Seal Rock Beach - Dramatic Rock Formations | Oregon Coast

A scenic coastal area located 4 miles north of Waldport and 9 miles south of Newport, Seal Rock Beach features a dramatic rocky surf zone and a huge sea stack named Castle or Elephant Rock. The beach and the small town were named Seal Rock because many seals once occupied rocks and small islands nearby.

Seal Rock Beach contains a plethora of ancient volcanic activity evidence. The basalt rock formations were created during the Miocene epoch about 15-16 million years ago by the Columbia River lava flow that traveled from Eastern Oregon to the mouth of the Columbia River and then over 100 miles south until it terminated at the Seal Rock area.

The Seal Rock coastline features a chain of small sea stacks and basalt reefs. Adjacent to the mainland, Elephant Rock divides the beach in half. The northern part is accessible from a small Curtis Street parking area, one mile from the Elephant Rock.

Bedrock outcroppings are exposed during low tides, allowing visitors to explore the intertidal zone and numerous amazing marine creatures in tidepools. Other popular activities at Seal Rock are hiking and fishing.

Perched on a wooded bluff, the day-use wayside has picnic tables near the parking area in the shade of spruce, salal, and pine trees.

Seal Rock Beach is a fantastic place for wildlife viewing. You can very often see black oystercatchers here and a variety of shorebirds, especially during winter and the migration period. You can see sandpipers, dunlin, harlequin ducks, loons, harbor seals, and sea lions.

Wildlife can be easily disturbed because small islands and sea stacks are home to marine mammals and nesting seabirds. The area is a part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, which means some restrictions exist.

Cautions: Beware of changing tides, rip currents, driftwoods, sneaker waves and never turn your back to the ocean.

Attention Fellow Beachgoers

Unfortunately, our beautiful Pacific Northwest beaches are stained with trash, especially plastic. We, at Oregon Discovery, as well as other unaffiliated groups of nature lovers made a commitment to do our part in keeping our beaches clean, but we need your help too!

Every time you go out to enjoy nature at your favorite spot, please bring a garbage bag or two and help us pick up garbage. Even picking up a little bit here and there will make a huge difference long term.

Please, help us save our beautiful nature for generations to come!