Travel Oregon

Dramatic Capes and Dynamic Dunes

Dramatic Capes and Dynamic Dunes

The ultimate Central Coast Roadtrip.

  • Distance:  62 miles
  • Starting Point:  Lincoln City
  • Minimum Driving Time:  2 days
  • Best Time to Drive: 

A Great Trip For:

  • Couples
  • Families
  • History Buffs
  • Outdoor Enthusiasts
  • Scenery
  • Teens/Young Adults

1. Lincoln City to Depoe Bay

Colorful kites and wind socks welcome you back to the ocean and the resort town of Lincoln City. With sprawling Devil’s Lake on the north side and Siletz Bay to the south, it’s virtually surrounded by water, wildlife and recreation.

Farther south, Depoe Bay is the site of the world’s smallest navigable harbor and Spouting Horns that shoot geysers above the seawall at high tide.

Farther on, keep your camera handy to capture the Coast’s most photographed seascape, Cape Foulweather and the churning waves at Devil’s Punch Bowl.


2. Newport to the Dunes

In the shelter of Yaquina Head, Newport is home of the Oregon Coast Aquarium and the Hatfield Marine Science Center. Yaquina Head features a 125-year-old lighthouse and two unique intertidal areas, one of which is the nation’s only wheelchair accessible tide pool.

The superb scenery continues through Waldport and Yachats to the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area. Here, you can watch the waves rush in and out of Devil’s Churn or hike on trails high above it. It’s not far to picturesque Heceta Head Lighthouse and Sea Lion Caves, the world’s only mainland viewing area for Steller sea lions.

As the rugged cliffs give way to graceful sand dunes, you’ll arrive in Florence, a city that explodes with wild rhododendrons in spring. Florence is the gateway to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, a 47-mil sandbox with areas designated for bird watching and dune riding. Honeyman State Park is a popular place to water-ski and camp. As you travel on through the dunes, take a side trip to the Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area at Reedsport.

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area: With more than 31,000 acres, the Oregon Dunes offers something for everyone. You can camp, arrange a tour, take an exhilarating off-highway vehicle ride, walk along tranquil lakes, forest trails and beaches, and much more.

Additional information can be obtained by calling the Oregon Coast Visitors Association at 1-888-628-2101 or checking out the web at www.VisitTheOregonCoast.com You may also contact the Central Oregon Coast Association at 1-800-767-2064 or check out their web site at www.CoastVisitor.com


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