A road trip down the Oregon Coast’s Highway 101 isn’t complete without stopping to view its historic lighthouses. Today, there are 11 lighthouses that remain on the Oregon Coast, with some private and others open to the public for viewing. Discover the lighthouses of the Oregon Coast with the list below.
Cape Arago
You’ll have to look hard to find Cape Arago Lighthouse. Sitting high atop a rock along the southern coastline, a single lighthouse remains (where two others used to stand) that can be seen from far away at Sunset Bay and Yoakam Point State Park. Cape Arago is not open to the public.
Cape Blanco
Built on a grassy cliff, the Cape Blanco lighthouse was first lit back in 1870 and still stands proud as a scenic lighthouse, part of the Cape Blanco State Park. It is open to the public from April through October.
Cape Meares
The first light from Cape Meares lit up the coast in 1890. At 38 feet tall, Cape Meares is the shortest lighthouse on the Oregon Coast. Currently managed by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, the lighthouse is open to the public April through October. Best viewpoints are seen from the Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint.
Cleft of the Rock
Cleft of the Rock is a privately-owned lighthouse on Oregon’s coast. The structure is built on a cliff 110 feet above the ocean, the Cleft of the Rock is located just under two miles south of Yachats at Cape Perpetua.
Coquille River Lighthouse
Standing guard at the north harbor of the Coquille River, the Coquille River Lighthouse is the beacon for the town of Bandon. First lit in 1896, the lighthouse was abandoned in 1939 after a horrific fire swept through town, leaving only a few structures intact. The lighthouse was re-opened to the public in 1979 and now offers seasonal tours from May to September through the Bullards Beach State Park.
Heceta Head Lighthouse
One of the most scenic lighthouses of the Oregon Coast, Heceta Head Lighthouse features elaborate architecture in a beautiful setting, just north of Florence, OR. As part of the Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint (an Oregon State Park), it is open to the public year-round.
Pelican Bay
First lit in 1999, the Pelican Bay lighthouse is Oregon’s newest lighthouse. Towering over a cliff in Brookings, OR, it is the southernmost lighthouse on the coast. Operated by the U.S. Coast Guard, it is not open to the public.
Tillamook Rock
Grab your binoculars for this one. The Tillamook Rock lighthouse sits atop a rock more than a mile out to sea. Built in 1881, it was abandoned in 1957 due to its treacherous location in the middle of the ocean. While not open to the public, it is visible from Ecola State Park near Cannon Beach.
Umpqua Lighthouse
The Umpqua River is the site of Oregon’s first lighthouse, but one of the shortest-lived. Lasting for only four years, the lighthouse collapsed in 1863, with the construction of the new lighthouse beginning in 1892. Built 100 feet above the river, it was now safe from river flooding. It is open to the public for seasonal tours.
Yaquina Head Lighthouse
As the tallest lighthouse in Oregon, the Yaquina Head Lighthouse stands at 93 feet tall. It is one of the most popular lighthouses of the Oregon Coast and one of the most photographed. It is best viewed at the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, 20 minutes south of Depoe Bay in the town of Newport.
Yaquina Bay
Having lived but a short life as a lighthouse, Yaquina Bay light was only in operation for three years. It is now fully restored and available to the public via the Yaquina Bay State Recreation Site in Newport.
Accommodations in Depoe Bay
Complete your road trip to see the lighthouses of the Oregon Coast with a stay at Whale Cove Inn in Depoe Bay. Enjoy even more beautiful scenes of the coastline from the comforts of your own room. Each of our seven signature suites offers incredible views from the private deck along with an outdoor soaking tub.
Enjoy the best of the Oregon Coast with a stay at the Whale Cove Inn!
