Oregon is an incredibly beautiful state filled with spectacular landscapes including the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. In fact, this is one of my favorite photo destinations on the Oregon Coast and for lighthouse lovers, it is hard to beat. Here is why.
The Yaquina lighthouse and its grounds are equally stunning, so much so that the entire area is called the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area. The lighthouse is perched on a beautiful basalt peninsular that juts out into the Pacific Ocean making it an idyllic setting. The grounds are comprised of flowering hillsides, pebble beaches, tidal pools, and tons of sea life.
Frankly, one could not ask for a more picturesque location for a lighthouse.
In this Yaquina Head Lighthouse Photo Guide we are now going to explore this gorgeous lighthouse from a photographer’s perspective including the best times to visit, how best to photograph the area, what to see, and also what to pack for your visit.
Where is Yaquina Head Lighthouse?
The lighthouse is located in the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area which is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
Address: 750 NW Lighthouse Dr, Newport, OR 97365
Directions: From Newport, Oregon, drive north for about 3 miles to Lighthouse Drive and turn left and drive 1/4 mile to the entrance station.
Yaquina Head Lighthouse- What You Need to Know
Hours and Days
Fees
Passes may be purchased in a small booth at the entrance gate.
Parking
Yaquina -What You Can Bring
Prohibited Items and Rules
Contact No: 541-574-3100
About Yaquina Head Lighthouse
Yaquina Head Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse on the Oregon Coast with a 93 foot tower with 114 stairs. The lighthouse grounds are also home to spectacular rocky cliffs, tons of seabirds, rocky pebble beaches, harbor seals, offshore whales, and tidal pools filled with sea life.
The lighthouse was originally named Cape Foulweather Light and after 5 visits, I have to wonder why they changed the name!
Today the Yaquina Head Outstanding area is comprised of 100 acres of natural beauty so please make time to visit each area, you won’t be disappointed.
The Yaquina Head Natural Outstanding area consists of the following locations:
Yaquina Head Lighthouse Brief History
This lighthouse was established in 1873 at the mouth of the Yaquina River and named the Fowl Weather Lighthouse as previously noted. Innkeeper and other buildings once stood on today’s grassy lighthouse grounds but were removed in the 1980’s. To read more about this beautiful lighthouse, check out Yaquina Head History.
Best Times to Visit Yaquina Head Lighthouse
Best Seasons
This answer is threefold. First for tourists, summer time will bring warmer weather and less rain, although the coast is rarely warm. Regretfully, it also brings foggy skies that obscure sunrises and sunsets and tons of visitors.
For photographers like myself or anyone looking to see the lighthouse with dramatic skies and crashing waves, I believe winter is the best time to visit. Knowing this, I still visited this location every time in early summer because of the wildflowers. However, I will definitely plan my next trip for winter, not summer.
For those looking to avoid the cold of winter but desiring visits with fewer people and less fog, September would be my recommendation.
Times of Day
Both early morning and later afternoon hours are good times to visit but be aware that parking directly at the lighthouse will be problematic in the afternoons. For those of you with flexibility as to when you can visit, I recommend visiting in the early morning hours that coincide with a low tide so you can also also access the beach and tidal pools. There is no beach access at high tides.
I am not sure if you are still allowed to stay until sunset if you are already in the park by 5 p.m.
When Not to Visit
Touring Yaquina Lighthouse Tower
As of 2023, the lighthouse tower is closed for restoration although the bottom floor of the lighthouse is still open for tours.
Tours hours are announced on a daily basis and signups are on a first come first serve basis at the Interpretive Center. The tours are free and limited to10 people.
For those who will be visiting at a future date once the lighthouse tower is open again, be sure to wear good non slip shoes and make sure you are able to climb the 114 stairs without blocking access to the others in the group. From the top you will be only be able to pop your head inside to view the lens.
When the tower tours were being offered, be aware that there was still no access to the outside from the top of the tower. For the latest updates check Yaquina Lighthouse Tours.
Photographing Yaquina Lighthouse
Yaquina Head Lighthouse has a number of different locations from which to photograph it. So let’s take a look at a few of my favorite places.
Up Close and Personal
Along the Lighthouse Path
Views from the Cliff Boardwalk
After photographing the lighthouse, head back up the road towards the entrance a short distance and take the trail leading down to Cobble Beach. Here you will find an overlook that is a great place from which to photograph the lighthouse and the surrounding cliff areas.
The first photo is a slightly different view of the lighthouse from the first photo in this post while the second photo captured the beautiful greens of early summer and its wildflowers on a very windy day. Both views below were photographed in morning light.
The photo on the right shows the overlook on the path to Cobble Beach. From this spot, not only is photography good but it also provides views of the harbor seals as they lay on the rocks below.
Notice the telescope on the deck, it is great for spotting whales as they swim just offshore.
Yaquina Lighthouse from the Street Walkway
Photograph The Ocean
Don’t overlook the opportunities to capture the amazing Pacific Ocean rocky shores.
Other Places to Photograph
Even the road to the lighthouse can be photogenic. (The lighting was poor that day but what a shot this could have been)
Quarry Cove
Quarry Cove is a don’t miss spot when visiting Yaquina Head and when conditions are right, it can be an amazing photo destination. Every time I was there, the conditions were so bad that I deleted all my images. Instead of photos, here is a link which should give you an idea of what this area can offer: Quarry Cove.
Yaquina Head Light -What To Bring
Photo Gear
Clothes and Other Items
Other Nearby Photo Spots
If you have time to make a 150 mile Oregon lighthouse roadtrip, please read my 6 Oregon Lighthouse Photo Trip Guide for tons of helpful information.
Other Great Lighthouses to Photograph
For you lighthouse loving photographers, you may also wish to read the following lighthouse posts.
Final Thoughts on Photographing the Yaquina Head Lighthouse
I hope the information in this Yaquina Head Lighthouse Photo Guide is helpful to anyone thinking about a photo trip to the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. If you have any additional questions or comments to add, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
To learn more about the area, I suggest you check out all the links under Explore on the Yaquina BLM site.
One final thing I should mention before I conclude this post is that the Oregon Coast can be very cold and damp even in summer. This is especially true of this location since it is so exposed. Therefore, dressing in layers will help you enjoy your visit from morning to afternoon.
Also, always use extreme caution when exploring any Oregon Coastal areas for sudden waves and rapidly changing tides.
Although I have yet to capture this Lighthouse in ideal photo conditions, it was still an incredible place to visit. I wish each of you a great trip and much better weather than I had during any of my visits.
Please check out my Portfolio of select lighthouses at: Bridges and LIghthouses. To view my entire collection of Lighthouse images that are available as fine art prints, gift items, and home decor products please see: Lighthouses.
Thanks for joining me at another great photo destination and hope to see you back here soon.
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