Central Coast

Oregon has a fantastic coastline that can easily compete with California’s Big Sur in terms of scenery. Unfortunately Oregon does not often get the good weather that Big Sur enjoys, so its coast is far less well known. We travelled up the coast from Florence to Astoria and encountered weather varying from bright sunshine to thick, damp sea fog, but we were spared from Oregon’s infamous rain. Despite the variable conditions, the journey yielded enough material to fill two pages, so we have split our journey into two - the Central Coast between Florence and Newport and the Northern Coast between Otter Rock and the mouth of the Columbia River.

 

 

Devils Churn, Cape Perpetua

While California’s Big Sur coast is largely undeveloped, the central Oregon coast alternates between wild coast and built up areas. At Cape Perpetua the coast is completed unspoilt and a short walk can reward you with many sights. Here at the Devils Churn the sea boils in an inlet surrounded by volcanic rock. Nearby at Cooks Chasm and Spouting Horn waves create thunderous sounds in an undersea cavern and spray erupts through a small hole creating a whale-like spout. Click Tab 2 to see the Spouting Horn

Sea Lions at Heceta Head

Route 101 approaching Heceta Head from the south is high up the cliff giving an opportunity to look down to undisturbed wildlife on the rocks below. Here Sea Lions bask on the rocks next to the turbulent sea.

Yachats from Cape Perpetua

Here we have Oregon weather in a nutshell. In the foreground bright sunshine, in the distance thick sea fog. The picture also shows the transition between a section of wild and undeveloped coast at Cape Perpetua and the built up area around Yachats (pronounced YAH-hots).

Heceta Head Lighthouse

On a sunny day this is a fantastic view. Perched 62 metres (205 feet) above the Pacific Ocean, Hececta Head Lighthouse was constructed between 1892 and 1894 and is still a working lighthouse. Heceta House, to the right of the picture, was  built in 1893 as a pair of dwellings for the assistant keepers. After the light was automated in 1963, Heceta House was converted into a Bed & Breakfast and daytime Interpretive Centre.

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 Heceta Head Lighthouse, OR, USA
 Sea Lions, Heceta Head, OR, USA
 Devils Churn, Cape Perpetua, OR, USA
 Yachats from Cape Perpetua, OR, USA

Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, Newport

Yaquina Bay Lighthouse could be described as a Victorian mistake. Completed in 1871 it was soon realised  it was on the coast rather than by the bay that a light was needed. Yaquina Bay Lighthouse saw only three years of service before it was replaced by the coastal Yaquina Head Lighthouse  just 6 kilometres (4 miles) to the north. Stripped of its lens, the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse was abandoned until the early 20th century when it was used as a Coast Guard Lifeboat Station. In 1933 it was again abandoned and in the 1950s it was was threatened with demolition. A campaign by the Lincoln County Historical Society saved it. It was restored in 1974 and in 1996 the light was re-lit after a gap if 122 years. The house has been filled with period furniture and there is a gift shop in the basement.

Yaquina Bay Bridge, Newport

The discovery of Yaquina Bay’s oyster beds in 1862  spurred the founding and growth of Newport. The finest attraction here is undoubtedly the Yaquina Bay Bridge built in 1931 as part of the construction of Route 101 down the west coast. The closure of the ferry took traffic away from Newport’s bay front and it went into decline. Nowadays Newport likes to boast of its historic bay front so we drove down there to have a look but didn’t see anything that made us want to stop.

 Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, Newport, OR, USA
 Yaquina Bay Bridge from lighthouse, Newport, OR, USA
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- Classic US west coast scenery.
- Places that disappoint by over selling themselves, such as Newport.
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Oregon MinimapIdahoNevadaCaliforniaCrater Lake National ParkOregon Central CoastOregon Northern CoastHawaiiAstoria & Fort ClatsopWashington State
Oregon MinimapIdahoNevadaCaliforniaCrater Lake National ParkOregon Central CoastOregon Northern CoastHawaiiAstoria & Fort ClatsopWashington State
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