Yachats is a small coastal town in Lincoln County with about 1,000 residents. It sits on the hillsides near the mouth of the Yachats River at the base of Cape Perpetua.

Native Americans lived here for centuries as hunter-gatherers, moving seasonally between summer and winter sites. The town’s name comes from the Alsea language and means “dark water at the mountain’s foot.”

The coastline around Yachats is known for its dramatic scenery—rugged rocks, powerful waves, and nearby old-growth rainforest. The mild climate (around 60°F in summer and 45°F in winter) makes it a great year-round destination.

In 2007, Budget Travel Magazine named Yachats one of the “Ten Coolest Small Towns in the U.S.”

Yachats - Things to Do & See

Yachats is an excellent place to relax, explore, and enjoy the Pacific Ocean. Visitors come for quiet getaways, oceanfront lodges, and a variety of outdoor activities. Hiking, beachcombing, agate hunting, tidepool exploring, and whale-watching are all popular.

Whale-watching is especially rewarding during the gray whale migrations in winter and spring.

At low tide, tidepools appear along the rocky shoreline, revealing sea stars, urchins, chitons, anemones, and colorful algae. These creatures are protected, so please do not remove them.

The beaches and river mouths near town also offer opportunities to find agates, jasper, petrified wood, fossils, and serpentine.

The most visited site near Yachats is the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area.

You can hike from town or drive up to enjoy sweeping views of the coastline. Popular natural features include Devil’s Churn, Spouting Horn at Cook’s Chasm, and Thor’s Well. The area offers both shoreline trails with dramatic surf views and forest trails filled with the fresh scent of coastal rainforest.

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

Cape Perpetua is an iconic landmark on the Central Oregon Coast. Its rugged shoreline features tide pools, rocky beaches, spouting horns, and the mysterious Thor’s Well. The area offers outstanding opportunities for hiking, wildlife viewing, fishing, and outdoor photography.

The historic stone shelter at the top of Cape Perpetua provides one of the best viewpoints, where, on a clear day, you can see 70 miles of coastline and 37 miles out to sea.

Cape Perpetua Scenic Area: Exploring Coastal Wonders at Yachats

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

Cook’s Chasm is the dramatic stage where the Pacific Ocean performs. At high tide, strong waves slam into the chasm, shooting water through the Spouting Horn and swirling around Thor’s Well, where the ocean seems to drain straight into the ground.

Cook's Chasm - Tidal Symphony of Spouting Horn & Thor's Well

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 Garden 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.

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