There’s something for everyone at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area. Extending one mile out into the Pacific Ocean from the Oregon coast, Yaquina Head is a great place to spot wildlife such as gray whales, harbor seals, and nesting seabirds. At low tide the sea floor is exposed and colorful animals such as orange sea stars, purple sea urchins, and giant green anemones are visible. At high tide a visit to Cobble Beach is an auditory treat as the rounded basalt rocks create an applause-like sound as the waves roll in. If the winter storms or summer winds are raging, take refuge in the Interpretive Center and discover thousands of years of natural history and more than 140 years of lighthouse history.
Standing 93 feet tall on the west westernmost point of the basalt headland, Oregons tallest lighthouse has been a bright beacon of the night, guiding ships and their supplies along the west coast since the light first lit in 1873. Still an active aid to navigation today, a limited number of visitors can tour the lighthouse with an interpretive guide. Pre-arrival reservations are strongly recommended.
