Yachats

TRAILS IN YACHATS: Please see the brochure Yachats Trails to explore the meandering oceanfront 804 Trail, the public footpath in the private Gerdemann Botanic Preserve, and the Amanda Trail, which links Yachats to the top of Cape Perpetua. Several in-town loop walks are shown, including flatland walks and an upland cardio work-out loop. Some of these walks are also suitable for wheelchairs and strollers and others for bicycles.

For an unforgettable beach walk, explore the 7-mile stretch of sandy beach between Yachats and Waldport around low tide. Build a sandcastle, fly a kite, take your shoes off in the surf.

SELF-GUIDED HIKES & TOURS
Quick Links To Trails / Maps

Be Beach Safe

Yachats Seagulls Picnic in one of 3 (yes three!) state parks in town:

Smelt Sands State Recreation Site
Yachats State Recreation Area
Yachats Ocean Rd. State Natural Site

Gerdemann Bontanical Preserve The Gerdemann Botanic Preserve This extraordinary private botanic preserve just north of town includes a public footpath, open during daylight hours. Additional trails, including a wheelchair accessible trail, may be toured by appointment, Thursday-Saturday, during blooming season.

Pelican Bird Watching / See Lincoln County Bird Records
Visit parks along the 804 Trail and coastal waterfront; Cape Perpetua Scenic Area, just 3 mi. S of town; and the Alsea bay & riverfront, 8 mi N of Yachats in Waldport: Port of Alsea
Alsea River Water Trail – printable guide.

Tidepool, Yachats Oregon TIDEPOOLING: Tidepools make their homes in our rocky shores. For tidepool locations and guidelines for visiting their resident creatures, please see Oregon State Parks online brochure Tidepools are Alive!. Plan to visit tidepools at low tide. Stop by the Yachats Visitors Center for a tide table. [Map #21]

TRAILS AT CAPE PERPETUA: Find 26 miles of scenic area trails to old growth rainforest, vistas, Native American shell middens, marine gardens, and beach. There is also a 6-mile mountain biking loop. All trails are open to the public for self-guided tours year round. When the Cape Perpetua Visitors Center is closed, find trails maps available outside their door – located 3 miles S of downtown Yachats on the E side of Hwy 101. Hiking from Yachats, you may reach the summit of Cape Perpetua by way of the historic Amanda Trail. [Map #37]

Devil's Churn at Cape Perpetua, Yachats, Oregon Drive-to Viewpoints within this 2,700 acre Scenic Area include (from N to S) Devil’s Churn, Cape Overlook, and Cook’s Chasm–look for signed turnouts on Hwy 101, 2 to 4 miles south of Yachats. Viewpoints are on the W side of the highway, except for the Cape Overlook. For the Overlook, turn east off Hwy 101 at the Cape Perpetua Campground exit, and take an immediate left up Overlook Road to the top of the mountain. Place your pass or day-use permit on the vehicle dash. This is the highest point you can drive to on the Oregon coast.

West Stone Shelter, Cape Perpetua Wheelchair Accessible points in Cape Perpetua Scenic Area include the Visitors Center; the Cape Perpetua Overlook – including Whispering Spruce Trail, a half mile loop trail from the Overlook parking lot through the West Stone Shelter; and the viewpoint overlooking Devil’s Churn. These are also among the best spots on the coast for spectacular panoramic ocean views. (map)

Storm Watch on the 804 Trail, Yachats Oregon

WINTER STORM WATCHING
& AGATE HUNTING

Whether you watch from an oceanfront bubbling jacuzzi or from the howling wind dressed in full raingear, a coastal winter storm inspires awe for mother nature.

Beachcomb for agates and other treasures
at low tide following a storm.

GUIDED WALKS AND TOURS

Cape Perpetua, Yachats Oregon

CAPE PERPETUA SCENIC AREA
Just 3 miles south of downtown Yachats, the Cape Perpetua Visitors Center offers interpretive talks, nature films or naturalist-led walks every hour on the hour. The walks depart from the Visitors Center for old-growth coastal rain forest or for marine gardens – check for low tides!. (map)
VISITOR CENTER HOURS:
10-5:30 Daily – May-Sept
10-4 Daily – Mar, Apr, Oct
10-4 Thur-Mon, Nov-Feb.

Discovery Loop QUEST – Approximate round trip time – 1.5 hours.

Lobster Mushroom, Yachats, Oregon Special walks and other events
are announced at Cape Perpetua throughout the year. In the fall, guided mushroom walks are offered. For the Yachats Village Mushroom Fest (held on the 3rd weekend in October), renowned mycologists and forest ecologists join Cape staff to lead more than 20 beginning through intermediate/advanced level mushroom walks. (FMI, please see Yachats Events). During June, July and August, Tidepool Discovery Days are scheduled to coincide with some of the lowest tides of the year. FMI, please call Cape Perpetua Visitors Center (541) 547-3289.

Park Permits and Passports: the Pacific Coast Passport, NW Forest Pass, and Golden Passports are honored here and may be purchased in the Cape Perpetua Visitors Center. Without a pass, day-use permit is $5.00 per auto and includes use of the entire Scenic Area for one day.

bald eagle AUDUBON TEN-MILE CREEK SANCTUARY TOURS
Learn about restoration and coastal temperate rain forest with Manager Paul Engelmeyer, (541)547-4227. Variable price for tour groups.

OREGON STATE PARK’S ROVING INTERPRETER
(Memorial Day-Labor Day, Wednesday-Sunday)

Smelt Sands State Recreation Site and the 804 Trail: Attend a walk along the trail to learn the trail’s history and find native plants. The walk begins at Smelt Sands parking lot and heads north. Smelt Sands State Wayside is located one mile north of downtown on Hwy 101. This section of trail is wheelchair accessible.

Grey Whale Tail Yachats State Recreation Area: Come hear programs about the tide pools and the whales seen from the park’s Platform. Find Yachats State Park at the west end of 2nd St in downtown Yachats.

Strawberry Hill: Explore the amazing tide pools with the Roving Interpreter and hear about the Harbor Seal that are resting close by on the rocks. Find Strawberry Hill just 5 miles S of downtown Yachats on Hwy 101.

THE GERDEMANN BOTANIC PRESERVE

Gerdemann Botanic Preserve Guided tours of this private preserve, which includes a wheelchair accessible trail, are available by appointment, Thursday-Saturday, during blooming season.

HISTORIC ALSEA BAY BRIDGE INTERPRETIVE CENTER
(8 miles N of Yachats, FMI 541-563-2002 or 1-800-551-6949)

Crab on Ice Photo Crabbing and Clamming Demonstrations
Offered Friday-Tuesdays around low tides
(during peak visitor season)

Alsea Bay Bridge Interpretive Walk
Offered 2 pm daily (during peak visitor season)

Heceta Lighthouse, just south of Yachats Oregon

HECETA LIGHTSTATION TOURS
14 miles south of Yachats on Hwy 101

Lighthouse Tours:
Suspended for lighthouse renovation.

Lightkeeper’s House Tours:
Memorial Day-Labor Day, Fri-Mon, 12-5

Special tours and group visits can be arranged all year. Call (541)547-3416, (800) 551-6949.

Hours of tours may vary depending upon weather and the availability of volunteers. Day use permit, $3 per vehicle, or show annual pass, or Oregon Coast Passport. Place your pass or day-use permit on vehicle dash. FMI, please see State Parks.

Within a half-hour’s drive north of Yachats are 2 additional lighthouses, the Yaquina Bay and Yaquina Head lighthouses.

MORE OUTDOOR FUN WITH SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE…

Geocaching in the Yachats Area

Golf on the central Oregon Coast    Golfing in
   Waldport
   Florence
   Newport

Fishing, Clamming, Crabbing, Boating, Kayaking and Windsurfing
Crab from the docks in Waldport. Rent a kayak or canoe to explore the Alsea, or the very gentle Beaver Creek or Yachats River. Or visit one of many lakes in the Florence area where you can go fishing or rent a paddle boat, kayak or canoe. Central Oregon State Parks offer numerous places for windsurfing. Ocean charter fishing boats are available from the docks in Newport and Depoe Bay.

Kayaking on the Alsea Slough Waldport Kayak Shack
Offers summertime kayak rentals & guided group kayaking tours on the Alsea, 8 mi. N of Yachats.
Alsea River Water Trail (PDF)