As I mentioned before, there are so many features along the Oregon coast besides just sand and waves. One day we headed south from camp to check out a couple more coastal formations and we hiked up Cape Perpetua for a stellar view.
Devil’s Churn
This deep chasm exposes the shoreline’s volcanic history and shows the relentless, violent power of the ocean. The chasm likely started as a narrow fracture or collapsed lava tube in the volcanic bedrock. Over many thousands of years under the constant pounding force of the ocean waves it’s now more than 80 feet wide where it opens at the ocean. We hiked down from the highway and out onto the rocks to get a good vantage point. We were a couple hours before high tide so it wasn’t going off at it’s full potential so keep the tidal charts in mind if you do visit. Still, the power impresses.
Spouting Horn
Spouting Horn is a playful coastal anomaly, an “ocean geyser”, driven by the ocean power through a deep cavity. As incoming waves funnel seawater and air into the cave, pressure builds, culminating in an explosive geyser-like fountain. Resembling a whale exhaling or a majestic spout, Spouting Horn is worth a visit. We walked about a mile along the Captain Cook Trail to get to down to the rocks. From there we hiked around to different vantage points. Again, high tide would be ideal but we were a tad early.
Cape Perpetua
Yes you can drive to the top to get the same view, but we hiked to the top of Cape Perpetua. It’s not very far – maybe three miles roundtrip, but it’s a steady climb of about 700′ all the way up. It boasted the best view on the Oregon coast so how could we not? The trail starts with a small descent to the campground and it’s overwhelmingly green. Mossy trees, ferns, and about a thousand plants I don’t know. After crossing the road it climbs the rest of the way up to the lookout.
Impressive view indeed.
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