Updated: February 27, 2024
Oregon’s rocky coastline is dotted with historic lighthouses, most of which were built in the late 1800s to help ships navigate the turbulent waters of the Pacific. Some of them are still operating today, perched on capes or headlands and near the bays and major estuaries along the coastline.
Our list includes 9 of the best lighthouses in Oregon, plus two just across the border in Washington. We’ve left out a few that are privately owned. Note some lighthouses may be closed to interior tours but can still be viewed from a distance.
Tillamook Rock Lighthouse
Also known as “Terrible Tilly,” this lighthouse sits alone on a rock in the middle of the ocean about a mile off the coast, south of Seaside and north of Cannon Beach. It is privately owned and has no public access, but there is a hike-in viewpoint in Ecola State Park.
Built in 1881, it took 500 days to complete and was the most expensive lighthouse built on the West Coast at the time. Rough seas and winter storms have battered the structure over the years, shattering the beacon that once guided vessels heading toward the Graveyard of the Pacific (Columbia River bar, near Astoria).
The Tillamook Rock Lighthouse was decommissioned in 1957 and sea lions and birds have since taken over the rock. For awhile, it became the Eternity at Sea columbarium for funeral urns, but those plans have been abandoned. Today, the lonely little lighthouse continues to sit idly until further investments can be made.
📍 Tillamook Head Viewpoints offer the best view of the lighthouse. The shortest route is to hike in 1.3 miles from the south trailhead at Indian Beach Day Use Area.
Further Reading
Cape Meares Lighthouse
Cape Meares is the shortest of all lighthouses in Oregon, located 12 miles west of Tillamook in Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint.
The lighthouse may be small, but its kerosene-powered lens was one of the most powerful of its day. First lit in 1890, ships could see its beacon from more than 21 miles away.
While you’re there, be sure to go see the “Octopus Tree,” the largest Sitka spruce tree in Oregon. It’s just a short walk from the parking lot. Visit Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint for more information.
Stop in the tiny hillside town of Oceanside while you’re in the area, or drive the entire Three Capes Scenic Loop.
Yaquina Head Lighthouse
The tallest lighthouse on the Oregon Coast, Yaquina Head Lighthouse is still in operation and has been guiding ships since 1873. Located 4 miles north of Newport in the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, the lighthouse stands 93 feet tall on a one-mile stretch of land that extends into the Pacific Ocean.
Yaquina Bay Lighthouse
A little further south, at the mouth of the bay in Newport, Yaquina Bay Lighthouse looks like an old house with a beacon on top. The lightkeeper’s living quarters are attached, and it is the only wooden lighthouse still standing in Oregon.
Heceta Head Lighthouse
Located 12 miles north of Florence, the iconic Heceta Head Lighthouse is one of the best lighthouses on the Oregon Coast and most picturesque places on the entire coastline. The original 1893 Heceta Head lightkeepers house is also a bed and breakfast (and reportedly haunted). Guests can book an ocean-view room in one of the last remaining lightkeeper’s cottages on the Pacific Coast.
The upper levels are closed to the public but guided tours of the lower levels are available. For fun things to do in fall at the Oregon Coast, take a lighthouse ghost story tour, enjoy a fall brunch at the lighthouse, or experience a fall festival like the mushroom festival in nearby Yachats.
Surrounding the lighthouse, a forested trail network offers some of the best ocean views and wildlife spotting on the coast, including whales, sea lions, elk and many species of seabirds. There is also access to a sheltered beach with tide pools at low tide. The park is part of the Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve.
Umpqua River Lighthouse
Near the mouth of the Umpqua River in the town of Winchester Bay, the Umpqua River Lighthouse still guides ships safely into port today with its distinctive red and white beams.
Nearby, Umpqua Lighthouse State Park is situated amongst the Oregon Dunes and offers camping, cabins, yurts and outdoor activities on freshwater Lake Marie.
🌲 For more campgrounds on the Oregon Coast, see our guide to camping in Oregon Coast State Parks.
👉 See our complete guide to visiting the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
Cape Arago Lighthouse
The Cape Arago Lighthouse sits on a small island south of the entrance to Coos Bay. It is not open to the public but can be viewed from multiple vista points on the coastline.
Completed in 1866, it was the second lighthouse to be built in Oregon. Its light was deactivated in 2006, after 140 years of service.
The Coast Guard renovated and repainted the lighthouse and turned the land over to the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians in 2013.
🌊 Visit the best beaches on the southern Oregon Coast.
Coquille River Lighthouse
Two miles north of Bandon, the Coquille River Lighthouse is located in Bullards Beach State Park at the mouth of the Coquille River. First lit in 1896, it served until 1939, surviving the fire that destroyed nearly all of the town.
The lighthouse sat abandoned for years until the Oregon Parks Division purchased it as part of Bullards Beach State Park and reopened it to the public in 1979.
The family-friendly park features overnight camping, beach trails and horseback riding. The lighthouse signal room is open from mid-May through September, but the tower is closed to the public.
Cape Blanco Lighthouse
About 10 miles north of the old fishing town of Port Orford, Cape Blanco is the westernmost point of the state, where the coastline veers out abruptly into the Pacific. Built in 1870, Cape Blanco Lighthouse is the oldest of all lighthouses in Oregon continually operating.
The lighthouse greeting center and gift shop are open from May until the end of October and tours are available.
Cape Blanco State Park features miles of hiking trails, scenic ocean viewpoints, fishing, horse trails, a campground with overnight campsites and the historic Hughes house.
👉 Learn more about Port Orford.
Cape Disappointment, Washington
There are also two lighthouses in Cape Disappointment State Park located just across the Columbia River from Astoria, Oregon on the Long Beach Peninsula in southwest Washington. The Cape Disappointment Lighthouse (above), completed in 1856, sits on the south side of the cape and the North Head Lighthouse (below), completed in 1898, sits on the north side.
👉 Find places to stay and eat plus more fun things to do on the Long Beach Peninsula in Washington.
Map of the Best Lighthouses on the Oregon Coast
Get directions to each lighthouse from your location by clicking the map below.
👀 Interested in more historical sights? Discover these old shipwrecks on the Oregon Coast.
👉 Continue exploring Oregon Coast towns.
We hope you enjoy visiting these lighthouses on the Oregon Coast and learning the history behind each one. Feel free to bookmark this page or pin it for future reference!
