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Cape Perpetua Scenic Area, Yachats, OR

Photo: John Fowler from Placitas, NM, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

Sport & OutdoorOutdoor Adventure

Cape Perpetua Scenic Area

2400 Highway 101 · Yachats, OR

Why you should go…

Cape Perpetua Scenic Area protects 2,700 acres of coastal habitat two miles south of Yachats in the Siuslaw National Forest. The headland rises about 800 feet above the Pacific, and a 26-mile trail system runs through old-growth forest to tide pools and a giant Sitka spruce. Along the shore, Spouting Horn and Thor's Well throw up seawater with the tide, and Devil's Churn fills with each wave. The visitor center has exhibits and a wheelchair accessible deck with ocean views.

  • #oregon coast
  • #tide pools
  • #hiking
  • #scenic viewpoint
  • #thor's well

Good to know

General sport & outdoor guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Weather calls the shots

    Check the forecast the morning of and keep an indoor backup in your pocket for the day it turns.

  • Shoes, water, sun cover

    The three things that decide whether you last the whole outing or cut it short after an hour.

  • Parking and launches fill early

    On a nice weekend, lots and trailheads are often full by mid-morning.

  • Daylight shrinks in shoulder season

    Spring and fall visits need an earlier start than the same trip in July.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Cape Perpetua Scenic Area, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Heceta Head Lighthouse

    Under $25

    Climb a half-mile trail from a sheltered beach to an 1894 lighthouse perched 206 feet above the Pacific.

    10 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Sea Lion Caves

    Under $25

    An elevator descends into a coastal cave where visitors can view wild Steller sea lions on the Oregon coast.

    11 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Sightseeing
    Outdoor Adventure

    Newport

    Free

    Oregon coast city known for fishing heritage, beaches, whale watching, and the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

    20 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    C&M Stables

    $50+

    Guided horseback rides along Oregon Coast beaches and dunes near Florence.

    21 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Family Favorite

    Sandland Adventures

    $25–$50

    Dune buggy and sandrail tours through the Oregon Dunes, plus a family fun center in Florence.

    21 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Sand Dunes Frontier

    $25–$50

    Guided dune buggy rides and ATV rentals with direct access to the Oregon Dunes.

    26 mi awayMore like this