Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area
Newport, OR
A basalt headland north of Newport with Oregon’s tallest lighthouse, seabird rocks and tide pools at Cobble Beach. There is a per-vehicle entrance fee; lighthouse tours are offered on most days.
Yaquina Head is a basalt headland north of Newport with Oregon's tallest lighthouse: 93 feet (28 m) high, with 114 steps to the top and walls more than 5 feet (1.5 m) thick at the base. Construction began in late 1871, and the light first shone on August 20, 1873. The first-order Fresnel lens was made by Barbier & Fenestre in Paris (1868) and shipped to Oregon via Panama. The tower has been automated since 1966, when the last resident keeper left. In 1980 Congress designated the roughly 100-acre (40-hectare) area an Outstanding Natural Area.
There are seabird colonies on the offshore rocks and an intertidal zone managed as a Marine Garden by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). According to the operators, lighthouse tours are offered depending on staffing; most recently only the ground floor was open because of restoration work on the staircase. Check ahead for current tours, hours and entrance rules.
- Nearest town
- Newport, OR
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 44.6767, -124.0795
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and August–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and July. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- South Beach State Park CampgroundCampsite5 mi from Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area · 287 pitchesTentsCaravansDrinking waterShowers
- Boiler Bay RV ParkMotorhome stopover11 mi from Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural AreaMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposal
- Sea and Sand RV ParkMotorhome stopover13 mi from Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural AreaMotorhomesWi-Fi
- McKinley's RV Park & MarinaMotorhome stopover17 mi from Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural AreaMotorhomesWi-Fi
- Premier RV ResortMotorhome stopover18 mi from Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural AreaMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Devil's Lake RV ParkMotorhome stopover22 mi from Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural AreaMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
All campsites in Oregon · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area?
Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area is in Newport, OR, at GPS 44.6767, -124.0795. It is about 20 mi from Lincoln City.
Can you camp near Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Pacific Shores MotorCoach Resort, about 1 mi away; within 25 mi there are 44 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area?
Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Oregon’s capes: Three Capes Route to Cape Perpetua.
What is there to see near Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area?
Places worth a stop nearby: Devils Punchbowl State Natural Area (5 mi), Thor’s Well (28 mi), Heceta Head Lighthouse (37 mi) and Cape Kiwanda (38 mi).
When is the best time to visit Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and August–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and July. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)