Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area

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Great for the Whole Family

Here you will find the 1873 Yaquina Head lighthouse, the tallest on the Oregon Coast, but there's plenty more to see and do. From March through May and again from December to early February, this is a great whale-watching spot as gray whales migrate north and south. Seals also frequent the waters and this is a prime bird-watching locale as well. Beach areas include the Quarry Cove Tide Pools and marine gardens at Cobble Beach.
The Quarry Cove Tide Pools, aptly named, started from a reclaimed quarry site. When first completed, the area looked very "man-made" with a concrete sidewalk that circled the main pool. Over the years, the area has been left to evolve naturally, and the sidewalk at sea level has almost completely disappeared beneath sand and sea!
The Interpretive Center contains a small exhibit on sea life with touchable statutes and a realistic birds exhibits, and an even smaller exhibit on public lands. Most of the space pertains to the lighthouse, which underwent a nearly $1 million restoration completed in 2007. Tours of the lighthouse, including rooms opened to the public as a result of the restoration, are also available.
Trails connect the various places of interest in the Area, including the Salal Hill trail, with interpretive signs to see and feel along the way. Listen for the roar and hiss of the ocean, the sounds of seabirds and the squeals, grunts and squawks of the seals.
Highly recommended for families who want to learn a little (or a lot) without trying very hard.

Keywords: Scenic, US$ 5 - US$ 10, Just you alone / As a single, With teens, Interesting, All year, Park (Local / State / National), Everyone, With a group, With kids, As a senior citizen, As a couple, Easy to reach