Stretching over 360 miles from north to south, Oregon’s dramatic coastline offers endless opportunities for exploration and adventure. Towering sea cliffs, rock arches, sandy beaches, charming coastal towns, and dense temperate rainforests captivate visitors year-round. From the iconic Sea Stacks at Cannon Beach to the winding roads and trails of Samuel H. Boardman State Park, there are wonders to discover around every bend.
When planning a trip up or down Highway 101, be sure to include these top attractions and activities for experiencing the best of the Oregon coast.
Cannon Beach & Haystack Rock
No trip to Oregon is complete without visiting Cannon Beach and its star attraction – the iconic Haystack Rock. This massive sea stack towers 235 feet above the beach, providing a refuge for seabird nesting colonies. Bring your camera to capture postcard-perfect views of Haystack Rock framed by forested headlands. At low tide, explore the abundant tide pools surrounding the monolith to spot brilliant sea stars, anemones, crabs and other intertidal life.
For sand castle builders and beachcombers, Cannon Beach offers miles of pristine sandy shores with Haystack Rock never out of view. Grab lunch at one of the beachfront cafes or browse the art galleries and boutiques that line Hemlock Street. Leave some time to admire the centerpiece – a stunning replica of the Statue of Liberty fashioned from 10,000 copper pennies.
Oswald West State Park
Just 30 minutes south of Cannon Beach lies Oswald West State Park, protecting some of the most ruggedly beautiful coastline in Oregon. Delve into old growth rainforest on miles of hiking trails to reach pocket beaches, massive sea stacks, and magical tide pools. For a bit of adventure, bring your wetsuit and scramble down the primitive trail to Cape Falcon to access a dramatic headland renowned for stellar surfing and diving.
At scenic Short Sand Beach, picnic under old growth spruce or comb the shore for agates. Keep your eyes peeled for gray whales during their yearly migration December through March. Time your visit for low tide to fully experience the diverse marine life the rocky intertidal zone here harbors.
Sea Lion Caves
Ten miles north of Florence on Highway 101, you’ll find America’s largest sea cave and wild sea lion habitat open for public viewing and education. An elevator descends 208 feet down into the natural sea cavern where you can observe the stellar sea lions resting on rock ledges and swimming in the surge channel. The raucous barking echoing off the walls immerses you in the experience. Between September and November, you may spot freshly birthed pups nursing.
Up top, exhibits detail the ecology of the creatures along with forest birds like tufted puffins who populate the adjacent cliffs. Walk the cliffside hiking trails for panoramic views. Try to visit during low tides when the sea lions are most active in the water. Timed tickets help limit capacity to this popular natural attraction.
Heceta Head Lighthouse
You can’t miss the distinctive Y-shaped Heceta Head Lighthouse visible from many points along the central coast near Florence. A scenic 1-mile trail crosses over the headland through verdant rainforest leading right up to the 1894 lighthouse. Tour inside to learn about the layers of fresnel lenses and history of the keeper’s home. Wildlife abounds with whales visible offshore and seabirds like common murres nesting on the cliffs.
For the best views, head across the parking lot to the historic Heceta Head Lightkeeper’s home, now converted into a quaint bed and breakfast. Their dining room serves excellent local fare and offers a front row seat to sunsets over the Pacific. Watch for good storm waves crashing against the rocks below the lighthouse for dramatic photo ops.
Sea Lion Caves State Scenic Viewpoint
Just north of Florence, this scenic roadside stop offers prime views down onto a rock shelf crowded with hundreds of noisy sea lions. Peer through provided binoculars to get an up close look at the hefty marine mammals lounging about, swimming, and jousting for space. Interpretive panels outline sea lion behavior and ecosystem roles, from the male bulls jockeying for dominance to the females nursing pups.
Below the viewing deck, a trail switchbacks down the cliffs to a pebbly cove where you can get an even closer vantage point. Note this is just an overlook, not the pay-to-enter Sea Lion Caves attraction. But it grants an excellent free peek at the sea lions in their natural habitat on this protected headland. Time with the tides for most activity.
Depoe Bay
Dubbed the “World’s Smallest Harbor”, Depoe Bay offers big entertainment from whale watching to storm watching, all in a compact coastal town with plenty of dining, shopping, and sightseeing. Charter boats depart year-round for whale watching cruises with prime viewing December through April during the migration season. Depoe Bay’s location centered in migration routes means great gray whale sighting success.
For land-based whale spotting, walk out on the seawall or stop at coastal viewpoints north and south of town that offer higher cliffside vantage points. Sign up for a guided whale walk to learn more about their habits and ecosystem role. At Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint just north, keep eyes peeled for dramatic winter storm wave action. Enjoy fresh seafood straight from the dock at one of the harborfront restaurants in Depoe Bay.
Thor’s Well & Spouting Horn Beach
Along the coastline near Depoe Bay, keep your eyes peeled for a couple of Fascinating geological formations carved into the rocky shore – Thor’s Well and Spouting Horn. Thor’s Well is a giant hole in the rocky shoreline that forms a perfectly round bowl. When waves crash over the edges, water violently funnels and swirls down the hole, creating a mesmerizing “drainpipe” effect. Position yourself safely above to see the power of water carving away at the rock over centuries.
Just south at Cook’s Chasm, look for Spouting Horn, a sea cave that fills up then shoots a tall spout of water out the top. Waves rhythmically blast the spout skyward by pushing water through holes in the cave ceiling. Time your walk along this gorgeous stretch of coastline to see both during high tide when wave activity peaks. Check tide tables for Cook’s Chasm to witness the Spouting Horn at max velocity.
Yaquina Head & Lighthouse
Home to the tallest lighthouse on the Oregon coast, the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area juts a mile out into the Pacific just north of Newport. This promontory protects a rich diversity of ecosystems, from dense coastal forest to tide pools teeming with life. Stretch your legs on trails through spruce woodlands to reach cliffside viewpoints overlooking thunderous waves crashing against the rocky headlands.
The key highlight is the 93-foot tall Yaquina Head Lighthouse, still an active beacon for maritime traffic. Take a guided tour to climb to the top and learn about its fascinating history. Plan time to explore the tide pools during low tides, keeping an eye out for sea stars, purple urchins, sea anemones and wandering hermit crabs. Bring your binoculars to spot seabirds like peregrine falcons and brown pelicans nesting on the cliffs.
Newport’s Historic Nye Beach
For a dose of coastal charm, spend an afternoon wandering around the historic Nye Beach neighborhood of Newport. This compact oceanside district abounds with gift shops and art galleries housed in charming little cottages and storefronts. Grab lunch on the patio at Nye Beach Cafe, a local favorite serving Northwest cuisine and impressive views of pounding surf.
Don’t miss the Sylvia Beach Hotel with rooms named after famous writers. Take a stroll down the oceanfront boardwalk that connects Nye Beach to the pedestrian-only Newport Historic Bayfront. Here you’ll find seafood restaurants, shops and the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Cap off the day catching a glorious sunset over the Pacific from one of Nye Beach’s oceanview benches or the sand.
Cape Kiwanda & Haystack Rock
Just south of Cannon Beach and close to Pacific City, Cape Kiwanda is a top spot on the northern coast to take in the power and beauty of the Pacific. This stunning headland juts far into the ocean, flanked by towering cliff walls. You can scramble to the top of the steep sandstone bluff to soak up panoramic views from high above churning waves hitting the rocky shoreline. Watch for brave surfers tackling the challenging swell and massive breakers.
At low tide, venture north around the cape to encounter the iconic Haystack Rock, not to be confused with the one at Cannon Beach. Jutting from the flat sandy beach, this mammoth sea stack rises 335 feet straight from the ocean floor. Kelp beds surround its base and seabirds nest on tiny ledges dotting its flanks. Photograph sunset silhouetting the monolithic formation for classic coastal views.
Cape Meares Lighthouse & Wildlife
For spectacular views up and down the coastline, head to the historic Cape Meares Lighthouse 10 miles west of Tillamook. Perched on a high cliff, the lighthouse offers a front row seat to the enormous waves and sea stacks below. The short path to the lighthouse leads through a lush old growth rainforest that harbors the largest Sitka spruce in Oregon.
Keep an eye peeled for Roosevelt elk who frequent the grassy headlands. Gray whales also pass close by during their yearly migrations. Walk down to the cove below the lighthouse to spot Tufted Puffins nesting on the cliff sides from April through July. Inside the lighthouse stands the original fresnel lens first lit in 1890 – an Oregon coast must see.
Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor
For a tour up Oregon’s most prized and pristine coastline, plan to drive or hike stretches of the Samuel H. Boardman State Park scenic corridor between Gold Beach and Brookings. Along this forested route, pullouts every mile or two grant access to magical coastal sights and experiences. Walk out to Arch Rock, a giant stone arch framing turquoise waters. Take the short hike down to secluded Whaleshead Beach ringed by sea stacks.
Don’t miss breathtaking views of Crescent Beach and its iconic sea stack from the overlook atop Cape Ferrelo. Further south, gaze down at turquoise pools and churning surf from high atop Cape Sebastian. Check tide charts to explore the extensive tide pools at Natural Bridges and Thunder Rock Cove teeming with brilliant sea stars, anemones and urchins.
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
Offering a contrast to Oregon’s rocky coastal headlands, Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area spans over 40 miles of giant coastal sand dunes that tower up to 500 feet high. Just south of Florence, the collection of colossal sand mountains bordering the Pacific create a dramatic desert-like landscape to explore. Rent a dune buggy or OHV to tackle giant mounds and steep ridges along specially marked trails. For family fun, sled down the slopes or hike up windswept dunes to admire coastal views.
5 mile roundtrip half-loop trails from Eel Creek and Tahkenitch Creek trailheads provide a peaceful hiking experience through sandy hills dotted with lakes and McCullough Bridge. Located at the north end of the dunes, this historic bridge spanning Coos Bay looks like a castle rising from the surrounding dunes.
Beachcombing Southern Oregon Beaches
Some of Oregon’s most beautiful, pristine beaches lie between Coos Bay and Brookings. For great beachcombing and gorgeous scenery, head to Bastendorff, Yoakam Point, and Myers Creek beaches south of Coos Bay. Agate hunting is best at Gold and Baker Beaches near Charleston.
The stretch of coastline from Bandon south to Port Orford contains stunning beaches like Battle Rock, Lone Ranch, and Cape Blanco. Keep your eyes peeled for jade, driftwood, shells, and glass floats washing up on shore as you explore miles of sandy wilderness bracketed by sea stacks and cliffs.
From the towering monoliths at Cannon Beach to the windswept dunes near Florence, Oregon’s diverse coastal landscapes astound and inspire. Whether storm watching, beachcombing, hiking scenic trails, or searching for gray whales and seabirds, adventures await all along this captivating Pacific shoreline. During your travels up or down Highway 101, take time to venture off the beaten path to uncover hidden pocket beaches, coves, and vistas that exemplify the region’s natural beauty and marine wonders.
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