Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area

Our second visit to this beautiful lighthouse was wonderful. The lighthouse was open so we were able to tour and take photos, it was amazing to see the interior and the gorgeous staircase. There is lots of walking baths for photos, including a large group of seals sunning themselves. The interpretive center is fun to walk through and has lots of information. The only cost is getting into the entrance, per car, unless you have a parks pass. We loved it!

Really nice place! The winds were absolutely incredible at the top here! I never thought id enjoy a lighthouse so much! There was a great visitors center that you should not skip! It helped me learn so much about the history of the lighthouse! Once at the lighthouse we were able to see seals and birds! It was such a treat to seem them playing! Be careful of the high winds and dress well! (Even in the summer!) Then drive down so you can visit the beach line and see some animals up close! Parking is 7 dollars per car!

BLM-run. $7 3-day vehicle pass. Curtailed hours due to staffing issues (spelled FelonPrez), so check ahead. Great 153-year-old lighthouse to view, with nearby Interpretive Center. Fabulous 'Cobble Beach' covered in jet-black, rounded basalt stones is absolutely not wheelchair negotiable (you could easily lose footing even if you're balancing with four appendages) - which is probably why the only access to it is an M.C. Escher-esqe, steep 300+ step wooden staircase. But, you can watch seals & enjoy nifty tidepools if your timing & equilibrium are good. Grand views all around.

Very cool experience with lots of hands on. You are allowed to touch all of the wildlife (except dangerous ones of course) there are info sheets and beautiful tide pools. The air smells salty and the waves calm you senses. For $7 it is well worth the trip.

Absolutely spectacular views. The lighthouse is quite nice. Plenty of parking. Birdlife is abundant and the occasional whale can be seen breaching relatively close to shore. Restrooms are well maintained and clean. Seals can be seen regularly as well. Highly recommended

This is a fantastic spot to check out for those that are able bodied. There are quite a few steep stairs to get down to the beach. Once down the stairs, you are then greeted by massive rocks of all shapes and sizes that you will have to climb over. The rocks are slick and sharp, and your feet are guaranteed to be sore the next day. But, if you can see past all of this and get out to the tide pools, you will be greatly rewarded with all that the marine garden has to offer.

I wish they had informed us when we stopped to pay our entrance fee, that they closed it down at 5pm (about 20 minutes after our arrival) and that the beach would be closed 15 minutes before 5... or if they had posted a sign at the top of the stairs staring what time the beach closed or something... instead of allowing people to walk down all those stairs only to be told the beach is closed when you get to the bottom. That was SUPER annoying. But I'm still giving it 4 stars because it's a beautiful place and, given you get there with plenty of time, looks to be a great beach to explore.

A beautiful light house. Classic proportions, white with black trim. When I was a child, we would visit the lighthouse and its manicured lawn which let you walk along the edge and see down the cliff. Now, there is a walkway around the base of the lighthouse with a west view of the nesting rocks but the rest of the lawn area is a thicket of native bushes. I miss looking over the edge. As a child, we could climb the steps to the top of the lighthouse and see the fensel lamp. Now you can only go part way up. On the plus side, there is a trail to the top of what's left of the head and an interpretive center in the old quarry. The black rock cove and marine garden are worth visiting preferably at low tide. If you like lighthouses, it is worth the entry fee!