Cape Perpetua Overlook Trail

Cape Perpetua Overlook Trail climbs steeply from the visitor center to the 803-foot summit of Cape Perpetua, the highest accessible headland on the Oregon coast and the site of a historic 1930s stone shelter built by the Civilian Conservation Corps that provides a sheltered vantage point for some of the most expansive coastal views available from any land-based location in Oregon. The trail ascends through Sitka spruce and western hemlock forest, gaining elevation rapidly as it switchbacks up the headland slope. The dense forest gives way near the summit to more open terrain where the CCC shelter stands sentinel above the ocean, its rustic stone walls blending harmoniously with the coastal landscape. From the overlook platform adjacent to the shelter, the view encompasses the Pacific Ocean stretching to the horizon, the town of Yachats nestled at the base of the headland below, and the coastline extending north and south for miles in both directions. On clear days the view north reaches to Cape Foulweather and south toward Cape Blanco. The elevated position makes this one of the premier whale watching spots on the coast, and interpretive signs help visitors identify the various species that pass offshore during migration seasons. An alternative road access to the summit is available for those unable to hike, but the trail approach provides a more satisfying sense of arrival and allows appreciation of the forest ecosystem below the summit viewpoint.