Best Places to Storm Watch on the Oregon Coast
Don’t get me wrong…Sun drenched summer days on the Oregon Coast are the days I love the most. Stormy days, however, come in a close second. Some of the most beautiful days to watch the mighty Pacific display it’s power are during the height of winter storms.
Winter storm watching on the Oregon Coast is a treat that locals and tourists alike enjoy, and an incredible time for photo opportunities if you can find a break in the downpour and a safe spot to watch from. The places below are my favorite spots to storm watch in the Central Oregon Coast region:
Shore Acres State Park:
While storms offer up a breathtaking show, you need no more than a rough day and high tide to witness a mesmerizing display of the ocean’s power at Shore Acres State Park. Located in Charleston, Oregon (just to the south of Coos Bay) this Oregon State Park was once part of the estate of a local timber mogul who sold the land to the state following a series of fires and bad financial luck in 1942.
After acquiring the land, the State of Oregon set to work bringing 5 acres of beautifully manicured gardens back to life, which offer visitors a relaxing stroll in an idyllic, park-like setting while listening to waves roar in the distance. Those waves, in my opinion though, are the reason to make the trek to Shore Acres State Park.
High atop sandstone cliffs, visitors can follow paths to the cliff edges or hunker down in a viewing shelter to get a first-hand view of nature’s fury.
How to get there: The best bet here will be to enter “Shore Acres State Park, Coos Bay, OR 97420” to your phone’s map app or GPS and let it do the work. For those of you more interested in old fashioned navigation, you’ll find the park 13 miles south of Coos Bay along the Cape Arago Highway.
Tips: Be smart. Respect park barriers and boundaries and watch from a safe distance! Be aware that from Thanksgiving through New Year’s the park is host to the Shore Acres light display. This causes large crowds starting at dusk every evening during the holiday season, but the lights are amazing!
Sea Lion Caves Overlook:
Just a short drive from Florence, the overlook near the Sea Lion Caves is my favorite local spot to scope out a rough day on the ocean. Perched high above the Pacific, this overlook offers prime views of the famed Heceta Head lighthouse as well as a wide open view of the horizon. As swells build in the ocean and waves break on the rocks below, you’ll get a full taste of just how bad the weather is on rough days. Wind gusts in the area are often some of the highest recorded in the local surrounding.
To be honest, even on a sunny day this spot offers one the best lighthouse views that the Oregon Coast has to offer as Heceta Head lighthouse shines its sweeping beams across the pines and out to the horizon. As a bonus, you’ll also often find a large group of Steller Sea Lions barking and splashing below the lookout near the north end of the parking area.
Watch for traffic as you pull in and out of this spot – it’s on a relatively blind corner and can be crowded in the summer months!
How to get there: From Florence, take Highway 101 North approximately 11 miles. The turnout is located on the west side of the highway, just north of the Sea Lion Caves.
Tips: Watch for traffic as you pull in and out of this spot – it’s on a relatively blind corner and can be especially crowded in the summer months!
Depoe Bay
There is perhaps no more up close and personal experience with a stormy Pacific (while not risking your life) than to stand by the wall in Depoe Bay on a stormy day. This Oregon Coast town offers intense views of ocean swells, crashing waves and a spouting horn that is nothing short of impressive – all from the edge of Highway 101.
What’s a spouting horn you ask? It’s cool, that’s what it is.
This natural phenomenon occurs when a hole has been worn through rock formations where the waves have also undercut the rock over time. As waves hit at the right tide and force, air and water are pushed up through the hole causing water to spray out of the hole (or horn) with intense force. Think “Old Faithful” of the ocean. While there are spouting horns up and down the Oregon Coast, the one in Depoe Bay can put on a show stopping display, sending water shooting 30+ feet into the air. As a treat for braving harsh conditions, the spouting horn going off is usually only seen on stormy days.
Aside from the horn, Depoe Bay’s waves put on their own smashing display of Oregon Coast fury as they crash against the basalt rocks and spray bystanders on the sidewalk. Be prepared to walk away a little saltier than you arrived.
How to get there: Depoe Bay is located approximately 1 hour north of Newport, OR and just south of Lincoln City. Watch for pull-in parking right along the highway as you enter town and enjoy the view from behind the rock wall along the West side of Highway 101, or from inside the shelter of the Depoe Bay Whale Watch center.
Tips: If you’d prefer to watch the storm next to a fireplace and with a glass of wine, there are some great hotels overlooking Depoe Bay. Check out the Channel House or Inn at Arch Rock. Plan ahead and stay a night to have a sheltered front-row seat for the action. If a day trip is more your style, there are also a few restaurants across the street offering views of the bay right from your table.
A word of caution:
While I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer, a hearty warning from a worry wart mom-type never hurt anyone. The Oregon Coast can be a dangerous place. More than one person has lost their life trying to get too close to the water. Stay behind all barriers, heed warning signs and pay attention to the tides. Talk to locals before heading out to the beach in poor weather and be aware of the potential for sneaker waves. While storm watching on the Oregon Coast can be a great time, it’s best done from an overly safe distance! Your mama will thank you for it.
Have fun out there,
Nat