Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area

40 reviews

+1 (541) 574-3100

Website

Photos

Ladybug on mom's hand
in Depoe Bay, 5-25-2023 — Ladybug on mom's hand in Depoe Bay, 5-25-2023

Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area - seal fun

Siletz Bay at low tide,
5-24-2023 — Siletz Bay at low tide, 5-24-2023

750 NW Lighthouse Dr

Newport, OR 97365

+1 (541) 574-3100

http://www.blm.gov

From exploring tide pools teeming with life to witnessing Oregon's tallest lighthouse, there is something for every visitor at Yaquina Head. Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area extends out from the Oregon coast, one mile into the Pacific Ocean. Standing 93 feet tall at the westernmost point of the basalt headland, the lighthouse has been a bright beacon of the night, guiding ships and their supplies along the west coast since the light was first lit on August 20, 1873. The offshore islands are a year-round refuge for harbor seals and a spring-summer home for thousands of nesting seabirds. Gray whales can be spotted during their annual migrations to Mexico (late fall-early winter) and Alaska (late winter-early spring). During the summer months some gray whales take the opportunity to feed in the shallow waters around the headland. Cobble Beach is compiled of millions of round basalt rocks that produce an applause-like sound as the waves roll in. When the tide is low a vibrant ocean floor is revealed—pools of colorful animals including orange sea stars, purple sea urchins, and giant green anemones. Rangers are at hand to answer questions and point out all of the amazing plants and animals that call the tide pools home. Visit the Interpretive Center and discover 140 years of lighthouse history and thousands of years of natural and cultural history. Friends of Yaquina Lighthouses, a non-profit organization, offers site-related books, maps, and postcards in their interpretive store. Whether you want to see raging winter storms batter the Oregon coast, learn about the role lighthouses played in the westward expansion of the United States, or watch peregrine falcons at play, visit Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area and experience something wild.

Also at this address

Yaquina Head Lighthouse

126 reviews

Reviews

4.540 reviews

Brittney B.

10/30/2023

My husband, son, and I visited the lighthouse last week while we were in town. The entrance fee is $7 per vehicle. The views at the lighthouse are STUNNING! I even captured a rainbow over the...

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Amy C.

11/29/2024

You can't miss this place! It does cost a few dollars to drive in, I believe it is free for bikers and walkers. They direct all traffic through the visitor's center where you can ask the...

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Kathryn Y.

8/10/2024

Loads of parking. $7 to enter and a self service pay station if you don't have cash. A coast side nature area which is absolutely lovely. Short trails and tide pool access. The beach here is...

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Kim R.

2/2/2023

A must-stop along the coast. We come often, as there's always something fun and interesting to see...as well as spectacular coastal views. Check out the seals, tide pools, and other amazing sea...

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