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TOUR OF NEWPORT Yaquina Head (a view of Agate Beach from above) |
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The Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area boasts a manmade tide pool area, various hiking paths, a variety of rocky areas to climb around on, a strange, surreal beach and a visitors center. Oh yeah, and there's a wondrous old lighthouse. These days, one of its more popular features in Quarry Cove carved out of an old rock quarry. These paved paths weave in and out of what were once rocky tide pool areas that were created to see what happens when rocky shelves are left alone to become colonies of marine life. That experiment didn't work as the area was filled in with sand. It is now a prime place to watch harbor seals. Handicapped folks can borrow a key from the visitor center and open a special gate that allows wheelchair access to the cove. Not far east of the cove parking lot lay some interesting boulder-filled areas, perfect for climbing on and exploring. And above, on Salal Hill, a couple of trails meander to various high and awe-inspiring points overlooking the world. A noisy beach with, black polished stones is accessed via a long staircase, called Cobble Beach. This one's a bear coming back up, but it's worth it. The large cobblestones make quite a rattling noise when attacked by the tide - which tends to hit here with sizable force because the tide line is at a fairly steep incline. Lots of intertidal zones lurk here, however. At the headland's tip sits the majestic Yaquina Head Lighthouse, which was built in 1873 and stands 93 feet high. There is a fee to enter Yaquina Head, and all attractions are fairly close to the parking lot should the weather turn. |
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