This Is Oregon's Quirkiest Little Town
Where volcanic cliffs meet mossy forests and explosive ocean spray, Yachats ("YAH-hots") has an offbeat character that is rock-solid and infused with ancient lore. This is not your typical Oregon beach town. You have wonders of nature, such as gorgeous grottos and a magical, bottomless pit that devours the ocean, and you can still rent VHS tapes as you buy organic granola. Yachats is a place like few others in the Pacific Northwest or, for that matter, the whole United States.
A History of Reverence, Tragedy, and Resilience
Yachats' past is tangled web. It is complicated, ingrained in the culture and traditions of its residents, and occasionally bittersweet. But in that knot is a tale of survival and rural development, stitched together to create a uniquely local personality.
Amanda's Trail
This 9.7-mile coastal hike forms part of the Oregon Coast Trail and is named for Amanda De Cuys, a blind Coos woman forced to march Oregon's "Trail of Tears" in 1864. Close to Amanda Grotto, pilgrims leave offerings by a statue that is as heartbreaking as it is healing—a serene, forest-shaded shrine to resilience.
Ancient Roots in the Land
Archaeological excavations have also uncovered pit houses dating back as far as 570 AD. The ground beneath present-day Yachats itself sits on shell middens and grave sites, a haunting legacy of the local Indigenous people who have lived on and off the land for millenia.
The Rise of the Road
Yachats was only accessible by boat or rough trail before the introduction of Highway 101 in 1936. The town's entry into public access feels recent, and the town still carries a sense of self-sufficiency in the limited businesses and services it offers.
Yachats' Whimsical and Wild Landscape
Yachats' signature style, if it has one, is a blend of intense geography meeting surreal experience. The ocean creates artwork, the ground shifts under your feet, and nature won't be tamed.
Thor’s Well
Nicknamed the "Drainpipe of the Pacific," Thor's Well is a sinkhole sea cave that makes it appear as though the ocean is emptying into a bottomless abyss. Stop by just as high tide is rolling in to watch it surge with force - a strange, foreboding, and memorable sight.
Devil's Churn
At the other end of the oceanic specturm, Devil's Churn is a tight, violent inlet where the waves burst upward with such ferocity as to reach heights of 200 feet. It shrieks, spits, and rages like an animal trapped within the rocks, making it a force of nature that few have ever seen up close.
Cape Perpetua Scenic Area
For the gentler crowd, Cape Perpetua is the highest car-accessible spot on the Oregon Coast, rising 800 feet above the ocean. Adjacent trails take you to tidepools, hidden beaches, and the Giant Spruce Trail, which comes to a stop at a 600-year-old massive tree that feels plucked from a fairytale.
The 804 Trail
Nicknamed the "pedestrian highway" by locals, this 1.7-mile walking trail along the Pacific and the town's border connects travelers to more tidepools, basalt cliffs, and unexpected whale watching vantage points with the ease and simplicity of a neighborhood sidewalk.
Community and Commerce with a Dash of Whimsy
The small businesses of Yachats are a testament to the town’s self-reliance and outright refusal to modernize. From the wacky wares you cannot find anywhere else to the one-stop shops that ensure you do not have to head out on Highway 101 to get what you need, Yachats delivers.
Yachats Farmers Market
Nearly every Sunday in spring, summer, and autumn, this micro-market transforms the town into a village square. Locals sell wildflower honey, mushroom-stamped pottery, and seasonal produce all to a soundtrack of live fiddle tunes, so it's as much a shopping trip as a sensory experience.
Yachats Mystic Antiques
Less of a store than a curiosity cabinet, this shop blurs the distinction between a vintage store and a witchy boutique. Velvet sofas, driftwood carvings, and a thicket of old Oregon novelties and treasures are to be expected.
Books and More
As the name implies, peruse this hybrid bookstore/gallery/community hangout where shelves are stocked with second-hand books, handmade bookmarks, and other delights crafted by local artisans.
Dinners and a Movie
As with almost any community anywhere in the world, Yachats does not shy away from using local ingredients to create delicious foods. Some can even be found in peculiar places.
Ya-Hots Video Country Store
Perhaps the most deliciously quirky landmark in town, the video rental store, still thriving in the age of streaming, also offerins organic fruits and locally-produced soaps. The little structure has a nostalgic touch with a botanical spin.
Adobe Resort Restaurant
Set directly over the rock-tossed waves, this eatery is as much a celebration of the view as it is of its extensive menu featuring sea food for every palate. The only thing better than storm watching is storm watching over a cool cocktail and a hot bowl of award-winning clam chowder.
Ona Restaurant and Lounge
Offering more local seafood and a perpetually evolving seasonal menu, Ona closes during the winter months—a rare dedication to the availability and cycle of local ingredients over year-round profits.
Yachats is not just a seaside retreat, but rather a living book of tradition, written by the tide that dictates so much of the peculiar natural features, the people that showcase their commitment to small-town living, and the time that has not yet left its mark on this coastal community. Yachats is one-of-a-kind, with its sea-tumbling caverns and tranquil forest hikes that lead to unforgettable natural wonders. From vintage shops filled with myth to tidepools bursting with otherworldly color, this small Oregon town is a feast for the adventurous heart.
