Cape Perpetua Scenic Area

If you only have time to stop and explore one area along the Oregon Coast, make this your stop!
And plan to be here most of the day! :) At the very least, give yourself a few hours.
First go to the visitor’s center. They will explain the hikes and things you can do. For example, tell them you want a hike that will take you to the tide pools… or… tell them you want to see the amazing sitka spruce. Tell them how much time you have… etc… they will show you the best hikes for you. This will start you off in a good direction. There really is so much you can do here, so if you’ve never been here before, it’s good to narrow things down and talk to the helpful people. You’ll get more out of your visit this way.
Then go explore and have fun and enjoy!
Our family has been coming here for years and it is never the same, it never gets old or boring. It’s beautiful in so many different ways in all different kinds of weather! Yes — and that’s another thing: don’t let an overcast or rainy day stop you. Some of those days have been our very favorites. One day we came here, it hailed on us! It’s a memory that we’ll never forget. It was amazing. Then it stopped and the sun came out. Blue skies. The ground was covered in white hail, which crunched under our feet. Everything glistened! It was amazing.
Be aware of the tides if you are heading down towards the coastline/​tidepools. The visitor center people can help you with this, too. If it is low tide you will see more tide pool creatures and it is a little safer, but if it is a higher tide you will be able to witness more of the unique elements of this area (spouting horn, Thor’s well).
Be very careful on the rocks — they can be very slippery! We wear Bog boots. Do not come down here on flip flops or flimsy tennis shoes. Also sometimes a walking stick/​hiking stick is handy. Stay together as a group and don’t let people go off too far by themselves — especially younger children. Be careful as you step and be ready to catch yourself so you do not fall and hit your head or injure yourself. (Sorry, I’m a mama kitty, I worry about you kittens!)

Love at first spectacular sight… and the urge to never leave.

This is a beautiful area to explore. In addition to walking around the shore, there are some trails on the other side of the freeway — one trail to see the giant spruce and another steeper trail to a great viewpoint. You can pick up a map of the trails at the visitor centre. And check in with the visitor centre about the times for low and high tide. Low tide is the best time to explore the tidal pools and high tide is the best time to see the blowhole. If you are in the area, it is worth timing your visits to see both!

Absolutely beautiful area to visit and can’t wait to return at high tide when we can see the superstars of the area (unfortunately due to our timing we were there at low tide so we could go on the beach and see the tidepools which were great but definitely nothing happening at the Devils Churn, etc.

Seriously, I think this may be the spot where I come back and hunker down for a month or so in a cottage and write my personal manifesto/​autobiography… :) It’s just so gorgeous here and there is something about this area that really spoke to me while I was visiting. I would absolutely love to return – beautiful place.

5 stars. One of my favorite areas on the Oregon Coast — Cape Perpetua is located in Yachats on 101. The shoreline is rocky and full of clams. Park on 101 and hike down to Thor’s Well. The well is at it best at high tide, to get close to it, you will need to wear a pair of hiking shoes. There isn’t a sign marking Thor’s well, but it is relatively easy to spot, see my pics. Another interesting spot is Cooks Chasm. In the area there are some tide pools as well — these are best viewed at low tide. Highly recommended.

Cape Perpetua has some great rocky shoreline and a certain wildness about it, contributed no doubt by the crashing waves and heavy wind. There are a lot of hiking paths from the highway down to the rocks which are easy to manage. There’s also a long hike up the hill (which I passed on). I didn’t check out the tidepools either as there wasn’t anywhere safe to leave my bike with gear. The parking spots are just next to the highway.
In several places the water comes shooting out of huge holes in the rocks. I saw several tourists go right up and poke their heads in or take selfies right on the edge. I guess I’m kinda a wimp about these things ever since reading about those tourists in Hawaii who were swept away and died doing something similar. No thanks.

Short two mile drive straight up from hwy 101. Totally worth the beautiful views from the top. Give yourself 20 minutes to enjoy this!

A Fantastic and very scenic place to visit. Hiking trails, picnic benches and great photo opportunities. Great for the whole family~

Cape Perpetua Scenic Area is one of my all time favs on the OR Coast. The natural beauty here is spectacular, and it doesn’t matter if you’re down for a small hike or a big one — there is something for everyone.
Of course, there is the ever popular viewpoint and the Shelter Trail, which offer unparalllled views of southward towards Heceta Head Lighthouse. The Amanda trail is a very nice hike among giant trees and ground foliage. These are my particular favorites.
This is a definite thing not to miss on your way up or down the coastline — I make sure to stop by every time I am here. The only thing amiss here is the $ 5 day use fee, which I feel is pretty high for those who just want to hop out if the car and nap a few shots of the coastline.

You can do easier hikes or have more challenge. Great views all along the way out to the coast. The tide pools were a bit disappointing but maybe our timing was off. But loved the hikes on the East side of the highway. We stayed in Yachats and came down to Cape Perpetua three times in a week. Saw a beautiful bald eagle at the visitor center. It was worth buying a week long pass.

A serene place
that is built to last.*
Cape Perpetua Scenic Area is coastal Oregon’s answer to legendary Point Lobos on the Central Californian coast (
). It’s a special place, one of those unique ecological meeting spots where two worlds collide (but in a good way). It is here that «the forest meets the sea,» in the words of the US Forest Service, which manages the location and makes it accessible to a wide range of visitors.
A nice little phrase there, where the forest meets the sea, Do they ever! The forest and the sea, it’s like they are melting into one, a union of opposites, one eternally restless and the other serenely sublime. It’s an absolutely perfect match, and you can positively feel the free-​flowing natural love between them. These aren’t just any old trees, nor is the ocean in these parts run-​of-​the-​mill, either. Old-​growth Sitka spruce groves congregate in clumps in hidden thickets and along wind-​swept ridges while rolling waves crash and churn along the rocky headlands, beaches, and tidal pools far below. Looming above it all is an imposing rocky overlook carved from volcanic stone and covered in eternal greenery. It’s hard to deny the inherent beauty of a partnership like that. (
)
All that beauty doesn’t come easily, of course. This place has been sculpted by the elements, and the process isn’t finished yet. The Cape is often wet, windy, and/​or wild, so I imagine that each time you come here, it will be different. A great way to begin is to venture up by foot or car to the overlook, which towers 800 feet above the ocean shore. Of course, you could get lucky, weatherwise, and be greeted by calm, clear, and peaceful conditions (
).
If you happen to visit when it’s not storming, the Cape is a picture of serenity, but that sense of calmness is temporary. It won’t last forever, which is what makes the moment so memorable. Especially in winter, a storm is always impending at a place like this. The Cape was built to last the storms, however, being made of durable basalt layers of ancient lava that resist erosion quite effectively. While the rain and waves and wetness have given rise to forest giants and an intricately carved, fog-​wrapped coastline, there is a basic solidity to the Cape that you can’t help but feel by spending time here. It won’t be around forever, but it will be a part of the coast for a good while longer, time enough for you to pay it a visit.
You could spend a lot of time here, exploring the trails, watching for whales, and wandering aimlessly along the shore (while avoiding sneaker waves, of course). The 600-​year old Heritage Tree, a massive Sitka sprouting from the top of the Cape, is deserving of some added homo sapiens love. You don’t get that old by being boring.
But if you don’t have time to take a winding forest loop into the Siuslaw National Forest, a nice way to experience the Cape for an hour or two is to take the St. Perpetua Trail. The trailhead starts at the spacious and well-​constructed Visitor Center and winds all the way up to the Overlook. It’s a decent trail, not too steep or too long, and it is well engineered with switch-​backs and stone steps. If you don’t mind a little climbing, it’s a lovely way to reach the top, with its expansive ocean views. Crossing a wooden bridge over Cape Creek along the way adds a nice twist to the experience, a burst of green vibrancy and seclusion to go along with the dramatic vistas and crashing waves seen from on high (
). The coastal trails are quite popular, too, and for good reason. The tide pools and rocky sea spouts are pretty riveting. Where the waves collide, impressive display of whitewater and foam are the result.
There’s a lot of Pacific coast out there to explore, more than anyone could ever manage in a lifetime. But if you’re driving on US-​101, you have to stop sometimes, and when you do, it’s really great to know that places like Cape Perpetua are there for you, waiting.
A serene place
that is built to last.
(*Dedicated to Brian S, Sanford FL).

Wow. Of all the things we did on our Oregon road trip, this was by far my favorite. If you ever end up in Coastal Oregon, this is a must do.
There is a great little ½ mile each way hike from the visitor to the tide pools. Try to time your visit around low tide. The starfish and sea urchin were amazingly bright and there were so many kinds of unique algae and sea plants. Bring a good camera!

I could have stayed here forever. It has a bit of everything: a great place to check out the tidepools, a short hike to see some greenery, a beautiful view to appreciate the Oregon coast. We planned a two days trip from Seaside to Bandon. But on the second day, we just got stuck here because we loved it so much.