Yaquina Bay State Recreation Site

A small but wonderful area in Newport, OR. The area is home to the historic Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, which sits at the highpoint of the recreation site. It overlooks the beach below which boasts small sand dunes and the North Jetty.

There is parking where the road passes through the main site, though it could possibly get a bit crowded on busy summer days. The area around the lighthouse has a number of picnic tables for those who want to spend time eating and taking in the sights.

One of the highlights at this site is an overlook which is comprised of a wooden deck. From here, you can see the historic Yaquina Bay Bridge in its entirety spanning the bay. You can also see the North and South Jetty, which marks the channel for Naval vessels to make safe passage in and out of the harbor.

One of the best times to see the bridge is just before sunrise. In the instances I have gone during that time, very few people were there. Sunrise from the lookout is beautiful...but it doesn't end there. That's the time all of the fishing vessels start departing the harbor. There's also a good chance to see a Coast Guard vessel as well. On my last visit, I observed 30 vessels departing the harbor.

You can also follow a sidewalk next to the main road and walk under the bridge. The sidewalk will actually take you down to the bayfront if you follow it far enough.

Great place. A lot to see, and a bit of history.