Angry Seas and a Lighthouse!

Yaquina Head Lighthouse is a striking piece of Oregon Coast history, perched on Yaquina Head, a basalt promontory extending nearly a mile into the Pacific Ocean, just north of Newport and near Agate Beach. At 93 feet, it’s the tallest lighthouse in Oregon, built in 1873 to replace the less effective Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, which struggled with visibility issues. Its first-order Fresnel lens, crafted in Paris in 1868, still operates today, powered by a 1,000-watt bulb (a far cry from the lard oil it once burned). The light’s signature pattern—two seconds on, two off, two on, 14 off—cuts through the night up to 19 miles out, a beacon for mariners navigating these rocky shores.
The lighthouse sits within the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, managed by the BLM, and it’s a hotspot for more than just history buffs. The surrounding 100-acre site is alive with natural spectacle: tide pools brimming with sea stars and anemones, a noisy seabird colony on Colony Rock (think murres, cormorants, and gulls), and marine life like harbor seals and gray whales, especially visible during their migrations (late December to January and March to April). The headland itself is a geological relic, formed by lava flows 14 million years ago, and its cobble beaches below are a treasure trove for agate hunters, especially after storms.
Building it was no picnic—construction dragged on for two years thanks to relentless storms and supply woes, finally lighting up on August 20, 1873. Today, it’s a visitor favorite, pulling in about 400,000 people yearly. You can explore the interpretive center (open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and, with a reservation, climb the lighthouse tower itself, though hours are tighter (check ahead). Entry’s $7 per vehicle, or free with an America the Beautiful pass. The site’s got parking, restrooms, and trails, but watch for sneaker waves if you’re down by the water.
It’s a perfect pairing with Agate Beach—just a few miles south—offering a mix of coastal beauty, wildlife, and a glimpse into maritime past.