Ride a rigid inflatable boat to Redfish Rocks and spot coastal wildlife
1.25 hrs
Boat tour, Wildlife viewing
Depart from Dolley Dock in Port Orford for a boat tour focused on Redfish Rocks Marine Research Reserve, local geology, and coastal wildlife. Ride aboard the Black Pearl, a rigid hull inflatable boat similar to Coast Guard rescue boats.
People with bad backs or who are prone to seasickness may not want to take this tour. Children under 2 are not recommended. Whale sightings are not guaranteed, and tips are appreciated.
48 hours notice for a full refund.
If you are prone to seasickness or have a bad back, you may not want to take this tour.
Dress warm and in layers. Bring a layer to keep mist off your clothes, like a rain jacket.
Yes. If you bring nice camera equipment, use a dry case or dry bag to help protect it from water.
300 Dock rd Port Orford, OR
South Coast Tours delivers consistently excellent kayaking and whale watching adventures along Oregon's stunning coastline, with guides like Mike, Dave, Brian, and Grant earning universal praise for their knowledge and enthusiasm. These aren't just boat rides or paddle trips—the guides share fascinating insights about local wildlife, marine ecosystems, and coastal history while ensuring everyone feels safe and comfortable, even first-timers nervous about ocean kayaking. All necessary equipment (wetsuits, life jackets, booties) is provided and well-maintained, so you just show up ready for adventure. The wildlife encounters are genuinely special. Gray whales and even blue whales make regular appearances on boat tours, while kayakers get up close with harbor seals, sea stars, sea urchins, and countless bird species in places like Port Orford and the dramatic sea arches near Brookings. The guides excel at reading conditions and people, offering helpful paddling tips and taking the time for interesting breaks during longer routes. One reviewer wished the whale watching tour lasted longer than its current duration, but that's the only real critique in an otherwise overwhelmingly positive track record.
So many good things to say. We originally booked a tour out of Secret Beach to Arches caves. My wife and I decided to test out the hike the day before. We parked at Spruce Island and made our way down, then hit a pretty exposed section right above Secret Beach and decided that this trip wasn't for us. We come from elevation and I am very comfortable with 30+ pack, but I cannot do an exposed cliff. On a holiday, we called to cancel our next-day trip. Within a few hours, Dave with SCT called and talked through our issues. He said hey, instead of canceling, are you interested in going out of Port Orford for a more chill trip? Our bit of refund was received immediately and the next morning we paddled with Mike out of Port Orford. Our group was experienced paddlers but this was still super fun, informative, and just overall cool. Mike was great with our group and we even got some fresh uni! Can't recommend enough because I called with a problem and they found a better solution than I knew. That's awesome.
Laura Harp Wadas [Rancho HS]
July 6, 2026
So many good things to say. We originally booked a tour out of Secret Beach to Arches caves. My wife and I decided to test out the hike the day before. We parked at Spruce Island and made our way down, then hit a pretty exposed section right above Secret Beach and decided that this trip wasn't for us. We come from elevation and I am very comfortable with 30+ pack, but I cannot do an exposed cliff. On a holiday, we called to cancel our next-day trip. Within a few hours, Dave with SCT called and talked through our issues. He said hey, instead of canceling, are you interested in going out of Port Orford for a more chill trip? Our bit of refund was received immediately and the next morning we paddled with Mike out of Port Orford. Our group was experienced paddlers but this was still super fun, informative, and just overall cool. Mike was great with our group and we even got some fresh uni! Can't recommend enough because I called with a problem and they found a better solution than I knew. That's awesome.
Laura Harp Wadas [Rancho HS]
July 6, 2026