Thor's Well
Tourist attraction · Lincoln County ·

Thor's Well

Tourist attraction · Lincoln County ·

Natural wonder where ocean drains into sinkhole, spectacular at high tide

Thor's Well by null
Thor's Well by JFMJ (Atlas Obscura User)
Thor's Well by Thomas Shahan/CC BY 2.0
Thor's Well by archermusicservice (Atlas Obscura User)
Thor's Well by John Fowler/CC BY 2.0
Thor's Well by archermusicservice (Atlas Obscura User)
Thor's Well by bernardgomez (Atlas Obscura User)
Thor's Well by bernardgomez (Atlas Obscura User)
Thor's Well by dctsystems (Atlas Obscura User)
Thor's Well by falynnk (Atlas Obscura User)
Thor's Well by Mark Gunn/CC BY 2.0
Thor's Well by John Fowler/CC BY 2.0
Thor's Well by JFMJ (Atlas Obscura User)
Thor's Well by Mark Gunn/CC BY 2.0
Thor's Well by falynnk (Atlas Obscura User)
Thor's Well by JFMJ (Atlas Obscura User)
Thor's Well by Michel Matton/CC BY-SA 4.0
Thor's Well by dctsystems (Atlas Obscura User)
Thor's Well by JFMJ (Atlas Obscura User)
Thor's Well by Michel Matton/CC BY-SA 4.0
Thor's Well by John Fowler/CC BY 2.0
Thor's Well by Thomas Shahan/CC BY 2.0
Thor's Well by John Fowler/CC BY 2.0
Thor's Well by null
Thor's Well by null
Thor's Well by null
Thor's Well by null
Thor's Well by null
Thor's Well by null
Thor's Well by null
Thor's Well by null
Thor's Well by null
Thor's Well by null
Thor's Well by null
Thor's Well by null
Thor's Well by null
Thor's Well by null
Thor's Well by null
Thor's Well by null
Thor's Well by null
Thor's Well by null
Thor's Well by null

Information

Yachats, OR 97498 Get directions

Information

Static Map

Yachats, OR 97498 Get directions

yachatsoregon.org

Features

wheelchair accessible parking lot

Last updated

Oct 26, 2025

Powered By

You might also like

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2025 Postcard Technologies, Inc.
@atlasobscura
4,908 Postcards · 2,018 Cities

50 Obscure and Amazing Places to Visit in 2017

"Sitting on the edge of the Oregon coast near Cape Perpetua, a gaping, seemingly bottomless sinkhole swallows the unbroken stream of seawater around it. Thor’s Well, as the natural wonder is known, is not actually bottomless; it is, however, very dangerous.   Also known as the drainpipe of the Pacific, the well is actually a hole in the rock that only appears to drain water from the ocean. According to some researchers, the Well probably started out as a sea cave dug out by the waves, before the roof eventually collapsed and created openings at the bottom and top through which the ocean sprays. The huge hole is likely only around 20 feet (six meters) deep, but it still manages to produce amazing sights. (Not for the faint of heart, however!) The site is most spectacular at high tide, or during storms when water washes violently over the rocks and funnels into the hole. During these sudden torrents, unsuspecting visitors to the site run the risk of being swept right into the maelstrom. Regardless of the risks, photographers and nature lovers continue to flock to the stunning fountain to see the aggressive waters that live up to their godly namesake’s stormy personality. The best time to visit Thor’s Well is one hour before the high tide to see it without water and then observe how the formation fills up." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/the-50-most-wondrous-places-to-visit-in-2017
John Fowler/CC BY 2.0
Thor's Well
@atlasobscura
4,908 Postcards · 2,018 Cities

Jessica Mendoza's 16 Watery Wonders of the Western United States

"Sitting on the edge of the Oregon coast near Cape Perpetua, a gaping, seemingly bottomless sinkhole swallows the unbroken stream of seawater around it. Thor’s Well, as the natural wonder is known, is not actually bottomless; it is, however, very dangerous.   Also known as the drainpipe of the Pacific, the well is actually a hole in the rock that only appears to drain water from the ocean. According to some researchers, the Well probably started out as a sea cave dug out by the waves, before the roof eventually collapsed and created openings at the bottom and top through which the ocean sprays. The huge hole is likely only around 20 feet (six meters) deep, but it still manages to produce amazing sights. (Not for the faint of heart, however!) The site is most spectacular at high tide, or during storms when water washes violently over the rocks and funnels into the hole. During these sudden torrents, unsuspecting visitors to the site run the risk of being swept right into the maelstrom. Regardless of the risks, photographers and nature lovers continue to flock to the stunning fountain to see the aggressive waters that live up to their godly namesake’s stormy personality. The best time to visit Thor’s Well is one hour before the high tide to see it without water and then observe how the formation fills up." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/jessica-mendozas-16-watery-wonders-of-the-western-united-states
John Fowler/CC BY 2.0
Thor's Well

Traveller Off the beaten T.

Google
Thor’s Well is a round hole in the rocks where the ocean dramatically surges in and out. You can park along the road and walk down a staircase to reach it. Keep an eye on the tides: At high tide, waves shoot spectacularly through the hole – a breathtaking sight! At low tide, you can explore tide pools full of sea stars, small fish, and other marine life. A must-see spot for nature lovers and photographers..

Sid

Google
Thor’s Well, near Cape Perpetua on the Oregon Coast, is an awe-inspiring natural wonder. Best viewed at high tide, this “bottomless sinkhole” in the basalt shoreline creates a majestic and thunderous display as the Pacific surges in and out. The backdrop of crashing waves and open ocean makes for dramatic photos, though visitors should keep a safe distance—the power of the water is no joke. A must-stop for photographers and nature lovers alike.

Justin B.

Google
Incredible experience where you can feel the spray from the crashing waves and hear their thunderous roar. The path down is easy to walk, but getting close to the water can be a bit tricky for those with mobility challenges. Also, keep in mind that parking is quite limited, so make sure to plan ahead.

Brett J.

Google
Well maintained site and great views! Plenty of parking and overlooks of the ocean that are a safe distance from the road. There is a nice walkway down to the ocean that is dog and kid friendly. The city of yachats just north of Thor's Well has a few great spots to eat and window shop.

Dinah S.

Google
Beautiful location! You can walk down the mountain to see the well. It's kinda hard because it's around the bend and if it's low tide there's not as much action. Definitely worth stopping and looking at the scenary

Joe D.

Google
Really cool to see! I don't live by the coast so to be able to see this was a great experience. I unfortunately couldn't get there for high tide but there were still nice swells at low tide. Really easy walk from the parking lot to get close.

Cat W.

Google
Nature is incredible! Amazing from the viewing area... absolutely NO need to get up close and personal. So sad that a man lost his life there just a few days before our visit. It's so dangerous and so unnecessary to go out to its edge... there are photos in these reviews that show adults and CHILDREN playing out there near the hole... insanity. Do better people! But do stop and check it out... it's so cool!

Chris

Google
This is a beautiful symphony of nature. As water would hit the rocks, it created a percussive sound that sounds exactly like the crash of a cymbal combined with a timpany and a bass drum. The water gushed out of a pocket like a geyser. The water is so turbulent that it creates many variations of turquoise and shades of white. There is a walking that leads down to the rocks. It isn't that far of a hike, and the payoff is worth it. This was our first time to Oregon, but we visited nearly every stop on the coast. This may have been our favorite.