It is 12 miles (19 km) long and thickly forested along steep and rugged coastline with a few small sand beaches.

The north end abuts the Pistol River State Scenic Viewpoint.

The Oregon Coast Trail meanders for about 27 miles (43 km) through the park, among 300-year-old Sitka spruce trees and several natural arches and bridges.

At the Indian Sands site within the park, archaeological finds have provided evidence of human activity in this area 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, which is likely the result of migration along the Pacific coast from the area of the Bering Land Bridge.

[3][4][5] A national park on the southern Oregon Coast was proposed in the late 1930s; it was to encompass 30,000 acres (12,000 ha) from Gold Beach to Brookings.