Oregon Coast - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 612

For an easy hike, take the paved Captain Cook Trail (1.2 miles round-trip) down to
tide pools near Cooks Chasm, where at high tide the geyser-like spouting horn blasts wa-
ter out of a sea cave.
The Giant Spruce Trail (2 miles round-trip) leads up Cape Creek to a 500-year-old
Sitka spruce with a 15ft diameter. The Cook's Ridge-Gwynn Creek Loop Trail (6.5
miles round-trip) heads into deep old-growth forests along Gwynn Creek; follow the
Oregon Coast Trail south and turn up the Gwynn Creek Trail, which returns via Cook's
Ridge.
Heceta Head Lighthouse LIGHTHOUSE
( 541-547-3416; www.hecetalighthouse.com ; day-use fee $5; 11am-3pm Mar-Apr & Oct, to
5pm Jun-Sep, varies rest of year) Built in 1894 and towering precipitously above the churn-
ing ocean, this lighthouse, 13 miles south of Yachats on US 101, is supremely photogenic
and still functions. Tours are available.
Sea Lion Caves CAVES
( 541-547-3111; www.sealioncaves.com ; 91560 US 101; adult/child 6-12yr $14/8; 9am-6pm)
Fifteen miles south of Yachats is an enormous sea grotto that's home to hundreds of
groaning sea lions. An elevator descends 208ft to a dark interpretive area, and an obser-
vation window lets you watch Steller's sea lions jockeying for the best seat on the rocks.
There are also outside observation areas, as from late September to November there
are no sea lions in the cave.
Sleeping
The following are ordered north to south.
Beachside State Park CAMPGROUND$
( 800-551-6949; www.oregonstateparks.org ; tent sites/RV sites/yurts $21/26/40; ) Five
miles north of town on US 101, nearly 80 sites and two yurts are available (along with
showers and flush toilets) at this beachside campground.
Ocean Haven INN$$$
( 541-547-3583; www.oceanhaven.com ; 94770 US 101 S; d $105-165; ) This casual five-
room inn 8 miles south of Yachats is run by an eccentric couple who have banned Hum-
mers from their parking lot. All rooms come with kitchenettes and awesome ocean
views, and the rustic cabin has hosted author Robert Bly. Whimsical details add person-
ality to an already quirky place.