Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area — Attraction in Newport

It is a wonderful stopping place along our beautiful Oregon Coast. I like that they direct you to go to the Interpretive Center, rather than just bypass it. It passively forces you to consider going in. Which I have not done before, but I am glad I did. Thank you manipulative traffic control. I didn't stay long, as I just needed to use the restroom, but from what I saw, the displays and staff are nice and the museum's exhibits are of a quality that I will go back to when I have more time to spend there. The lighthouse is as one would expect...lighthousey and picturesque, same as the coastal magnificence. There is plenty of parking and an easy, short paved path to the lighthouse and lookouts. It seemed wheelchair accessible though I didn’t pay attention to the parking spaces or the path beyond what I could see from my position. I did not look at the entry cost because I have the National Parks Pass, and that gets me into places like this. Side note: I highly suggest buying the yearly Freedom Pass, especially for the moments when you wouldn't normally pull off the road to go exploring our country, but because you have the pass, you figure...what the heck...I need to use the restroom anyway, and I really don't want to use the one in Walmart. So you extemporaneously break from the norm and get pleasantly surprised while simultaneously moving your body, breathing fresh air, learning and seeing something new, and expanding your horizons, plus it helps keep our parks. I mean...win-win! But, I digress. So, if you are in the area, just go, and not just to the lighthouse. Go to the Interpretive Center and learn something new. Or, don't, I can't tell you what to do, but I do...

This might be my favourite place ever. The tide pools are amazing. The best I've ever seen. We saw seals sunning on the rocks, and playing in the water. Red and purple sea urchins (too many, actually), starfish of many colors and sizes, hermit crabs, little purple crabs, green anemones, pink colony anemones, a sea lemon, tons of gumboot chitons, mossy chitons, fish, snails, limpets, algae and seaweed in many colors and shapes.

The guides/rangers are helpful and informative, and keep the tidal life safe from careless human visitors. We came back 3 times. Unfortunately the good tide pools are only accessible by a lot of stairs, but if you can do stairs and balance on some rocks, the tide pools are amazing.

I recommend going for the hour before and the hour or two after a low tide in the -1 to 1 level range. 2 ish hours after a -1.3 was a good time to see more of the anemones opened up in the channels, which are exposed to air and all closed up at a low tide -1.3 until about 3 hours after...

I first visited in 2010, when I took my daughter on a graduation road trip down the 101. We were on the hunt for lighthouses, and the tide pool was a surprise- a life changing surprise. To see that a purple sea star exists, IN REAL LIFE TECHNICOLOR, was too much for my brain. I have come here every time I visit the coast for the last 15 years, and delight in introducing my friends and travel companions to the wonder. This most recent trip was one for the history books and scrapbooks! We had a pod of harbor seals just off the pebble beach, sleeping and playing. We found some interesting detritus on the beach, and Ranger Joe came over and educated us on the gumboot chiton. We loved his sweet demeanor and that he highlighted the indigenous people of the area, and how the coast was their home, and their buffet. WE LOVE YOU GUMBOOT JOE! The cobble beach and tide pools are one of my favorite places on earth, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to experience LIFE this...