Yachats - Things To Do & See | Oregon Coast

Nestled between the Coast Range and the Pacific Ocean, Yachats is a little coastal community in Lincoln County. The town offers miles of enchanting beaches and old-growth rainforest, adjacent to the rocky coastline.

The area has a mild climate accompanied by temperatures averaging 60 degrees Fahrenheit in summer and 45 degrees Fahrenheit in winter. This makes any activities in and around the area great at any time of year. In 2007, Budget Travel Magazine named the city one of the "Ten Coolest Small Towns of the U.S."

The name of the city is derived from the Alsea language that means “dark water at the mountain foot”. For many centuries, Native Americans lived in this area as hunter-gatherers, seasonally migrating between the summer camps and the winter residences.

Things to Do & See

Yachats is a beautiful place to visit, relax, hike, explore, enjoy the sounds and sights of the ocean. At low tide, tidepools are everywhere along the rocky shoreline. Discover exotic marine creatures including sea stars, urchins, chitons, sea stars, anemones, and saltwater algae. Please do not remove them.

Be sure to check the tide tables before your trip to the ocean. When you are on the beach, never turn your back on the ocean.

Whale-watching is one of the most popular activities year-round as the Oregon Coast is filled with these majestic creatures. Watch the gray whale migration twice a year, in winter and spring.

The most visited site near Yachats is the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area. You can hike from Yachats or just drive to enjoy the breathtakingly beautiful scenery. Head to the top of the Cape Perpetua and experience stunning ocean views of the coastline and the ocean. Visit a narrow channel Devil's Churn, Spouting Horn at Cook's Chasm, and Thor's Well.

Hike along the shoreline trails and see the surf and rock splendor. There are also rainforest trails with leafy and fresh soil scents near the beach.

Cape Perpetua

A unique landmark, Cape Perpetua features rocky beaches, tide pools, spouting horns, and mysterious Thor's Well. The area provides excellent opportunities for hiking, wildlife viewing, fishing, and outdoor photography.

Cape Perpetua Shelter is the best spot to see 70 miles of coastline and 37 miles out to sea on a clear day.

Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cook's Chasm

Cook's Chasm is the stage for the Pacific Ocean's performance. At high tide, you can see the ocean in the action with crashing waves, saltwater explosions, foaming cisterns, and the magic sinkhole Thor's Well that swallows sea water.

Devil's Churn

A narrow shoreline channel, located south of Yachats. Over long periods of time, tides and powerful waves created a deep fissure in a basalt shoreline.

Smelt Sands State Recreation Site

Smelt Sands State Recreation Site is located a mile north of Yachats. An excellent whale watching spot and a fantastic viewpoint for taking pictures. Walk the historic 0.75 miles one-way 804 Trail. The park is known for its tide pools, breathtaking sunsets, and rock fishing. Smelt Sands State Recreation Site is one of the northwest beaches in Yachats, where previously, smelt came ashore to spawn. Unfortunately, the silver ocean gem disappeared from this area.

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Yachats State Recreation Area

For Yachats State Recreation Area, turn west onto 2nd Street. The road makes a beach loop, offering a breathtaking view of the Yachats River as it meets the Pacific Ocean. This destination is a great place for whale watching, tide pools researching, rock and salmon fishing.

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Neptune State Park

Neptune State Park is located three miles south of Yachats at foot of Cape Perpetua. You can watch for whales, see a variety of birds, and sea lions. The creek is also a great place to look for agates. At low tide, you can walk to the south to see a natural cave and tide pools.

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804 Trail
Historic 1.7 miles easy trail connecting Yachats State Park and Smelt Sands State Park. It is also interconnected with other trails of the town and leads to the 8 miles long stretch of the beach which would take you to Waldport.

Ya’Xaik Trail
Moderate 1.2 miles long trail. It leads you through the lush forest to the public footpath in the Gerdemann Botanic Preserve. The Ya’Xaik Trail commemorates the Alsea people who lived in these lands for 1000s of years. Ya’Xaik is the only name of Alsea village in the area which was ever recorded.

Amanda Trail
Moderate 1.2 miles hike commemorates a blind Native American woman of Coos Tribe named Amanda who suffered injustice in the 1860s during the reservation years.

Prospect Trail
The 1.2 miles trail will lead you through the Prospect Graden carrying many native plants. The first part of the trail is strenuous with steep elevation and steps.

Public Footpath in the Gerdemann Botanic Preserve – A footpath is located on private property, but is open to the public. Enchanting walk along the creek under the cover of coastal trees.

Yachats Community Park and Wetlands
A park with a series of short easy trails taking you around woods and wetlands.