Anchorage may be had in about the center of Port Orford in 5 to 10 fathoms, sand bottom, however, it is reported that many anchors have been lost near the rocky 1¾-fathom shoal 0.2 mile E of the S end of the breakwater. The cove is marked by a lighted bell buoy and a light, 0.5 mile S and 0.8 mile ENE of Tichenor Rock, respectively. Small craft may anchor closer to The Heads where better protection is afforded against the NW winds.
A wharf E of Graveyard Point is used mostly for commercial fishing. Fishing boats are lifted to cradles on the wharf with two large hoists. The wharf can accommodate vessels that are a maximum of: 44 feet in length, 15 feet in width, and no more than 19 tons. Gasoline, diesel fuel, water, marine supplies, ice, and dry boat storage is available on the wharf; minor repairs can be made. A Federal project provides for a depth of 16 feet in the channel leading to the wharf. A 550-foot breakwater, with a light on the outer end, extends SE from Graveyard Point and provides some protection for the wharf.
Navigation:
Click the “Map View” button above to see a chart of this harbor.
Port Orford, 6.5 miles S of Cape Blanco and 19 miles N of Rogue River, is a cove that affords good shelter in NW weather, but is exposed and dangerous in S weather. It is easy of access and is probably the best natural NW lee N of Point Reyes.
The town of Port Orford, on the N side of the cove, is the home of the famous yellow cedar.
The Heads, forming the W point of the cove, appear from S as a long ridge with three knobs. The inner two are slightly higher and covered with trees. Tichenor Rock lies 175 yards S of The Heads.
Klooqueh Rock, 0.3 mile off the NW face of The Heads, is black and conical in shape. It is prominent, especially when coming from the NW inside Orford Reef. Rocky ledges are between this rock and shore. Battle Rock, in the N part of the cove close to shore, is high, narrow, and black; it is detached only at extreme high tides. Visible and covered rocks extend up to 0.5 mile from shore around the cove.
