Yaquina Head is a favorite place of Cory’s and mine (we have been going there a few times a year) since we moved to the PNW. Along with some photos of this amazing place, I wanted to share a bit about it and some tips for if you go.

The lighthouse sits at the end of a peninsula effectively putting you about a mile out to sea. Weather here can be different from the rest of Newport- so I’d recommend always bringing a jacket and a beanie. Sometimes it’s much warmer there, but often the opposite can be true.

At the gate you pay to enter, but if you have an America the Beautiful Pass it is free to enter. These passes are also sold here (and if you’re a vet the forever pass is available too)

At the gate they will offer you a map but they rarely offer the tide times charts as they are trying to get people through quickly. Ask for one! It’s good for the whole calendar year and will let you know when to explore tide pools!

The gift shop and museum is a good place to learn about what animals have been seen that day, tide times, and lighthouse tours. They also have the best gifts and the prices are really reasonable.

The quarry is the best chance to see seals close by, though you will always see them from the cobblestone beaches.

I’ve had some luck seeing whales from the end of the peninsula past the lighthouse, and once one in very close near the cobblestone beach.

Hike to the top of the hill for 360 degree views.