Adorable Yachats, Oregon: Hiking, beaches + more on the Oregon Coast

You know when you love something as a kid—whether that’s He-Man or grape flavored pop—and you grow up to realize it was garbage? Too often, childhood favorites don’t hold up over time. Fortunately, my favorite childhood vacation spot—Yachats, Oregon—is nothing like that. If anything, this small town has only gotten better over the years.

I grew up going to Yachats on the Oregon Coast whenever my family was able. I treasure memories from our time there: My 14^th birthday party at the beach house when my friends and I swear we saw a ghost. The winter when we kids found Japanese fishing floats in the driftwood—only to learn years later that my dad planted them as a surprise. The quiet escape of the beach where we found refuge as my mom went through cancer treatment.

In spite of my love for this quaint town on the Oregon Coast, I hadn’t been there for ages. I righted this wrong recently when my mom and I returned to Yachats, Oregon—just the two of us.

Don’t worry: Even if you didn’t grow up going to Yachats, you haven’t missed out. You can explore the adorable town and the surrounding area starting now! Whether you want to enjoy a quiet retreat, storm watch at Thor’s Well, hike Cape Perpetua or search for fishing floats of your own, you’ll love Yachats, Oregon. I pinkie swear.

Yachats, Oregon

Located on Highway 101 between Waldport and Florence, Oregon, Yachats is about a 2-hour drive from Eugene. The little town has magically retained its Oregon Coast kitsch while embracing a hip, creative vibe.

If you’re wondering how to pronounce Yachats, you’re not alone. It’s Yah-Hots. This area was originally home to several groups of Native Americans, including the Alse, Siuslaw and Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.

Sources disagree about the origin of the town’s name. Some say it means “dark waters at the base of the mountains” in Siletz; others say it’s derived from an Alse name for this area.

Native Americans lived on this land since at least 570 AD.

Yachats weather tends to be mild, thanks to the Pacific Ocean. Summers are warm but not hot, and temperatures rarely dip below freezing in the winter. Expect quite a lot of rain, particularly in the winter: Yachats gets 85 inches of rain a year, which is double the US average.

Yachats restaurants

Hungry? Bring your appetite to these delicious Yachats restaurants. The town is small, so you won’t have a ton of options for eating out, but what Yachats lacks in quantity it makes up in quality.

Bread and Roses Bakery

If you go to only one Yachats, Oregon restaurant, let it be Bread and Roses. Yes, I know a bakery isn’t exactly a restaurant, but it’s 100% worth a stop. Or two. Or more.

You may be tempted inside by the smell of just-baked bread. If that’s not the case, you may go for one of their epic cupcakes. I swear each one weighs two pounds.

I nearly squealed in delight when I found out they also make a gluten-free brownie! Lovely local bakeries rarely have gluten-free treats, but Bread and Roses surprised me in the best way.

You can also get focaccia-pizza, croissants, espresso and pastries that vary day to day.

Green Salmon Cafe

For breakfast, you can’t go wrong with Green Salmon. This local café on Highway 101 serves breakfast wraps and other dishes, many of which feature Pacific Northwest ingredients. My parents still talk about their smoked salmon.

I recommend ordering a wrap or sandwich to go, then picnicking on the beach or at Cape Perpetua.

Green Salmon also serves specialty tea, organic cocoas and custom roasted coffee. Buy a bag of coffee or tea to bring home so you can remember your lovely stay in Yachats, Oregon as you sip a cup.

Yachats Brewing

Beaches and brews—it’s hard to go wrong with this combination. Yachats Brewing has been brewing craft beer right here for about a decade. You’ll see the big steel tanks where Devils Churn Imperial Stout and Thor’s Well IPA are brewed as you walk up to the restaurant.

The menu is hard to beat, too. It changes seasonally, but hope they’re serving cream of maitake mushroom soup when you eat at this Yachats, Oregon restaurant.

The brew pub is well known for its “ferment flight.” This serves up a taste of its different fermented foods, including kraut, kimchee and pickles. Once you find a favorite, take a 16-ounce jar of it home.

Drift Inn Historic Café & Pub

You can stay at the Drift Inn, eat there—or both! When you’re able, sit at one of the booths with windows overlooking Highway 101—they’re great for people watching.

I recommend eating in the outdoor patio in the back. Try a wood-fired pizza—they even have gluten-free crust on request. (In fact, their menu is full of gluten-free options.)

The Drift Inn specializes in local seafood, including halibut, crab, salmon and clams. If you need to wait for takeout or an available table, browse the Drift Inn Gift Shop next door. The quirky shop sells everything from fishing tackle to Oregon Coast-themed gifts. You can also buy food to go here, including clam chowder.

Things to do in Yachats, Oregon

When you’re looking for things to do in Yachats, it’s easy to be swept away by top 10 lists. The truly best thing to do here, though, is simply enjoy the beach.

Sandy stretches line the entire town. Watch sandy plovers and sandpipers tiptoe along the surf or collect sand dollars as you walk.

The Yachats River cuts through the southern end of town, where it enters the sea in a spit of sand. At low tide, explore this unique habitat where salt water meets fresh water.

Much of the Oregon Coast between Yachats and Florence is characterized by dramatic cliffs. That means most of the coastline is made up of rocks and bluffs, so get your fill of soft sand beaches in Yachats.

Then continue on with these unique things to do in Yachats, Oregon.

Cape Perpetua: Hiking near Yachats

Cape Perpetua towers over the Oregon Coast, offering views far out to see. This basalt headland is the highest point on the coastline accessible by car. On a clear day, you can see nearly 40 miles out to the horizon.

You can also hike Cape Perpetua. 26 miles of trails crisscross this scenic area.

Take the easy Captain Cook Trail to reach tidepools and pass Indian shell middens. These piles of shells are evidence of the popularity of this spot to spend the summer and feast. Roughly 1,500 years ago, Native Alsea people came here to eat mussels, crab, barnacles and clams, then tossed the shells in big piles.

Don’t mess the Giant Spruce Trail. The 2-mile out-and-back trail starts at the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center, winding along Cape Creek. You’ll arrive at a Sitka spruce tree more than a half-century old. This family-friendly hike is great for kids.

Even if you don’t hike at all, drive to the top of Cape Perpetua. Walk just a short way from the day use parking lot to take in breathtaking views of the Oregon Coast.

Cook’s Chasm and Thor’s Well, Oregon

One common question: Where is Thor’s Well??

As you drive south of Yachats, look for a turnout with the sign “Cook’s Chasm” on your right. This wayside and parking area overlooks a turbulent spot where the waves crash onto craggy rocks. There is no sign for Thor’s Well.

This spot is named after Cook’s Chasm, a corridor between rock formations where the ocean splashes through. That’s not the wayside’s main attraction, though.

Thor’s Well is a natural formation of basalt where the sea seems to disappear down a hole. Thor’s Well has become famous in the last few years, drawing photographers and people on their Highway 101 road trip. (Side note: A local in the visitor’s center told me they’d never called this feature Thor’s Well until a few years ago, when droves of people arrived asking for directions to it. According to him, a magazine gave it the dramatic name.)

At high tide, waves crash over the rocks—then drain through the center of Thor’s Well. The sight is most remarkable at plus tides and storms.

Safety note: This part of the Oregon Coast is dangerous. Sneaker waves have swept people off the rocks, killing them. Stay a safe distance from the ocean and never turn your back on the waves.

Take some time and walk around the Cook’s Chasm wayside. Paved paths wind down the hill to viewpoints of Thor’s Well, Cook’s Chasm and the Spouting Horn—an “ocean geyser” that shoots water high into the air. The paved paths are steep in places and not ADA-accessible.

Devil’s Churn

Just south of Yachats, turn right off Highway 101 and park in the Devil’s Churn day use area. Walk a paved path to see Devil’s Churn, where eons of waves have worn down the basalt. As waves roll in, water crashes up in dramatic spray. The show is most impressive at high tide.

Keep walking and you’ll reach Cape Cove Beach. This little secluded beach is only accessible by hiking, so you’ll leave all the crowds behind. Explore tidepools or stroll farther south. You can walk all the way to Thor’s Well.

In the late spring and early summer, peep the many wildflowers that grow around Devil’s Churn. Look for the colorfully named red flowering currant, twinberry honeysuckle, beach strawberry, star-cucumber and salal.

Yachats, Oregon hotels and lodging

You’ll find sweet B&Bs, beach houses and hotels in Yachats, Oregon. The town is quite small—just a few blocks along Highway 101—so if you stay in Yachats, you’ll be within walking distance of just about everything.

Check out hotel options:

Booking.com

If you want to stay a little out of town, I recommend renting a cabin at the Wayside Lodge. My mom and I stayed in a suite here, which included a full kitchen. The real standout: a deck overlooking the ocean.

You can also camp. Cape Perpetua includes camping near Yachats—and easy access to hiking trails and other fun things to do. Remember to book as soon as you can because we Oregonians love to camp! Campgrounds fill up, especially on summer weekends.

Now that you know about Yachats—an adorable Oregon Coast town you’ve probably never heard of until now—I’m betting you’re ready to book a trip. Don’t forget to pin this post for later!