Menu

The Waves at Cape Perpetua

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

Oh my gosh, you guys. I don’t know if I’ve ever been more excited to see a place than Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon. When I first started researching our Oregon trip, one of the first photos I saw was at Cape Perpetua. I knew right then and there I absolutely had to see this place for myself. I don’t even know if I can describe just how awesome this sight was, with it’s steep, rocky cliffs and massive, violent waves crashing in every direction. This was like no other beach I’d ever seen.

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

Cape Perpetua is truly a sight to behold. The first thing you’ll spot is the Spouting Horn.

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

The Spouting Horn is an exploding salt water geyser that seems to come from within the cliffs at Cape Perpertua.

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

What causes the Spouting Horn?

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

The constant pounding of the waves at Cape Perpetua have worn away at the jagged, volcanic cliffs along the shore, creating tide pools, caves, and even vent holes.

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

When the waves crash against the cliffs, pressure builds up inside the caves to send a sky-high fountain erupting 20-45 feet into the air.

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

Near high tide, watch for a few moments and you are sure to see it!

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

And then as quickly as it comes, the fountain disappears into the ocean’s mist.

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

But this is the coolest thing.

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

This is Thor’s Well, located right along the shore at Cape Perpetua.

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

While exploring the many tide pools in the rocks, it’s easy to miss this gaping pit if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

Until whoosh! All of a sudden the waves are crashing over the rocks and filling the well, pulling in everything in it’s path, and collapsing right back out through the bottom of the well.

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

It’s amazing to watch.

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

Cape Perpetua is most spectacular to explore when it’s also most dangerous — at high tide.

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

Waves come crashing over the cliffs from every direction.

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

Rushing over everything in it’s path.

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

The caves and crevices along the shore can blast waves 20 feet into the air. Be very careful here and never get too close to the edge.

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

The volcanic shore is covered in colorful tide pools and sea creatures.

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

Thousands of seashells.

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

Everywhere we looked.

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

Colorful shells.

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

These seashells and seaweed trees are hanging on for dear life inside Thor’s Well.

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean


The next day we were supposed to head for Portland, but I changed our plans to spend more time at the shore. I just couldn’t pull myself away!

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

That morning the sea was stormy with a powerful tide.

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

The Well was breathtaking to watch.

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

Side note — We stayed at the Overleaf Lodge and Spa in Yachats. If you ever go to Yachats, this is where you have to stay! There’s an Aveda spa right in the hotel, so after a chilly, foggy morning at the coast, we bundled into the car, hurried back into the hotel and and warmed ourselves right up in their delicious sauna. Their spa is free to all guests and includes a steam room, sauna, lockers and changing rooms, flavored water, showers, and hot tubs overlooking the ocean. Of course you can also book other spa services and charge them to the room! ;) There’s also a laundry room available to guests. Our room, more like a suite, was absolutely stunning — all rooms have a private balcony overlooking the ocean, a cozy seating area with a fireplace, and a whirlpool tub that overlooks the ocean, where you can watch the sunset. (Here’s a picture from our room!) They also had the most delicious berry scones for breakfast! They literally had to drag me out of the room come check out time. I never wanted to leave!

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

Stormy shore at Cape Perpetua.

{ PHOTOS } Spouting Horn and Thor's Well at Cape Perpetua in Yachats, Oregon www.kevinandamanda.com #travel #landscapes #ocean

I would go back in a heartbeat to see this natural wonder.

 

Plan a Yachats Getaway!

Where to Stay

Overleaf Spa
280 Overleaf Lodge Lane, Yachats, OR
(541) 547-4885 ‎ · overleafspa.com

Heaven on earth.

Where to Eat

The Drift Inn
124 U.S. 101, Yachats, OR
(541) 547-4477‎ · the-drift-inn.com

Our meal here was delicious! Here’s a photo of my Crab and Herb Stuffed Lobster Ravioli. Go early! It can get busy. :)

Topper’s Ice Cream & Candy
153 U.S. 101, Yachats, OR
(541) 547-3273

Get local Tillamook ice cream here! It’s an Oregon must! :)

 

What to do

Cape Perpetua Special Interest Area, Oregon
Link to Map

There’s a pull off parking area along the coast on the 101. The path is paved and stroller/wheelchair accessible.

 

Follow along on our Oregon Adventure!

*Thanks so much to Travel Oregon for sending us on this adventure through Oregon!

You May Also Like:

27 Responses
  1. Deb

    Thank you for the awesome photos . We were at the overleaf in sept 2012 and loved it and also loved the scones! We have lots of pics of perpetua and of the whole area. My hubby asked me “don’t you think 600 pics and videos of the water/rocks is enough?” I was mesmerized !!!! Lol
    I still rave about the Oregon coast. We are going to Italy in 2 weeks and enjoyed those beautiful pics also . And our next trip is to the British isles so your Scotland trip has inspired me. I love your itinerary so far. That’s just what I would enjoy. So thank you for sharing. Deb

  2. bev

    Thanks for sharing your gorgeous photos.. this is one of my favourite places along the coast… we have stayed at the fireside hotel in yachats… is more affordable for us than where you were staying… did you also see the devil’s churn while you were there.. now that is an awesome place to be able to see and take pictures of… we have seen where you took your pictures and have many pictures of it as well… but seeing yours really makes me want to go back as soon as we can… enjoyed your pictures… they are so beautiful…

  3. Paulette

    Forgot, loved the shots of the ocean. Gorgeous. Got carried away about the room, the food, the goodies, need I say more enjoyed it all. Thanks Paulette

  4. Susie

    When I was a kid in the 60s, my dad would make sure the family spent a few days on the Oregon coast every summer – and Yachats was our prime location to stay, usually at the Adobe Resort. Unbelieveably, the Adobe is still there! It does have a 60s look – but for me, lots of memories of playing shuffleboard and looking for stones on the beach. I’m so glad you are sharing the “left coast” with the world…it is a beautiful place.

  5. kelly @ sass & veracity

    What a spectacularly beautiful place! We stayed in Oregon recently and I’d love to go back some day, so thanks for showcasing so much beauty. It’s always nice to add a new place to our list on the west coast — closer to home means saving some $$$ on airfare :) Gorgeous photos!

  6. Karen Robertson

    Amanda,
    Just up the coast a bit north of newport is another place just like this i think it is called devils bowl. We happen to be there when the tide was out and the bowl was empty.. We had the opportunity to go inside the bowl and it was a bit scary knowing the churning water just like your photos would be returning in mere hours. It was truly amazing. Your photos capture it all so beautifully.
    When you get tired of your life can I take your place?
    Karen

  7. Lisa @ Floating Along...

    Wow – just awesome!! Great photos, as always. Thanks for sharing! Makes me want to start planning a trip to Oregon right NOW! :)

  8. Leslie

    Your pictures are spectacular. You should work for the Oregon Tourism Bureau, or for that matter any of the states you have photo documented for us. I have itchy feet now and I know where I want them to take me.

Do you have a question or comment?

Meet Kevin & Amanda

Kevin and Amanda

We love to travel and to eat! Here we share our favorite quick and easy recipes, plus travel tips and guides for our favorite places around the world. If you have any questions about what camera I use or how I edit my photos, check out my photography tutorials.

READ MORE

Subscribe via Email: