Post Overview: Roundup of the Lighthouses at the Oregon Coast

In many ways, the breathtaking Oregon coast feels like the pride and joy of my beloved home state. The coastline spans an impressive 363 miles and tempts both locals and tourists alike.

One of my favorite childhood memories was exploring the various lighthouses at the Oregon coast as we’d drive past them.

Standing as a testament to the past, these lighthouses serve at towering monuments to the old days of commercial fishing, shipping and trade.

Built along estuaries and prominent headlands, these lighthouse greeted sea-faring men as they stepped off ships and into the corridors of Oregon’s maritime history.

Modern technology made most of the lighthouses at the Oregon coast moot, but the endearing charm remains. Largely built between 1870 and 1896, there’s a lot of history to wrap your head around.

Read on for everything you need to know about visiting the charming lighthouses in Oregon. Hope you enjoy!

Brief history on Oregon Coast lighthouses

There are currently 11 lighthouses at the Oregon Coast — nine original lighthouses and two private lighthouses that are certified by the US Coast Guard.

All nine of the original lighthouses have been added to the national Register of Historic Places.

Most of the lighthouses in Oregon were constructed to support shipping and fishing along the rugged coastline. Today, seven of the nine original lighthouses are open to the public (and get toured by 2.5 million people a year!).

Since 1929, all functioning Oregon Coast lighthouses are managed by the U.S. Coast Guard. In an effort to streamline the functions of these important structures, the US Coast Guard installed automated beacons and transferred the lighthouse holding to local government agencies in the 1960s.

Some of the lighthouses at the Oregon coast are open to the public, while others are private. In this post, I’ll make sure to clearly identify the Oregon coast lighthouses you can and can’t visit.

Oregon Coast Lighthouses

Oregon Lighthouses (Open to the Public)

Heceta Head Lighthouse

Looking for a good reason to visit this iconic lighthouse on the Oregon coast? I can help you out. Heceta Head Lighthouse is the most photographed lighthouse in the country. How cool is that?

First illuminated in 1894, this monolithic lighthouse sits 205 feet above see level with an impressive tower that reaches 56 feet. Casting a light 22 miles to the sea, this is the strongest lighthouse on the Oregon coast.

Heceta Head Lighthouse is open to the public for self-guide tours year-round, staffing and weather dependent.

Reaching the lighthouse requires a half-mile uphill hike that starts at the parking lot and passes the light keeper’s house, which has been converted into a charming bed-and-breakfast.

Heceta Head Lighthouse Parking: You’ll need to pay $5 per vehicle (or display a day pass) if parking a car in the lot. However, touring the lighthouse doesn’t require a pass/fee.

Heceta Head Lighthouse
oregon coast lighthouses

Coquille River Lighthouse

Originally built in 1896 to provide the critical service of guiding boats through the perilous sandbars of the Coquille River. Located a mere 2 miles north of Bandon, this is one of the best lighthouses on the Oregon coast to explore.

Originally commissioned to help mariners navigate the treacherous waters and constantly shifting sandbars of the river and harbor. It served as a necessary aid for many years until 1939.

At that point, the Coast Guard assumed responsibility for the lighthouse and determined it was no longer needed.

An automated beacon was installed at the end of the south jetty and this iconic Oregon lighthouse was promptly decommissioned.

The lighthouse was deserted for 24 years until the establishment of Bullards Beach State Park in 1964. This resulted in a fledged restoration effort done in collaboration between the Corps of Engineers and park staff.

Effectively reviving the Coquille River Lighthouse and opening an interpretive center. The interpretive center is open daily from 11am to 5pm (May through September)

Public tours are available from May through September, but access to the tower is closed due to safety concerns.

There is a day use fee of $3 per vehicle at this Oregon coast lighthouse.

Yaquina Head Lighthouse (the tallest lighthouse in Oregon)

Sitting 162 feet above sea level with a proud 93-foot tower, Yaquina (yah-kwih-nah) Head Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in Oregon.

Built in 1872, Yaquina Head Lighthouse replaced Yaquina Bay Lighthouse (which I’ll cover shortly). Construction was no easy feat for many reason, chief among them the precarious location and rocky terrain.

Regardless, construction marched on, using locally quarried stone. The lantern room was imported from France, and the light was so powerful that it could be seen 19 miles out to sea.

Tucked into the stunning Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, this Oregon lighthouse was first illuminated in 1873 but is being used for navigation to this day.

In 1938, the lighthouse underwent renovations to become more efficient. The kerosene lamp was replaced with a powerful electric light that became automated in 1966.

Touring Yaquina Head Lighthouse

Today, Yaquina Head Lighthouse is one of the most visited lighthouses at the Oregon coast. The interpretive center is open daily from 10am to 4pm — lighthouse tours are held daily in July and August only.

Visitors can tour the lighthouse with an interpretive guide, but reservations are strongly recommended (and book out 90 days in advance).

Signing up for a tour give you the opportunity to climb to the top of the lighthouse for unparalleled views of the formidable Pacific Ocean.

Worth knowing: This Oregon coast lighthouse is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and requires an entrance fee of $7 per vehicle (National Parks Pass holders get in for free).

However, the fee is worthwhile because the area is ripe for exploration and teeming with wildlife. Surrounded by mesmerizing tide pools and impressive cliff sides, this is a great area to see harbor seals or go birding year-round.

Yaquina Head Lighthouse
lighthouses at the oregon coast

Cape Meares Lighthouse (the shortest lighthouse in Oregon)

Standing a mere 38-feet tall, Cape Meares Lighthouse is the shortest lighthouse on the Oregon coast. Perched on a cape 217 feet above sea level, the lighthouse was first lit in 1890 and decommissioned in 1963 (due to automation).

Like with most of the Oregon coast lighthouses mentioned on this list, Cape Meares was built to guide ships through the perilous waters surrounding Tillamook Rock.

Considered one of the most unique lighthouses in Oregon, it was constructed with bricks, which was unusual for the time.

If you opt to tour the lighthouse, you’ll be graced with panoramic views of the sea. The area is very popular with birders — many locals claim this to be one of the best spots at the Oregon coast for wildlife viewing.

Also, whales are known to frequent the area during winter and spring migration (December, April-May) so keep an eye out.

Touring Cape Meares Lighthouse

The lighthouse is open daily May through September from 11am to 4pm (until 6pm on weekends June-August). Admission is FREE.

If you’re interested in scheduling a FREE guided tour, contact the Friends of Cape Meares Lighthouse three weeks in advance.

Even if you don’t plan to tour the lighthouse, take advantage of the great hiking trails in the area. Take a short half mile round-trip hike to the Octopus Tree (a Sitka Spruce with “arms”).

Or simply settle in at a nearby picnic table with unparalleled views of the coastline. Regardless of you adventure of choice, relaxing in this area is a great way to spend an easy-going summer weekend.

Yaquina Bay Lighthouse

The only lighthouse in Oregon built using wood, Yaquina (yah-kwih-nah) Bay Lighthouse was constructed in 1871, making it the second oldest lighthouse at the Oregon coast.

However, the lighthouse only operated for a mere three years before being replaced by Yaquina Head Lighthouse (mentioned earlier).

After getting decommissioned, a pattern of abandonment marred this pretty lighthouse. It was effectively left unused from 1874 until 1906 (when the observation deck was constructed).

But alas, the observation deck wasn’t enough to keep this Oregon coast lighthouse interesting and it was again quickly forgotten.

Today the lighthouse functions as a museum and is open to the public for self-guided tours daily. No fee, donations accepted.

Regardless of how many times I’ve toured this lighthouse, I still find myself amazed by how small the beds are! It gets me every time!

The only area that isn’t accessible during the tour is the lantern room. Regardless, the rooms are super interesting to explore, making this one of the best lighthouses at the Oregon coast to visit with kids.

Local’s Tip: Private tours are offered outside of standard operating hours. Prices: $20 per single person, or $10 per adult if in a group of 204. If interested, you can call 541-574-3129.

Umpqua River Lighthouse

The original Umpqua River Lighthouse was constructed in 1857, making it the first lighthouse on the Oregon coast.

The claim to fame didn’t last too long though because this lighthouse fell victim to erosion and fell into the river a mere seven years later (oops).

Located at the mouth of Winchester Bay, the lighthouse was re-constructed in 1892 and has a unique twist.

Rather than the standard white lights most Oregon lighthouses are equipped with, the Umpqua River Lighthouse was built with both red and white lights (emitting alternating red/white beams out to sea).

Reaching a height of 65-feet, this is one of the most scenic lighthouses on the Oregon coast and thankfully it’s open to the public year-round (10am to 4pm).

Tours are run by friendly volunteers for a small donation ($8 per adult). It’s definitely worth a visit.

You’ll get a chance to view the keeper’s quarters and see the light that was once hand-cranked (imagine!). There’s a pretty informative museum that covers the history of this iconic Oregon lighthouse and the area nearby.

P.S. If you’re wondering why the Umpqua River Lighthouse looks so similar to Heceta Head Lighthouse, here’s the reason: These two lighthouses at the Oregon coast were built using the same plans.

Cape Blanco Lighthouse (the oldest lighthouse at the Oregon coast)

Sitting pretty at the westernmost point in the contiguous United States, Cape Blanco Lighthouse was built in 1870, making is the oldest continuously-operating lighthouse at the Oregon coast.

Perched 256 above sea level, the lighthouse was commissioned to aid the rise in shipping for the lumber industry and gold mining.

Nestled into Cape Blanco State Park, the area is a joy to explore. Tons of hiking, camping and biking opportunities abound.

Swing by for a tour of the lighthouse from 10am to 3pm (April – October, closed Tuesdays) before making your way into the park for some adventure.

There is a day use fee of $3 per vehicle at this Oregon lighthouse.

Oregon Coast Lighthouses Closed to the Public

Cape Arago Lighthouse

Built in 1934, the Cape Arago Lighthouse is considered one of the newest lighthouses on the Oregon coast (welcome to the family, you!). Actually, I should clarify.

The first two versions of this Oregon lighthouse were built in in 1866 and 1908. Unfortunately both structures fell victim to erosion and bad weather. So the third version of this Oregon lighthouse is one of the newest kid’s on the block.

The lighthouse was decommissioned in 2006, when it was deemed unnecessary. Soon after, the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians requested ownership of the lighthouse because the land belonged to them before European settlers claimed it for themselves.

In 2000, Oregon’s Congressional delegation approved the transfer and in 2013, the US Coast Guard turned over the Cape Arago Lighthouse to the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians.

As such, this is not one of the Oregon coast lighthouses open to the public, but it can viewed from a distance. The best viewpoints, in my opinion, are found at Sunset Bay State Park.

Tillamook Rock Lighthouse

Sitting 133 feet above sea level on a monolithic rock outcropping, this Oregon Coast lighthouse was nicknamed Terrible Tilly — but not without reason.

Turns out constructing a lighthouse on a rock outcropping in the middle of the sea is a real pain in the (you know what). Plus, the tumultuous coastal storms and severe weather conditions didn’t help.

Located 1.2 miles from the shore, constructing this Oregon coast lighthouse was nothing short of an engineering feat.

The keepers of were paid higher wages because of the the remote location, inevitable isolation and the dangers association with living away from the mainland.

Commissioned in 1880 to guide ships entering the Columbia River, this area was prone to shipwrecks. Between the gnarly winds, choppy waters and rocky shoreline, steering a ship ashore was a dangerous affair.

Tillamook Rock Lighthouse was in operation from 1881 to 1957. In 1934 a perilous storm caused massive damage to the lighthouse (destroying the glass surrounding the light), and then in 1957 it was officially decommissioned.

The lighthouse was abandoned for 20 years before getting acquired by private hands. It was purchased by a gal named Mimi Morissette, who planned to turn the lighthouse into a columbarium (a place to store cremated remains).

To nobody’s surprise, the business never really took off, so in 2022, Mimi put the lighthouse up for sale.

So, if you’re ever dreamed of owning a lighthouse at the Oregon coast and have $6.5M to spare, here’s your chance.

At the end of the day, this is one of a handful of Oregon coast lighthouses not open to the public but the views from shore are spectacular and worth the effort. To catch a glimpse, visit Indian Beach at Ecola State Park.

Tillamook Rock Lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

Pelican Bay Lighthouse

Pelican Bay Lighthouse is one of two private lighthouses on the Oregon Coast.

Towing 141 feet above the Chetco River, the Pelican Bay Lighthouse was built as an addition to the private home of the Cady family (Bill and JoAnn Cady).

In 1999, the lighthouse was commissioned by the US Coast Guard to be used in navigation. Since this Oregon lighthouse serves as both a home and functioning lighthouse, it is not open to the public but can be viewed from Highway 101.

So, officially speaking, this is the newest lighthouse in Oregon.

You may enjoy reading: 10 Best Things to Do at Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor

Cleft of the Rock Lighthouse

Located in the breathtaking Cape Perpetua Scenic Area the Cleft of the Rock Lighthouse is similar to Pelican Bay Lighthouse.

It serves as both a functional lighthouse and a private residence to Jim Gibbs (notable historian and author). Gibbs is considered an authority on Pacific Coast lighthouses, so it’s only fitting that he built one (I guess, ha!).

Since this Oregon coast lighthouse is a private residence, it is not open to the public but it can be viewed from a distance. The best vantage point is from Milepost 166 off Highway 101 (1.5 miles south of Yachats).

Oregon Coast Lighthouses (Summary)

In sum, these are the 11 lighthouses on the Oregon Coast.

Heceta Head Lighthouse
Umpqua River Lighthouse
Yaquina Head Lighthouse
Tillamook Rock Lighthouse
Yaquina Bay Lighthouse
Cleft of the Rock Lighthouse
Cape Arago Lighthouse
Coquille River Lighthouse
Cape Meares Lighthouse
Cape Blanco Lighthouse
Pelican Bay Lighthouse

Are the lighthouses at the Oregon coast open to the public?

Of the 11 lighthouses at the Oregon coast, 7 are open to the public. Those are:

Heceta Head Lighthouse
Umpqua River Lighthouse
Yaquina Head Lighthouse
Yaquina Bay Lighthouse
Cape Blanco Lighthouse
Cape Meares Lighthouse
Coquille River Lighthouse

Tips for Visiting the Lighthouses in Oregon

Dress warmly

The Oregon coast can be a chilly place even in the midst of summer. Dress in layers and bring warm clothes like sweaters and sweatpants.

Check the forecast

I know, I know, this probably goes without saying but check the weather before you depart. The Oregon coast is notorious for being cloudy. Try to visit these iconic Oregon coast lighthouses during sunny clear days for unparalleled views of the breathtaking Pacific Ocean.

Wear hiking shoes with good traction

The various trails along the Oregon coast are beautiful and slippery. They’re known for being muddy because of the constant drizzle, so make sure you have hiking shoes with good traction so that you can get up close and personal to some of these beauties!

Bring binoculars

Whale watching is a favorite past time for most visitors to the Oregon coast and some of these lighthouses are in the perfect place to view these majestic whales. Also, you’re going to have ample opportunities to bird watch as well!