Yaquina Head Lighthouse

Yaquina Head Lighthouse is located on the coast of Central Oregon and is one of the best preserved lighthouses on America’s West Coast. For just a few dollars, this is a cheap and easy place to visit whether it’s a warm and sunny summer day, or a cold and rainy winter day. The lens was built in Paris and the structure was established in Oregon in 1873. The light became automated in 1966 and remains active to this day. Now you can visit the lighthouse, as well as the visitor’s center and gift shop. The site is well staffed and has a booth upon entrance which charges a $7 admission fee per car. If you have a national parks pass, you can get in for free! In the summer you can tour the inside of the lighthouse.

Beaches and Tidal Pools

Yaquina Head Lighthouse is located at the edge of where the land meets the sea. This means that you can see the lighthouse from the beach! During low tide, you can walk the beach and explore the tidal pools. Keep an eye out for mussels, chitons, anemones, and other cool creatures! Some days you might see some harbor seals resting on the rocks and soaking up the sun. When exploring the beach, it’s important to remember to wear closed toed shoes if possible and to not step on or disturb the wildlife. Although the wildlife may be tempting to touch, it can disrupt the creatures and their habitats. There are signs discussing this and to remind you to be careful of the sneaker waves. Remember to never have your back turned to the ocean!

One of our favorite activities to do is to watch the harbor seals swim, play in the water with one another, and rest on the rocks. You can hear them communicating to each other from a good distance away. When viewing the harbor seals it’s important to not feed them or do anything that would cause them to change their normal behavior. To increase your chances of seeing the harbor seals or any other wildlife the visitor center is a great place to start! They have a wall with the times of the tides that day, what wildlife you could see that day, the weather, and so much more! It’s a great way to check and see what you could find the day you are exploring the lighthouse!

Yaquina Head Lighthouse Visitors Center and Gift Shop

As you arrive to the lighthouse there is a nice big visitors center with a gift shop inside to explore! In the visitors center you will find fun, interactive, and educational exhibits. There is a movie that plays every fifteen to twenty minutes that tells the history of the lighthouse. My favorite part was the exhibit about all of the different birds and mammals that live off Oregon’s coast! There are different bird and mammal sounds that you can listen to while you learn about the different species. The gift shop has a variety of affordable nautical souvenirs you can purchase that include magnets, postcards, and other fun trinkets. These are a great way to remember your trip for years to come. We always like to buy a magnet, a mug, and a postcard to commemorate our trips.