Devils Churn — Attraction in Florence

Says Willamette Weekly: "Yes, everything is named for the devil out here, whether Cauldron or Punchbowl or Basin or Churn. Everybody knows Devils Punchbowl—an impossible, hollowed waterfall basin that looks like it was designed by Alfonso Cuarón. But the Churn brings you closer to what death feels like from the inside. It's accessible only through an obscure turnoff at milepost 166.5 just south of Cape Perpetua, with a tiny parking lot home to a coffee window and the Restless Waters trailhead.

"After about 100 feet, abandon the trail loop to take the first path to the right to switchback stairs leading down to a "lookout," which is a perch 6 feet above the sea—a craggy spur marred by a gash of angry ocean whose waves enter from the vastness to break and rebreak against sharp rock. The Churn is the ocean's mosh pit, the malevolence and beauty of nature made visible: It is the most Kardashian...

Parked in the upper parking lot and noticed the 15 min parking sign. Spent 9 mins (my smart watch counts how long I spend driving and how long I spend walking) looking over the edge and using the VERY dirty restroom, would not recommend it. Walked to the truck and found a parking ticket from the park range. He said I would have to buy a pass since he timed me and I spent over 15 mins in the spot. When I proved him wrong he then changed his story and said since I looked over the edge I would need to pay. Would not recommend...

Just a 1/2 mile walk down. It’s not a super easy walk but not horrible either. Not just for tge young and fit. I’m a chubby 56 year old woman, and it just took me longer, both up and down. Wear good grippy shoes because the ground is uneven once you are on the rocks and off the stairs. They warn you not to get too close, do you don’t get swept in. There are tide pools but they seemed too close to the water which seemed too unpredictable...