Yaquina Head Lighthouse, Newport, OR: Tide pools, whales, tours + more

While visiting the Central Oregon Coast, we spend as much time as we can on the beach. Max and Edie love to chase seagulls and dig moats around sand castles, and I would be happy doing anything within earshot of the surf. Sometimes, though, we a family friendly outing that doesn’t involve throwing sand or chasing kiddos who are splashing in the freezing Pacific. That’s why we love going to Yaquina Head Lighthouse with the kids—an incredibly scenic stop between Newport, OR and Lincoln City.

The Yaquina Head Lighthouse is one of Oregon’s many historic lighthouses. At t 93 feet tall, it’s the states tallest and has been guiding ships away from the rocks at Yaquina Head for nearly 150 years. The lighthouse is within the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area. (Yes, we made many bad jokes about the park being outstanding. How could we resist that softball?)

Visiting Yaquina Head Lighthouse with kids was easy peasy. The paths are paved and mostly gradually sloping, allowing for easy walking for little legs. And the barriers between the paths and the park’s vegetation were plentiful so I didn’t worry as much about kids slipping through fences.

Visiting the Yaquina Head Lighthouse

The Yaquina Head Lighthouse is iconic—you’ve likely seen it on postcards or book covers before. (And if you haven’t, you may have seen it in the horror movie The Ring!) Plenty of people come with their DSLRs and tripods to capture their own shots of the lighthouse.

Edie was very disappointed we didn’t get to go inside the lighthouse—you need to reserve tour tickets ahead of time. (That makes sense since it this Oregon lighthouse stills operates.) Luckily, there’s plenty of other things to do at the Yaquina Head Lighthouse.

For instance, you’ll want to watch the bajillions of birds resting on the rocks around Yaquina Head. Tens of thousands of seabirds nest in the rocks, and you can hear them before you spy them. It’s a good idea to bring your own binoculars, as there was only one working spotter when we visited, and it costs 50 cents to view.

The rocks around Yaquina Head are home to cormorants, gulls, guillemots and oystercatchers. What’s more, this is one of the West Coast’s largest nesting spots of the Common Murre.

We also kept an eye out for harbor seals, which swim and fish in the waters there year-round. And sea lions rested on the beach just below the lighthouse.

Whale watching at Yaquina Lighthouse

Another time we visited, we watched a whale that came to Yaquina Head to feed. It swam back and forth mere feet from where we stood on Cobble Beach. A park ranger explained that the whale swam on its side, using one fin to stir up shrimp clinging to kelp, then feasted. We must have watched the whale for more than a half-hour—it was magnificent.

Hubs and I still talk about that whale sighting. I’m pretty sure we’ll still be remembering the whale’s performance when we’re old, wrinkled and toothless.

You might get lucky and spot a whale, too. Gray whales live in the area June through October, and this part of the Pacific Ocean is like a whale highway during migration seasons (December and January, then March and April).

Tidepools at Yaquina Head

A short walk from the parking lot at the Yaquina lighthouse, steps lead down to Cobble Beach. (If that small parking lot is full, park at the lot at the visitor center. You can walk a paved path to the Cobble Beach access from there.)

Level 10 travel tip: You’ll also want to make sure the entire family is wearing sturdy shoes; flip flops will slide off your feet and don’t make for easy exploration on the tide pools.

Cobble Beach, also known as laughing beach because of the sound the smooth volcanic basalt rocks make when waves push them against one another, lies just below the cliffs where the lighthouse stands. And although the round rocks here are unique, the tide pools are the real draw.

Low tide reveals a whole beach of tide pools. These bowl-like indentations in the rocks stay full of water when the tide is out, so the animals that make them their home are still active and visible.

Watch for sea stars, sea urchins, sea anemones, crabs, little fish and other critters.

Level 10 travel tip: Stay still and watch the same tide pool for longer than you think you need to. The longer you watch, the more you’ll see, as your eyes adjust to the subtle movements of sea creatures.

Maxine and Edie love scrambling across the rocks, searching for particularly large sea stars. And we pause often to gently touch the animals. When you put your finger on the tentacles of a sea anemone, the sticky ends hold on to your skin. If you carefully put your finger between the spines of a sea urchin, the spines close around your finger—giving you an urchin hug!

Part of the beach may be closed because sea lions are resting there. People are not allowed near them to keep humans and sea lions safe.

Even if you come to the Yaquina Head Lighthouse at high tide, definitely visit Cobble Beach. It’s equally gorgeous in a totally different way. Know, though, that you’re not allowed to take any rocks or driftwood, since this is a protected area.

Always remember: The sea can change without any advance notice. Keep an eye on the ocean and never turn your back on the waves.

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Yaquina Head Interpretive Center

“I want to come here every day!” Edie said when we first went inside the Yaquina Head Interpretive Center. The girls had a blast checking out the historical replicas, showing me the animal statues they discovered and pushing buttons to make animal noises. The center does a great job of making education kid-friendly, as little ones have plenty to touch.

In the main lobby, the girls played with period toys such as a ball-in-cup game. They also played dress-up in old clothes, and they colored—you just have to ask the front desk for coloring pages and crayons.

Once we were done inside, we stepped out the back door and walked a very short ways to a viewing area. We watched people below surf and stand-up paddle board in the waves. The kids thought walking below cars in the tunnel was super cool.

There are also picnic tables outside the interpretive center, which are sheltered from the wind by a tall cliff. Just be careful to not let the park’s many birds steal your sandwich!

Yaquina Head Lighthouse: Details

Directions: The Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area is about 5 minutes north of Newport on Highway 101 and about 20 minutes south of Lincoln City. Don’t confuse it with the much less impressive Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, which is at the opposite end of Newport (near the bridge and the aquarium).

Hours of operation: The hours vary seasonally, but the area is usually open 8am to sunset. The Yaquina Head Interpretive Center is open 10am – 4pm.

Features: Hiking, bird watching, tide pools, interpretive center

Good for: Families, toddlers, strollers; dogs on leash are allowed in some areas

Must-know: Yaquina Head was originally called Cape Foulweather, so let that be a signal to bring layers: The wind can get cold, and you don’t want to freeze while you whale watch or investigate tide pools. Ranger-led tours don’t run consistently, so check the web site before you go to find out if the (free) tours are running while you visit. Kids must be 5 years or older to go on a tour.

Getting in: Entry for passenger cars is $7, and you can use the pass for three days. You can park in multiple places, including by the interpretive center, alongside the lighthouse and at various viewpoints.

What’s your favorite family friendly activity in Newport, OR or on the Central Oregon Coast?