Between Cape Perpetua and Florence

Cape Perpetua and Points South

Sixteen miles of sea cliffs stretch southward from Cape Perpetua, starting at the small town (or large village) of Yachats (Yah-HAHTS) and ending nine miles north of Florence. Here the Coast Range plunges straight down into the Pacific, forming cliffs as much as eight hundred feet high. US 101 is cut into a shelf along the entire length, giving frequent stunning views. There are four major sections of these cliffs.

• Cape Perpetua Proper. This National Scenic Area is the tallest and best developed of the four sections, with a visitors center, a drive to a mountain-top vista, and steps down the cliffs to the beaches.
• Neptune CliffsThe next nine miles of cliffs consists of five state parks and several areas of private land. This stretch has shelves of sand beach below them, easily accessible from roadside parking lots. The state has built many overlooks here.
• Heceta Head. This famous and popular spot features a lighthouse by a sand beach, hemmed in by shear cliffs.
• Sea Lion Cliffs. This final section, 2.5 miles long, terminates at the northern end of the 55 mile long dune field, the Oregon Dunes. Florence is nine miles away. end.