Top 5 Things to Do in Oregon’s Cape Perpetua

Oregon is one of those beautiful places that everyone should try and see!  My sister and I were fortunate enough to travel there back in 2015, and I’ve been dreaming about going back ever since!  While we saw a lot of the state on our trip, the portion of time we spent on the Coast was really spectacular! Cape Perpetua Scenic Area was perhaps my favorite spot out of all the areas we saw on the Oregon Coast!

Aside from its beautiful scenery, the name itself kind of sealed the deal for me. It sounds like it was named by pirates (the swashbuckling kind, not Somalian ;)).

In actuality, Cape Perpetua was named by Captain James Cook in 1778. It’s found in the Siuslaw National Forest (pronounced sigh-you-slaw) in between Yachats and Florence.  It has a Visitor Center with restrooms, a campground, and miles of hiking trails.  Ideally, it would be nice to spend a couple of days taking in the many hikes along the beautiful ocean and forests, but if you’re short on time (as I was), this list was comprised with you in mind!

Please first stop by the Visitor Center, which is clearly marked off HWY 101, and get a map of the park.  The Rangers were happy to direct us to all the spots on this list.

So, in no particular order, here is my list of the Top 5 Things to see and do at Cape Perpetua Scenic Area:

1. Thor’s Well

Thor’s Well is a mesmerizing must-see sight in Cape Perpetua!  It was fun to watch the ocean waves crash over the rocks and then drain as if it truly is a bottomless well. There are a few tips and tricks to see Thor’s Well at its best.  The best time to view it is at high tide or during a storm. We googled what time the tides were high and made sure to be there at that time. You could go during a storm, but know that getting too close to the well could be very dangerous and even life-threatening.  We kept a safe distance, but there were people that walked right up to its edge – which I don’t suggest. It’s very slick, the waves are unpredictable, and if you fell in it wouldn’t be easy to get out (they estimate it goes down about 20 feet).

Now that my safety advisory is out of the way, I can continue! Of course, my desire was to get an amazing picture of Thor’s Well like what you see on the internet. However, a) I did not plan my trip around photography, or I would have gone at evening tide and not midday tide, and b) I did not know how wet it would be and was therefore afraid of using my Nikon, so instead I used my subpar GoPro. Don’t be me! Go to the later tide and bring your awesome camera and tripod!

2. Spouting Horn

Spouting Horn is a cool spot very close to Thor’s Well, and like Thor’s Well, it’s also best viewed at high tide or during a storm. When the waves crash hard enough into the opposing rocks, water shoots up through a hole creating the spouting horn! I kind of felt like a schoolgirl the first time I saw the water shoot out of the hole! The first time you see it, you aren’t quite sure where the hole is until it happens! Definitely a cool sight you have to see if you are in the area!

3. Devil’s Churn

Devil’s Churn is another interesting spot at Cape Perpetua, and the short hike there was beautiful as well!

Maybe it’s just me, or just the day we went, but there did not seem to be as many people checking out the Devils Churn as there were at the previous two locations. Apparently, this narrow inlet used to be a sea cave where the roof eventually collapsed.  It also is best viewed at high tide for more dramatic churning, crashing, and thundering of the waves.  We sat here for a while hypnotized by the water and sounds! If you didn’t make sure to come during the high tide, spend some time exploring the tide pools along the way to this spot!

Oh, and wear clothes that you don’t mind getting wet 🙂

4. The Stone Shelter

The Stone Shelter actually has an interesting history! It was built as an observation post during World War 2 and housed a coastal defense gun! It’s since become a cool hiking destination with views on a clear day that allow you to see up to 70 miles of the Oregon Coast!  You can either drive up the mountain to a parking area and hike a short way to the Shelter, or you can hike up the mountain from the Visitor’s Center.  Either way, with the spectacular views it really is a must-see for Cape Perpetua!!

5. Big Spruce Trail

There were many trails that we could’ve hiked during our short day here, but in the end, the draw of a more than 500-year-old Spruce tree was too much for us to pass up!  The Big Spruce tree is the largest and oldest tree in the whole of Cape Perpetua, measuring 185 feet tall and 40 feet circumference!! When we visited there was a Park Ranger at the tree who was happy to tell us about the Spruce and take pictures for us.  This trail can be accessed from the Visitor’s Center.

I can’t suggest enough for you to make Cape Perpetua more than a passing-by stop on your Oregon Highway 1 trip! It has so much to offer, and even visiting all the things on the list didn’t take up our whole entire day! We still went to the Newport Aquarium, had a lovely dinner in Newport with an oceanfront view, and watched the sunset at Seal Rock afterward!

The picture below of me being absolutely exhausted pretty much sums up my entire trip to Oregon.

Anyways, that’s all for now! If you like what you saw check out my other posts and what to do in Oregon!!  Don’t forget to leave me a comment and tell me what you think!!

Until next time!