Merchants Beach extends two miles along the Pacific Ocean at Seven Devils State Recreation Site, nine miles north of Bandon off Seven Devils Road in northern Coos County. This expansive sandy beach occupies the former Merchant family homestead, one of Coos County's pioneer families who settled this remote coastline in the 1870s to raise cattle and harvest timber from coastal forests. The 54-acre recreation site stretches between Cape Arago's dramatic headlands to the north and Bullards Beach State Park near the Coquille River mouth to the south, providing the northernmost public access to an uninterrupted 15-mile beach corridor. Seven Devils Road winds through coastal mountains as a twisting paved backroad connecting Highway 101 to Cape Arago Highway, offering a scenic alternative to coastal routes. The name Seven Devils originates from seven towering rock formations visible offshore, resembling devils rising from the Pacific during storms when waves crash against the basalt pillars creating dramatic spray.
Swimming at Merchants Beach proves dangerous due to powerful Pacific surf, rip currents, cold ocean temperatures averaging 50-55 degrees year-round, and absence of lifeguard services. A shallow creek flowing across the beach provides safer wading for children during summer months when water levels drop and temperatures warm slightly compared to ocean conditions. Oregon Parks and Recreation warns visitors to remain vigilant for sneaker waves that strike without warning along southern Oregon beaches. Agate hunting attracts rockhounds searching gravel deposits exposed during low tides following winter storms, with semi-precious agates, jaspers, and fossilized wood washing ashore when waves strip away summer sand layers. The beach serves as a haven for beachcombers seeking solitude, with visitor numbers remaining far below crowded Bandon beaches despite superior agate hunting. Kite flying thrives in consistent ocean winds averaging 10-15 miles per hour. Tide pool exploration reveals purple sea stars, green anemones, and hermit crabs. Harbor seal pups haul out on beaches during spring pupping season, with visitors required to maintain 100-foot distances to avoid disturbing mothers and newborns.
Access Merchants Beach via Seven Devils Road from Highway 101 north of Bandon, turning west at Charleston turnoff on Beaver Hill Road, following it 6.2 miles before turning right onto Seven Devils Road and continuing 6.3 miles to Cape Arago Highway. The large paved parking lot at Seven Devils State Recreation Site accommodates approximately 40 vehicles with no day-use fees charged. Restrooms and picnic tables serve visitors year-round. Vehicles can drive directly onto the beach at designated access points, though soft sand requires four-wheel-drive vehicles and deflated tires for safe navigation. The beach operates without posted hours, accessible dawn to dusk daily. Explanatory placards detail the Merchant family homestead history and coastal ecology. Cell phone service proves unreliable at the remote location. Bay Area Hospital operates 25 miles northeast in Coos Bay at 1775 Thompson Road providing emergency services.
Dining concentrates in Charleston eight miles north and Bandon nine miles south. Fisherman's Grotto at 91149 Cape Arago Highway in Charleston serves fish and chips, clam chowder, and fresh seafood with covered patio seating. Miller's at the Cove at 63346 Boat Basin Road prepares fish tacos, burgers, and clam chowder using locally sourced ingredients. Lord Bennett's Restaurant at 1695 Beach Loop Road in Bandon serves Pacific Northwest cuisine including pan-seared halibut, grilled salmon, and Dungeness crab cakes with ocean views. Edgewaters Restaurant in downtown Bandon cooks fresh seafood, fish tacos, and clam chowder with Coquille River panoramas. Tony's Crab Shack on First Street serves Dungeness crab cocktails, fish and chips, and clam strips in a waterfront takeout shack operating since 1982. Merchants Beach's combination of pioneer homestead history, exceptional agate hunting, and remote location creates southern Oregon's premier destination for beachcombers seeking solitude and semi-precious gemstones along an undeveloped 15-mile beach corridor protected from commercial development.
