Outdoor Adventure
Accessible Trails
Photo Credit: Russell Colwell
Open the FS link below to learn about premier accessible points in the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area just south of Yachats, and in other areas of the Siuslaw National Forest nearby.
Open the Yachats map to locate the oceanfront 804 Trail in Yachats. Most of this trail is accessible. The north section of the 804 Trail – beginning at Smelt Sands State Wayside and continuing north for three-quarters of a mile … Read more
Beachcombing for Agates
For great tips from our local agate clubs, open the links below.
Know before you go! Plan your trip: Only hunt for agates at low tide. For tide times click here. Low tide after a big storm in winter is the best time to search for agates. Be prepared for changeable weather (bring rain gear) and know beach safety. Never turn your back on the ocean! Heading out with the kids? Please see: … Read more
Biking – Fat Biking between Yachats and Newport
Photo Courtesy of Travel Oregon
This is a 28-mile beach ride with a “moderate” difficulty rating. Check the tides. Bring your own fat bikes or rent. Limited rentals may be found at Bike Newport, Newport, OR | 541.265.9917.
Find a link to a Travel Oregon web page below with the route instructions and map.
Biking – Fat Biking Florence Dunes Ride Exploration
Photo Courtesy of Travel Oregon
This is a 24.2-mile route with varied terrain and a “moderate” difficulty rating. Check the tides. Bring your own fat bikes or rent. Limited fat tire bike rentals may be found at Bike Newport, Newport, OR | 541.265.9917.
Find a link to a Travel Oregon web page below with the route instructions and map.
Biking – Lincoln County Bike Routes & Scenic Bikeways
For routes in the Yachats area, select “South County” in the Lincoln County maps linked below.
Bring your own bikes or rent. Limited rentals may be found at the following businesses:
- Bike Newport, Newport, OR | 541.265.9917
- Bicycles 101 (A.K.A. Bikes 101), Florence, OR | 541.997.5717
- Green Bike Co-op, Waldport, OR | 541.563.7328 (bikes to borrow)
Biking – Mountain Biking : Cummins Creek and
Cummins Vista Mountain Bike Loops
Cummins Vista Trail – Rated Difficult
There are two possible rides in the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area: the Cummins Creek Loop Trail (6.25 miles) and the Cummins Creek Vista Loop Trail (10 miles). Both are shared by hikers and mountain bikers.
For the Cummins Creek Loop Trail, you can park at the trailhead across from Neptune State Park on Forest Service Road 1050. This is located 1.5 miles south of Cape Perpetua Visitors Center … Read more
Birding – Central Oregon Coast
Prime birding sites within Yachats include Smelt Sands State Recreation Site at the north end of town; Yachats State Recreation Area at the west end of 2nd St downtown; and Yachats Ocean Road State Natural Site at the south side of the Yachats River.
Within a 20-minute drive, there are several sites to the north between Yachats and Brian Booth State Park / Ona Beach / Beaver Creek, and … Read more
Birding – Coastal Community Science Projects
All invited! No experience necessary. Training is provided, as needed, for some projects.
Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve & Marine Protected Areas
The Yachats shoreline is part of the North Marine Protected Area (MPA). The Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve with MPAs is the largest marine reserve network in Oregon.
Visitors here have opportunities for scenic and wildlife viewing, hiking, and guided outdoor learning, stewardship, and community science activities.
On summer weekends (through September), find a marine reserve volunteer posted on the 804 Trail at Smelt Sands State Park to answer questions about the marine reserve, sea birds, … Read more
Cape Perpetua Visitor Center and Programs
- The information window at Devil’s Churn and Kyleen (the little food/drink kiosk) have reopened, and host couples will be staffing Devil’s Churn seven days per week. Devil’s Churn is on the west side of Hwy 101, at Milepost 166.5, about a half-mile north of Cape Perpetua Visitors Center.
- Cape Perpetua Visitor Center will remain closed until further notice; however, the Visitor Center parking lot and restrooms have reopened. The Center will not be doing any
Darlingtonia State Natural Site
Located 20 miles south of Yachats on Mercer Lake Rd., just east of Hwy 101 at milepost 185.2.
Darlingtonia State Natural Site is an 18-acre botanical park with a picnic area and a boardwalk trail. From the parking lot, the boardwalk trail leads into a fen that is home to Darlingtonia californica (also known as the cobra lily). This is a rare strangely-shaped plant, the only member of the pitcher plant family (Sarraceniaceae) in … Read more
Day Use State Parks in Town
There are three (yes 3!) oceanfront day-use state parks in Yachats, and no day-use fees.
(Oceanfront Trail) ♦ SMELT SANDS STATE RECREATION SITE is located at the north end of town. Turn west off Hwy 101 at the Smelt Sands sign onto a lane that leads to the park/parking lot. The park has a small pebble beach near the entrance, and picnic tables and benches along a beautiful 3/4 mile stretch of the 804 … Read more
Disc Golfing – Waldport
Opened in January 2019.
Golfing on the Central Coast
Photo: Crestview Golf Club
Heceta Head Lightstation
Photo Credit: Curt Peters
This historic lighthouse, circa 1894, signals to seafarers from a forested promontory 14 miles south of Yachats.
Heceta Lighthouse sits 205 ft above the ocean, and its beacon provides the strongest light on the coast, shining 21 miles out to sea. It is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The assistant light keeper’s house is now a … Read more
Hiking – a network of interconnected trails
The historic 804 Trail that follows the village coastline north to a 7-mile stretch of sandy beach connects two in-town day-use state parks and is interconnected with five other Yachats trails:
The Ya’Xaik Trail
The Public Footpath in the Gerdemann Botanic Preserve – (No Dogs)
The Prospect Garden and Trail
The Yachats Community Park and Wetland Trail
The Amanda Trail
The 804 Trail and The Amanda Trail are both parts of the Oregon Coast Trail … Read more
Hiking – Beaver Creek | Brian Booth State Park
- The Welcome Center is closed.
- Beaver Creek hiking and water trails are open to limited daytime use.
- Mask required on trails when others are present.
- Be prepared to turn around if crowded.
- Bring your own water, food, and hand sanitizer.
There are 5-plus miles of trails in the Natural Area, including three main trails. The Overlook Trail loops from the Welcome Center and back through mixed conifer forests, and offers a bird’s eye view of … Read more
Hiking – Cape Perpetua Scenic Area
Photo Credit: D. Holmes Chamberlin, Jr.
- The Visitor Center will be closed until further notice; however, the Visitor Center parking lot, restrooms, and scenic area trails have reopened.
Click Here for Visitor Center and scenic area trails status updates. - The information window at Devil’s Churn is open, and host couples will be staffing the Churn seven days per week. Kyleen (the food/drink kiosk) is also open.
- FMI, please see: Recreation and Public Services During Covid-19
Hiking – Drift Creek Wilderness Area
Harris Ranch Trail to Drift Creek is a 5.5 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Waldport, Oregon that features a river and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until October. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
Creek Trail is a 6.9 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Seal Rock, … Read more
Hiking – Heceta Head, Valley, and Hobbit Trails
Trails run both north and south of the lighthouse and range from gentle to challenging. The video features a 1.75-mile hike from Heceta Lighthouse to Hobbit Trail and the beach.
Hiking – Waldport Area
Explore five easy to moderate trails in Waldport, including woodland, riverfront/Lint Slough, and oceanfront options.
Kayaking & Other Paddling Near Yachats
Watercraft rentals are available at paddle shops in Waldport, Newport, Florence, and at Honeyman State Park just south of Florence.
NORTH OF YACHATS:
PORT OF ALSEA / ALSEA RIVER WATER TRAIL – WALDPORT
The Alsea River Water Trail offers 10 river-miles, including the Alsea River, Drift Creek, and Lint Slough. Dockage and moorage is provided by Port of Alsea. Where/Directions: Port of Alsea is 8 miles N of Yachats; 16 mi S of Newport. At … Read more
Kayaking Tours – Beaver Creek Natural Area | Brian Booth State Park
- The Beaver Creek Natural Area boat ramp, water and hiking trails are open to limited daytime use.
- Kayaking Tours have been canceled for the 2020 season.
- The Beaver Creek Welcome Center is temporarily closed.
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Rangers at Brian Booth State Park lead 4-hour guided kayak tours (kayaks and equipment provided) at Beaver Creek State Natural Area between July 1 and Labor Day, with sign-up beginning June 1. Tours are from 8:00 … Read more
Kayaking Tours – Newport
Oregon Boating Foundation offers 2-hour guided kayak tours (kayaks and equipment provided) on the Yaquina Bay in Newport from July 25 through September 15. Tours are provided 4 times daily, Tuesday through Sunday. To make a reservation visit PaddleNewport.com, or call. Yaquina Bay is a 30-40 minute drive north of Yachats.
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
Beginning just 26 miles south of Yachats, the Oregon Dunes, the largest expanse of coastal sand dunes in North America, stretch out for 40 miles between Florence and Coos Bay.
Check out the website for the recreation area below, and “A Local’s Guide to the Oregon Dunes,” linked below, for more information.
Sea Lion Caves
Sea Lion Caves is proud to be part of the Oregon/Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve helping to protect the local marine animals and marine environment.
Sea Lion Caves, America’s largest sea cave, is a privately owned (since 1932) wildlife preserve and bird sanctuary located between Yachats and Florence. It is the year-round home of the Steller sea lion, but sea lions are not always in the Cave. This is not a zoo, and sea lions are wild … Read more
Tidepooling
Photo Credit: Girl In Water Photography
Know before you go when visiting tide pools. Check the local tide table and plan to get to the tide pools about an hour before low tide.
The guides linked below provide a map of locations for tide pools in our area (and the entire Oregon coast); information about tide pool zones and the many creatures that live in them; and important guidelines for tide pool etiquette and beach … Read more
Whale Watching
Gray whales (and occasionally others) are often viewed off the coast of Yachats from the three day-use state parks in town. Other favorite nearby spots to watch for whales include the following:
- Cape Perpetua Visitors Center (about 3 miles south of downtown Yachats)
- Cook’s Chasm Turnout (about 3.25 miles south of downtown Yachats)
- Sea Lion Caves Turnout – large Highway 101 turnout south of tunnel (15 miles south of Yachats)
Gray whales live along our … Read more
Wilderness Area: Cummins Creek
The Cummins Ridge Trail (approximately 5.8 miles) is the only trail in this wilderness area. It ascends more than 1,000 feet through towering stands of Sitka Spruce, Western Hemlock and Douglas-fir. The Cummins Creek Wilderness features the only old-growth Sitka Spruce forest in the Oregon Wilderness system.
Wilderness Area: Drift Creek
Wilderness Area: Rock Creek
Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area & Lighthouse
Update:
- The interpretive center and lighthouse are temporarily closed.
- Associated trails, open space areas, and tidepools are not accessible.
The 100-acre site includes Oregon’s tallest lighthouse, an accessible trail, an interpretive center, wildlife viewing – including whales, seals, tide pools, and seabirds, as well as short trails and incredible views. Tours of the lighthouse are given only as staffing allows and are announced on the morning of the day that the tour is available.
Yaquina Head … Read more
