Scenic Drives & Viewpoints

Scenic Drives

Three Capes Scenic Loop
This drive offers some of the most beautiful views along the Oregon Coast. At just under 40 miles, this adventure takes you from Pacific City to Tillamook along pristine coastline.

Headed north, beginning in Pacific City with Cape Kiwanda and its beautiful views, you’ll travel through the dunes at Sand Lake, where you will reach Cape Lookout, a massive headland that juts more than two miles out to sea. Follow Netarts Bay, then pass through the quaint communities of Netarts and Oceanside and head to Cape Meares. To complete the drive, skirt along Tillamook Bay and you wind up on the west side of Tillamook.

Otter Crest Loop
This scenic drive winds just west of Highway 101 and offers the most leisurely way to experience the views from the Cape Foulweather, along with a stop at Devil’s Punchbowl, one of the most interesting geological formations on the Oregon Coast.

Yachats Ocean Road State Natural Site
South of Yachats, the road makes a one-mile loop, exposing one of the most scenic viewpoints on the coast: the Yachats Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Park along the loop and enjoy access to the beach, tide pools, blowholes, summer sunsets and whale watching.

Viewpoints

Cape Kiwanda State Park
In Pacific City, one of the best places to see the ocean and Haystack Rock is Cape Kiwanda. Be mindful of signage, as some cliffside areas are unsafe and fenced off.

Cape Lookout State Park
A two-mile trail leading to a bench with the best view of the Pacific. Located at 13000 Whiskey Creek Road; bring your hiking boots.

Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint
Tucked away on a headland 200 feet above the ocean with beautiful views of the coastline southward. Cape Meares is excellent for whale watching and as well as the nesting Common Murres—don’t forget to visit the Cape Meares Lighthouse and the Octopus Tree. Located at 3500 Cape Meares Loop, Tillamook.

Munson Creek Falls State Natural Site
One of the tallest waterfalls on the Oregon Coast at 319 feet, Munson Creek Falls is a short walk from the parking lot and is an important location for salmon spawning.

Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Take the Pacific View Trail and you will experience an easy walk on a paved surface. The trail ends at an observation deck where you will be treated to a sweeping view of the Pacific Ocean, Haystack Rock, Nestucca Bay, the Coast Range and the Little Nestucca River.

Tillamook Bay
Between Tillamook and Garibaldi, there is a small wayside with an interpretive kiosk along Tillamook Bay. This location provides sweeping views of this sprawling bay.

Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint
A miraculous and rugged, basalt-rimmed bay, Boiler Bay is a great place to watch wild surf action on the rocky spurs. This splendid panoramic viewpoint presents a good opportunity to see gray whales year-round.

Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint
A spectacular oceanfront park on a forested bluff overlooking the ocean. Offshore rocks provide spectacular wave action in storms and are nesting areas for birds and sea lions and harbor seals.

Otter Crest State Scenic Viewpoint
Soak in the view from 500 feet above the ocean on the breathtaking crescent sweep of white sandy beach stretching to the Devil’s Punchbowl, just south of Lincoln City. Cape Foulweather is stunning and inspirational with its picturesque panoramic views. This popular whale watching spot also provides a good view of the Devil’s Punchbowl.

Devil’s Punchbowl State Natural Area
During winter storms, water from the restless ocean slams with a thundering roar into a hollow rock formation shaped like a huge punch bowl. The surf churns, foams and swirls as it mixes a violent brew. The park is a popular whale watching site and displays an intriguing geology, and there is a scenic picnic spot atop the undulating rocky shoreline.

Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area
The bluff is forested with spruce and pine, but the real star is the historic lighthouse, and the panoramic views of the Pacific are not to be missed. This is a day-use fee area.

Seal Rock State Recreation Site
Seal Rock State Wayside has large off-shore rock formations which are the habitat of seals, sea lions, sea birds and other marine life. The wayside includes interesting tide pools as well as excellent ocean views and a sandy beach.

Yachats State Recreation Area
A small loop, offering a serene view of the Yachats River as it meets the Pacific Ocean. Park and see the wild waves and gray whale migration. Rock and salmon fishing and tide pools bring people back to this park again and again.

Neptune State Scenic Viewpoint & Strawberry Hill Wayside
This spot has excellent views of the ocean and a series of stairs that lead down to excellent tide pools and sandy beaches. During sunny days, harbor seals can be seen sunning themselves on the rocks just off shore.

Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint
This viewpoint is located in a cove at the mouth of Cape Creek. There are picnic tables sheltered from the wind and a great view of the ocean. A short trail leads to the historic Heceta Head lighthouse and assistant keeper’s house. Day-use parking permits are required.

Cape Perpetua Scenic Area
Towering 800 feet over the protected Marine Garden shoreline, the Cape Perpetua day-use area is the highest viewpoint accessible by car on the Oregon Coast and has one of the best viewpoints offering views of 70 miles of coastline. On a clear day, you might see up to 37 miles out to sea.

Also within the scenic area you will find Thor’s Well, the Spouting Horn at Cook’s Chasm and Devils Churn.

For more information, visit OregonStateParks.org.