Q & A

The average annual rainfall for the past 50 years has been about 80 inches. The chart below is the average rainfall by month for a 30 year period.

The pastures turn brown in late June or July and green up again in October and grow some thru the winter as well. The winter storms for the most part cycle between heavy rain with wind and periods of sunshine. It is wet here in the winter, but the rain is more concentrated and therefore for shorter periods of time than in Seattle or Portland, which tend to be much less sunny with more drizzle.

The fairly frequent north wind in the summer keeps the fog away for most days. When it is very hot over (over 100) in the valley along I-5 in Grants Pass/Medford, we will get a few foggy mornings. Brookings just 27 miles to the south has less wind, but frequent summer fog and much more cloudiness compared to Gold Beach.

We were in Brookings earlier today and it was cloudy while it was sunny all day here. Brookings may reach 90 degrees while Gold Beach is still in the lower 70s during the summer. Snow is a very rare below 1,000 foot elevation along the coast.

Gold Beach experiences pleasant average highs of 65 to 70 in the summer. During the winter months the average temperature is around 45 to 50. The climate is very mild. Even though Gold Beach receives an average of 80 inches of rain a year, the area has the highest "total sun hours" on the Oregon Coast.

The local municipal airport has more clear days than any airport between San Francisco and Portland, thanks to that fog-clearing wind.

The summer winds also reduce the flies on the horses. Fleas and ticks are rare and there are no gnats.

What are average ocean temperatures and does the ocean warm at all by the end of the summer?

The chart below is the closest that I could find to us and shows ocean temperatures in the 50s for the whole year. Port Orford is about 25 miles north. Some recent years have had the water in the low 60s for brief periods. There is really no beach swimming here, but you do see youngsters playing in the surf now and then. Windsurfers and surfers use wet suits. Wind pattern changes impact the churning up of the colder water to the surface and can result in unusual and brief warmer waters.

Location		JAN	FEB	MAR	APR 1-15	APR 16-30	MAY 1-15	MAY 16-31	JUN 1-15	JUN 16-30	JUL 1-15	JUL 16-31	AUG 1-15	AUG 16-31	SEP 1-15	SEP 16-30	OCT 1-15	OCT 16-31	NOV	DEC
Port Orford OR		50	50	50	50	50	50	51	51	51	51	51	51	53	53	53	52	52	52	51

We were very concerned about road noise when we were looking for a coastal property. We wanted a view of the waves breaking (not a distant ocean view) and we wanted to hear the surf and little else. This property meets those criteria. Big trucks or rigs at night are rare. The combination of surf and wind sounds and the trees shielding the road for several hundred feet back as well as up makes for a very quiet location. Sirens can be heard if they pass by the ranch.

Can you hear the ocean from your house?

The surf can be heard from all parts of the ranch and every room of the house and barn. On still mornings with no wind, we can hear the stellar sea lions at their rookery which is off the shore and over 3 miles from us. Air conditioning is used about two nights a year; so we normally sleep with the windows opened slightly to allow for the breeze and the surf sounds.

What are the riding options around the ranch and the surrounding area? Is this a horse-friendly area?

This is a very horse friendly area. Our neighbor's ranch to the south is mainly hundreds of acres of open pasture above the coastline. We let their cattle run on some of the southern part of the ranch to keep the grass down and the gates to their ranch are kept open for the cattle. The large parcel behind the ranch is also available for riding. There are several near by areas to haul horses to as well. Most of the county is state and federal government owned land.

Do you have any wildlife on your property? If so, what kind? How about in the surrounding area?

Many kinds of wildlife share the ranch with us. Black tail deer, quail, wild turkeys now and then, a bobcat or two, a coyote last night, rabbits, many red tailed hawks, owls on the fences at night, finches, swallows (which like the barn) and numerous other birds.

There is also a small Roosevelt elk herd of about a dozen, that roams the area and can be seen frequently on the land bordering the east side of the farm. Sometimes they will come on the ranch. We see a bald eagle here now and then and ospreys are nearby. A couple years ago a small bear was spotted on Old Coast Road below us.

There are cougar in the area, but if they destroy a farm animal they can then be hunted by a professional with dog.

How protected is the property from developers around its edges? How many other houses on other properties can one see from the main house?

Oregon land use laws have been very effective in controlling development along the coast.

The Gold Beach area has the smallest Urban Growth Boundary of any city in the county and one of, if not, the smallest on the coast

The ranch has about a half mile frontage on 101 which is about 400+ feet below the house and farm buildings at 500 feet and separated by the Douglas Fir forest, which combined with the altitude also eliminates most road noise.

The property directly to the west of the ranch across 101 is owned by the State of Oregon, as an undeveloped geological park, known as Otter Point. Day visit only, no ultilities or water or even a sign on 101 noting that the 'park' is there. Very few ever visit. A rare exposed two layers of earth from the Jurassic and Pleistocene periods is the feature of the site. See attached write-up on Otter Point.

To the south is a 475 acre ranch, which the owner continues to maintain as a cattle and sheep ranch, like his land grant ancestors and is currently zoned forest/grazing.

The primary views from the house are to the west and south, the majority of which is over state land.

To the north and east is our neighbor's 83 acres, limited to their one house. We can see their house from the back of the barn and it is above and behind the barn and main house, but not visible from the house and barn north, south and west views. That house is about 3/8 of a mile away.

To the north of that piece are two parcels of 30-40 acres, which could have a single dwelling each and might be visible in the future from the north side of the house depending on the building site. Another home can be seen in the hills about 2-3 miles to the north.

Another 200+ acre parcel is also to the east, with one building right, over the hill in the back and not visible from our house.

No other houses are close, but there are several homes on the ocean shore, three miles south of the ranch near town. The state now owns the land bordering the coastline, north of these houses to Otter Point. No homes visible on the coastline to the north.

Can one walk to the beach or are their restrictions on access? What is the actual distance via the path or whatever?

It is about a 7/10ths of a mile walk to the beach down our driveway and across 101, along Old Coast Road (one lane) to Otter Point and the beach. There are no access restrictions to the beach in front of the ranch or to the south. A path could be constructed thru the ranch woods to make a smaller distance of less than 1/2 mile, since the drive has a couple switchbacks.

Can one ride horses on the beach?

Horses can be ridden to and on the beach with no restrictions. And the three mile beach to the south of Otter Point is wide and shallow with firm sand and good footing for horses.

Questions & Answers