The Ultimate Oregon Coast Road Trip, Part Two: The Central Oregon Coast.
Hey there everyone! By now you may have already visited some of the locations on this Oregon coast road trip. Or maybe you are researching places to see for your very first time. There are no shortage of amazing sites to scope out, and whether you are traveling down the entire coast or just looking for a few new areas to explore, I hope this blog post helps you to plan out an epic adventure!
While the Northern Oregon coast is composed of grand cliffside views and famous sea stacks, the central coast is full of lighthouses, sea caves, waterfalls and more! If you are new to this site, check out Part One of this blog post for more suggestions to add to your Pacific Northwest bucket list.
Lincoln City
God’s Thumb is the first stop on this list, and it is one of the most impressive views of the Pacific Ocean in my opinion, given the unique rock formation jutting out above the sea below. Located in the Siuslaw National Forest, you can access this hike via another trail called The Knoll. The original parking area for this hike is located on private property, so unfortunately it is no longer accessible. The new parking area is located on NE Devil’s Lake Blvd, which does add a little bit of extra mileage to the trip. The full trail clocks in at 4.3 miles roundtrip, with 1,131 ft of elevation gain, and it is rated as moderate. The trail can be very muddy during the wet season and windy at the top where the “thumb” is, as there is little tree coverage out there. If you do intend to climb out onto the thumb, expect exposed cliffsides and steep/slippery terrain. This is not the best hike for small children or those with a fear of heights. Make sure you check out the Knoll Overlook, which is not marked, but a small detour about a mile into the hike off to the left of the main trail. It gives you an amazing view of Lincoln City down below.
The next stop on our list is the Driftcreek Falls trail, with the unique highlight of a 240 foot-long suspension bridge towering over the columnar basalt amphitheater, which houses an impressive 66 foot waterfall down below. This trail is also part of the Siuslaw National Forest, and is 3.2 miles out and back, with 541 feet of elevation gain. The elevation gain is in reverse, so you will actually hike down through the forest to get to the falls. While it is uphill on the way back, the graded switchbacks make the climb not too difficult. If you do choose to cross the bridge and hike down to the base of the waterfall there are two routes you can take. The first is a steep ravine next to the foot of the drawbridge, that is probably the more treacherous of the two. Sometimes there is a rope tied there to assist, but it is often very muddy making it dangerous to go down. The second option is to continue following the trail until it dead ends at the creek bed and turn right towards the falls. This route is not without its own obstacles, as you do need to do some climbing over and around large boulders blocking the path. Keep in mind that neither of these routes are maintained trails, so explore at your own risk. The boulders can be slippery when wet.
Other Things to Do in Lincoln City:
- Chinook Winds Casino Resort.
- Devil’s Lake Recreation Area.
- Finder’s Keeper’s Glass Floats- at certain times of the year the city releases blown glass orbs onto the beach. If you are lucky enough to find one, it is yours to keep!
Newport
Traveling south down the coast, our next destination is the Devil’s Punchbowl, which is technically in Otter Rock. This stunning open ceiling sea cave is only accessible during low tide, and can be tricky to find if you don’t know where you are going. The main parking area is located on C Avenue. This parking area is small, so if you don’t get a spot there, there is additional parking on 1st Street. This is where things get confusing. If you park in the C Avenue parking area, you will turn immediately left out of the parking area and head northbound to the beach. If you are parking on 1st street, you need to go down to C Avenue. There is a different staircase off 1st avenue, which leads to a different beach, and this is not the way to go.
As previously mentioned, the cave is only accessible during low tide, and can be very dangerous if you aren’t mindful of the tides. Once you reach the beach access off C Avenue, you will turn left and go straight until you reach the cave opening. Once inside, there is a plethora of sea life including colorful starfish, anemones and barnacles. It is important to be careful where you step, as the rocks below your feet may have living creatures on them!
If you love lighthouses and scenic views, then this next stop is for you! The Yaquina Head Lighthouse, established in 1872, is a beacon of light guiding ships along the Pacific coast. This particular area does have an entrance fee of $7.00 per car, however if you have the America the Beautiful National Parks Pass you can use it here. There is much to explore in this area, as you can head down to the Cobble Stone Beach below, which is famous for having some of the best tidepools on the coast. Yaquina Head is also a popular spot for whale watching in December and January, as it is along the migration path of blue whales traveling to warmer southern waters. It is also an excellent place for bird watching, as on most days you can spot Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, and Common Murres nesting nearby.
Because this is a fee area, there is a gate and attendant to let you enter, and they do close the gates between dusk and dawn. You can take tours of the Lighthouse itself and it is open from 12 pm to 4 pm during the summer. Another unique piece of history about this lighthouse, is that is it allegedly haunted!
Other Things to Do in Newport:
- Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum.
- Oregon Coast Aquarium.
- Starfish Cove.
- Agate Beach Natural Scenic Area.
Cape Perpetua and Yachats
About 26 miles traveling south down the coast, you will reach the city of Yachats, home to the scenic Cape Perpetua and several distinctive natural phenomena unique to this area within the Siuslaw National Forest.
The next stop is a personal favorite of mine, and one that many people don’t even know exists! Located close by the popular Thor’s Well and the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center, you will follow the road NFD 55 uphill, which eventually turns into the Cape Perpetua Lookout Road taking you up to the small parking area above. This stone lookout tower gives you a jaw dropping view of the sea below and is the perfect photography spot for golden hour light and sunset.
If you are heading down to Thor’s Well, then this next stop is right along the way, as it is right off of the path that you’ll be following to the next attraction. After parking at the Thor’s Well parking area you will follow the 0.3 mile paved path down to the beach along the Captain Cook Trail. This natural geyser is just off to the left of the bottom of the staircase, and if you watch the waves crashing through Cook’s Chasm you will see the powerful spray of the Spouting Horn shooting up through the rocks, similar to a whale spout.
As you continue down the Captain Cook trail you will see the natural phenomenon Thor’s Well, also known as “Hell’s Gate”, to your right. This 20 foot hole in the rocks is a hotspot for photographers trying to get that perfect long exposure shot of the sea rushing into the well. Best seen from afar during higher tides, when the water runs over the rocks and into the sinkhole, this is a must see spot to add to your Pacific Northwest bucket list. This place can be very dangerous if not explored with caution. Due to sneaker waves and large sprays, one can easily be swept out to sea, or even worse into the hole, making drowning a very real possibility! There are no guardrails preventing people from getting too close, but if you are careful you can get a good view from the nearby rocks during lower tides, as seen in the picture below.
Florence
The last stop on this Central Oregon Coast road trip is the city of Florence, which is located 27 miles south of Yachats. The Main attraction here is the Haceta Head Lighthouse, situated atop the 1,000 foot high Haceta Head. This beautiful lighthouse originated in 1894 and is one of the most photographed lighthouses along the coast. Once parked, you will head up the 0.9 mile round trip trail to the lighthouse above. There is an elevation gain of 131 feet. Day parking at this trailhead is $5.00. If you are looking for a special experience during your visit here, you can book a room at the Haceta Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast in the Keeper’s Home.
Other Stops Along the Way
- Seal Rock State Recreation Area.
- Hart’s Cove and Cascade Head Trails.
- Giant Spruce of Cape Perpetua.
- Oregon Dunes, Siuslaw National Forest.
- Sea Lion Caves, Florence.
I hope you enjoyed part two of the Ultimate Oregon Coast Road Trip blog! Stay tuned for part three, and my personal favorite of the three, the Southern Oregon Coast.
[…] hauntingly rising out of the ocean. If you’ve come this far, please check out Part One and Part Two of this blog to see other areas of interest along Highway 101. Here are a few of my favorite places […]