Northern Coast

Oregon has such a long scenic coastline that we have spread our journey from Florence to the mouth of the Columbia River across two pages  - the Central Coast between Florence and Newport and the Northern Coast between Otter Rock and the mouth of the Columbia River. As you will see, the variable weather that we encountered along the Central Coast continued as we drove north.

 

 

Netarts Bay from Andersons Overlook

Route 101 keeps generally runs fairly close to the coast, but between Neskowin and Tillamook it goes inland.   A 56 kilometre (35 mile) road known as the Three Capes Loop takes you along one of the most untouched sections of the Oregon coast. The road takes you close to Capes Kiwanda, Lookout, and Meares, but the view from the car is mainly of trees so to see the coast you have to get out and walk. In this picture the sand bar that separates Netarts Bay from the ocean heads northwards into the sea mist from Cape Lookout.

View south  from Cape Foulweather

In 1778 Captain James Cook arrived in this area only to be greeted by a sudden fierce storm which  threatened his ships HMS Resolution and HMS Discovery. The ships managed to ride out the storm, but the ferocity of the  weather prompted Cook to name   the nearby headland Cape Foulweather. In this picture, the village of Otter Rock is on the headland in the foreground then the coast continues south towards Newport and Yaquina Bay.

Three Arch Rocks from Cape Meares

Continuing north along the Three Capes Loop you come to Cape Meares. Here a lighthouse is perched on the cliff, but because the cliff is high only a short lighthouse was needed so it is not particularly photogenic. The area around Cape Meares was made a National Wildlife Refuge  in 1938 to protect one of the last remnants of coastal old growth forest. To the right of the picture stand Three Arch Rocks, although only one arch is visible from this angle.  The rocks were made a  National Wildlife Refuge in 1907 to protect bird colonies and sea lions that breed there.  Oregon's largest breeding colony of tufted puffins can be found on the rocks.

Devils Punch Bowl, Otter Rock

The small village of Otter Rock sits at the base of Cape Foulweather about 13 kilometres (8 miles) north of Newport. The village car park atop the cliffs offers an excellent view of Otter Rock’s great natural attraction, a huge hole in the rock to which the sea has access via a rock arch. With waves crashing through the arch into a giant rock bowl, the name Devil’s Punch Bowl seems appropriate. It is thought that there were once two sea caves here, but the roof collapsed leaving and open bowl and rock arch.

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View south down coast from Oswald West State Park

The coast of Oregon is punctuated by numerous small, scenic state parks. Oswald West State Park between Arch Cape and Neahkanie Mountain is a typical example. A basic campsite, plenty of walking trails through old-growth forest and a good beach are what you will find here.  

Castle Rock from Silver Point

Just North of the Oswald West State Park is the small coastal community of Arch Cape. Silver Point provides a view of the beach and the offshore rock formation known as Castle Rock. Located about 1.5 kilometres (1 mile) offshore, the rock rises over 45 metres (150 feet) out of the water, and takes its name from its castle-like appearance. Castle Rock  is home to a colony of over 12,000 Common Murres, penguin-like sea birds that nest in large numbers on the rocky sea cliffs.

 Devils Punch Bowl, Otter Rock, OR, USA
 View south  from Cape Foulweather, OR, USA
Netarts Bay from  Andersons Overlook, OR, USA
 Three Arch Rocks from Cape Meares, OR, USA
 View south down coast from Oswald West State Park, OR, USA
 Castle Rock from Silver Point, OR, USA

 

 

- Classic US west coast scenery.
- We have no complaints.
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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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