24 Hours In Yachats: Your Itinerary For Exploring This Delightful Coastal Town In Oregon
By Sarah McCosham|Updated on March 16, 2023(Originally published March 11, 2023)
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
There are so many charming towns up and down the 363 miles of the Oregon Coast, but Yachats has an extra special place in our hearts. This delightful coastal locale has it all: a charming downtown, abundant scenic vistas, amazing restaurants, and quaint accommodations. We’ve put together the following itinerary for 24 hours in Yachats, Oregon, and we hope you’ll make this town your next day trip destination!
Yachats is a charming town that's hailed as the "Gem of the Oregon Coast." Located in Lincoln County, this town in the Central Oregon Coast is home to fewer than 1,000 people, but just about everyone who visits falls in love with this little gem.
Nature lovers have plenty to see and do in Yachats. A swirling, thunderous, white-capped force of sheer power, there's no place in the world like Thor's Well, located at Cape Perpetua in Oregon.
There are many theories about this unique rock formation, known as the "drainpipe of the Pacific;" in fact, some say the waters flow straight into the underworld. No one is quite certain exactly how it formed, either; but one theory is that the well was once a sea cave until the roof collapsed, leaving a hole on the coast that is roughly 20 feet deep.
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The beaches of Yachats are peak Oregon Coast: flush with colorful sea stars and commanding sea stacks, with tide pools for days.
Stroll up and down the beaches of Yachats and see what treasures you find!
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Be sure to check out Heceta Head Light during your morning adventures. The most photographed lighthouse in the country, it's located 13 miles south of Yachats and is well-worth seeking out.
Heceta Head Lighthouse, 725 Summer St, Florence, OR 97439, USA
This turquoise blue seafood shack on the Oregon Coast dishes up the lightest, crispiest, most melt-in-your-mouth fish and chips in the state. Dine al fresco and enjoy the delightful ambiance of this beguiling coastal locale.
Post-lunch, it's time to hit the trails. One of the most wonderful things about the Oregon Coast is that it's a wholly unique ecosystem where forest meets ocean. Old-growth trees and verdant greenery abound in the forests of Yachats, and we particularly love the Amanda's Trail Hike. This trail connects Yachats with the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area, and revisits an important, but heartbreaking, period in Oregon history.
Amanda's Trail, Forest Hill St #5533, Yachats, OR 97498, USA
The trail is a memorial to the forced relocation of Native Americans to the Siletz Reservation, and their subsequent relocation from that reservation when white settlers began to claim coastal lands of the PNW. The trail's namesake was a blind Coos woman who was captured and forced to march 80 miles up the coast to a reservation. This is a hauntingly beautiful trail that's worth checking out, even if you don't complete all 7.4 miles.
In fact, Amanda's Trail Hike connects to the larger Oregon Coast Trail, a portion of which can be accessed outside our accommodations for the night, the Overleaf Lodge.
The Overleaf boasts 54 rooms with epic coastal vistas; depending on when you visit, you might even spot a migrating whale or two! Seven room types combine features like fireplaces, balconies, kitchens, and two-person bathtubs overlooking the sea, making for an amazing overnight getaway with a special someone -- or even by yourself.
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For dinner, we're headed to one of the most celebrated restaurants on the Oregon Coast: Ona Restaurant and Lounge.
Ona Restaurant & Lounge, 131 US-101, Yachats, OR 97498, USA
Ona was inspired by the native Chinook language, meaning shell fish. Owner and executive Chef Michelle Korgan offers locally sourced and globally inspired cuisine for a fusion of PNW seafood and international flavors you can only get here in Oregon. Add the restaurant's sublime scenery, and you've the makings of a memorable night out, indeed.
With amazing restaurants and shops and the forest and ocean all within reach, the most difficult part of visiting Yachats, Oregon, is deciding just what to do. While this 24-hour itinerary is a solid start, you might want to extend your visit into a multi-day adventure, and we fully support that.
When was the last time you visited this Oregon Coast town? Are there any places you’d add to this itinerary for Yachats? Curious about what to expect in this town? Check out this YouTUbe video from Visit The Oregon Coast:
Share your favorite places in this town in the comments below, and if you’d like to see your favorite town featured in a future Only In Oregon travel feature, nominate it and tell us why!
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More to Explore
Oregon Coast Town
Sarah M.|March 16, 2023
What are some other Oregon Coast towns that make good day trips?
There is nowhere better than the Oregon Coast. It’s 363 miles of sublime shoreline that opens right out into the picturesque Pacific Ocean, where you’ll find some of the grandest natural wonders in the country: massive monoliths, sea caves, and striking geological formations -- and the most charming small towns in Oregon, like:
Florence. It's no secret we adore Florence, Oregon. It's one of the most delightful towns on the Oregon Coast, and a treasure of a place to visit. Florence has a thriving downtown, full of charming shops and restaurants. Known as "Historic Old Town Florence," this downtown area is straight from a Hallmark movie! The scenery and outdoor recreation in Florence is amazing, too. While you're in the area, definitely visit Hecta Head Lighthouse. Located mere minutes from Florence, it's one of the most photographed lighthouses on the coast and a must-visit. Oh -- and don't forget the food. Florence is home to some standout restaurants, including Mo's, a delightful seafood shack that's a perennial Beaver State favorite!
Coos Bay. Coos Bay is a charming little coastal city many Oregonians flock to for a little escape. Right in the heart of the downtown area sits the Coos Bay Boardwalk, a delightful place to walk and wander. This wood-plank boardwalk has a pier that hosts a fish market, informative displays, and unparalleled views of Coos Bay. In terms of dining, there are also some amazing eats here, too, like SharkBites, which is rumored to have some of the best fish and chips on the Oregon Coast!
Bandon. Bandon is a treasure of a town that's criminally overlooked. Known for its stunning ocean vistas, Bandon offers amazing views and family-friendly beaches.The downtown is also a delight of a place, with weather-worn buildings housing a variety of charming shops and restaurants. Hungry? While in Bandon, a visit to Tony's Crab Shack is most definitely in order! The menu is full of tasty ocean treats, like clam chowder, crab cakes, oysters, lobster rolls, and of course, fresh Dungeness crab. The crabs are caught right in Bandon, or in nearby Winchester Bay and Coos Bay. They're about as fresh as they can possibly be. Tony's is definitely a place for your foodie bucket list.
Port Orford. Located in Curry County, Port Orford is a beautiful small town tucked into the dramatic coastal landscape. You can stroll along beautiful beaches, eat at delicious restaurants, walk to the top of Oregon’s oldest lighthouse, and more — all in Port Orford! Port Orford's most distinctive feature is the Cape Blanco Lighthouse. Perched atop a beautiful cliff, Cape Blanco is the oldest lighthouse on the Oregon Coast.
