, and lupine. Traverse the grassy slope, and make a left when you join the old quarry road. Get views north to Lookout Rock, Humbug Mountain, and Cape Blanco LighthouseCapeBlanco and south to the Devils Backbone and Nesika Point. The road reaches a low saddle. Head down to the right through a flat rocky bench where the quarry operations took place. Walk towards the Big Sister, and clamber up to the large opening to stare down into the Sisters Sea Cave. This was once an enclosed cave with the roof now collapsed. Next, scramble around the base of Big Sister to your left, and climb up on your rocks to get a view of the cave’s mouths. The two lower mouths are right in front of you, while the third mouth, which waves explode through only at high tide, is hidden to the left. From here, you’ll also get a good look at the smallest sister offshore and Middle Sister looming above you to the left.

Return to the low saddle, and take the eroded road track or a trail down to Frankport Beach. A few rusting pieces of equipment lie scattered about behind the driftwood. When you reach the beach, walk past the high rock promontory to a secluded stretch of sand. There are rocks and stacks at the end of this beach. Look around for both red and green quartz-veined rhyolite. On the next little beach, a spectacular stack is joined to the mainland via a tombolo, or sand bridge. You can negotiate a jumble of rocks to reach one more tiny beach and then turn around.

Maps

• Maps: Hike Finder

Fees, Regulations, etc.

• none

Trip Reports

• Search Trip Reports for Sisters Rocks Hike

• Oregon’s South Coast 2-06 – 2-08-18

Related Discussions / Q&A

• Search Trail Q&A for Sisters Rocks Hike

Guidebooks that cover this hike

• 100 Hikes/Travel Guide: Oregon Coast & Coast Range by William L. Sullivan

More Links

• Sisters Rocks State Park (The American Southwest)
• “Secret sea cave” (Register-Guard)
• A Day Trip to Sisters Rocks/Frankport Harbor (And Drink Plenty Of It)
• Sisters Rocks State Park (Oregonnater)
• Never Heard of Sisters Rock State Park in Oregon? Neither Did We (David and Keng on the Road)
• Sisters Rock State Park (Outdoor Project)
• Sisters Rock State Park (Travel Oregon)

Contributors

• bobcat (creator)