Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area Camping

Overview:

Yaquina Head is a narrow, coastal headland extending one mile into the Pacific Ocean. Formed by ancient lava flows, Yaquina Head’s hard basalt cliffs and coves have been shaped by pounding ocean surf for 14 million years. Abundant wildlife such as whales, harbor seals and seabirds can be viewed from the many breath taking vantage points around the 100-acre site. Explore tidepools, listen to nature's music and see Oregon's tallest lighthouse - all at Yaquina Head.

Know Before You Go:

• Open Hours: Yaquina Head is open year round with times varying based on the season.


• Fees are $7 for cars, $25 for buses (20 or less passengers), and $50 for buses (21+ passengers). "National Park and Federal Recreation Lands" and "Oregon Pacific Coast" passes are accepted and available.


• The Interpretive Center is open from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.


• Whale watching: Resident Gray whales can be seen year round, and main migrations are during the months of December, January, March and April.

Lighthouse Tours:

The lighthouse is open for limited (16 visitors per tour) ranger-led tours. Day of tour passes are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and must be reserved in person at the interpretive center no earlier than 10 a.m. on the day of the tour.

• July through September 14: Tours take place every day. Reservations can be made up to 90 days in advance – for a limited number of tours. To make an advance reservation phone 1-877-444-6777 or visit www.recreation.gov. Please be aware that a small administrative fee will be required to hold each ticket reservation.


• Mid-September – June: When weather conditions and staffing levels permit, tours will be offered. Please phone 541-574-3100 for the current schedule.

Point of Interest:

Peregrine falcons and thousands of seabirds raise young at Yaquina Head. Chicks are often visible from late spring through mid-summer. Whales may be seen year-round. Bring binoculars for best viewing.

Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area brochure

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Yaquina Head ( yə-KWIN-ə) is a headland extending into the Pacific Ocean north of Newport, in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is the site of the Yaquina Head Light, and is managed as Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area by the Bureau of Land Management. It is part of the National Landscape Conservation System, commonly known as the National Conservation Lands.
The United States Congress named the 95-acre (38 ha) headland an Outstanding Natural Area in 1980. The area's average elevation is 108 feet (33 m) above sea level. The headland is along U.S. Route 101, and is about 55 miles (89 km) west of Corvallis.
Possible activities include hiking the area's five trails, each shorter than 0.5 miles (0.8 km), near the ocean or through forests of Douglas fir and Sitka spruce. Other attractions include whale-watching, bird-watching, visiting the site's interpretive center, and touring the lighthouse.
Ancient lava flows formed Yaquina Head.

Read more about Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area at Wikipedia