Myrtle Point Public Beach extends along the South Fork Coquille River at 244 Reedsford Road in Myrtle Point, 25 miles southeast of Coos Bay in Coos County's inland river valleys. This freshwater beach sits where the South Fork Coquille River flows through agricultural bottomlands approximately five miles upstream from its confluence with the Middle Fork and North Fork Coquille River. Myrtle Point developed in the 1850s as a steamboat landing shipping timber, dairy products, and coal downriver to Bandon before Highway 42 connected the remote valley to coastal communities in 1916. The town earned its name from California myrtle trees, known locally as myrtlewood, growing in dense groves along riverbanks and producing aromatic hardwood prized for furniture and woodworking. The Coquille River system drains 1,059 square miles of the Southern Oregon Coast Range, supporting runs of Chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, and native cutthroat trout that migrate from the Pacific Ocean 40 miles downstream.
Swimming at Myrtle Point Public Beach proves safer than ocean beaches, with freshwater temperatures warming to 65-70 degrees during summer months compared to frigid Pacific conditions. The river's current flows at moderate speeds averaging one to two miles per hour during summer low water, creating gentle conditions suitable for families with children. No lifeguards patrol the beach at any time. The sandy beach and gravel bars accommodate wading, swimming, and tubing during warm weather from June through September. Fishing attracts anglers casting for native cutthroat trout averaging 10-14 inches, with Myrtle Point known for excellent trout fishing due to cooler water temperatures compared to downstream sections. Winter steelhead runs from December through February bring 8-15 pound fish migrating past the beach toward spawning tributaries. Bank fishing from gravel bars provides free access without boat requirements. Kayaking and canoeing prove popular during summer when water levels drop, with paddlers exploring upstream toward Powers and the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
Access Myrtle Point Public Beach via Reedsford Road off Highway 42 in Myrtle Point. Parking accommodates approximately 10 vehicles along the roadside with no designated parking lot or day-use fees. The beach operates without developed facilities, lacking restrooms, picnic tables, or drinking water. Visitors must pack out all trash. Hours operate dawn to dusk year-round without posted restrictions. The beach sits within city limits approximately one mile from downtown Myrtle Point. Cell phone service proves reliable with most carriers. Coquille Valley Hospital operates 15 miles west in Coquille at 940 East Fifth Street providing emergency services. Coquille Myrtle Grove State Natural Site nine miles southeast on Powers Highway offers developed swimming hole facilities with sandy beach, shaded myrtlewood grove, and parking.
Dining concentrates in downtown Myrtle Point one mile west along Highway 42. Railroad Cafe at 301 Railroad Avenue serves breakfast and lunch starting at 6am, preparing omelets, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, burgers, and sandwiches with fast service and reasonable prices. Kozy Kitchen cooks breakfast all day alongside lunch and dinner menus featuring comfort food in a family atmosphere. Spruce Street Bar and Grill prepares burgers, pizza, salads, and cold beverages. La Herradura serves Mexican cuisine including enchiladas, burritos, tacos, and combination plates. A&W has operated in Myrtle Point since 1965, serving classic root beer floats, burgers, and fries as a family-owned business for 35 years. Myrtle Point Public Beach's freshwater location and gentle currents create Coos County's safest swimming destination, attracting valley residents seeking relief from summer heat without driving 25 miles to unpredictable Pacific Ocean conditions at coastal beaches.
