History, Wildlife and Scenic Sites: An Oregon Drive

This self-guided driving tour traces 70 miles of the Oregon Coast between Reedsport and Newport, where towering sand dunes give way to black volcanic cliffs. You'll uncover the history and accidental disasters that make this stretch of Highway 101 unlike any other road. The tour starts at the Umpqua Discovery Center in Reedsport, crossing Conde McCullough's 1936 swing-span bridge, then passing Gardiner, a company town once mandated to paint every building white. You'll learn how migrating sand dunes dammed a river to create Tahkenitch Lake, and how Frank Herbert looked down at these dunes and invented Arrakis. North of Florence, visit the Sea Lion Caves, a rock cathedral 200 feet underground, then pass Heceta Head Lighthouse. At Cape Perpetua, the ocean has carved Thor's Well out of solid basalt. The tour ends at the Hatfield Marine Science Center, where a blue whale skeleton sits in the courtyard. Along the way, hear how dynamite failed to dispose of a beached whale in 1970.

1. 1

   Stop 1

   Pass by

   Learn how migrating sand dunes dammed an entire river to create Tahkenitch Lake. Discover how a struggling freelance writer named Frank Herbert looked down at these same dunes from a small plane and invented Arrakis.

2. 2

   Florence

   Pass by

   Explore Florence's Old Town waterfront, where everything once arrived by steamship. Take in this historic riverside district as you continue north along Highway 101.

3. 3

   Sea Lion Caves

   Pass by

   Visit the Sea Lion Caves, a natural rock cathedral 200 feet underground. Please note that admission to the caves is not included in this tour.

4. 4

   Heceta Head Lighthouse

   Pass by

   Pass Heceta Head Lighthouse, the most photographed in America, and its famously haunted keeper's house. Take in this iconic landmark, perched dramatically above the Pacific.

5. 5

   Stop 5

   Pass by

   Walk a living green tunnel of wind-sculpted Sitka spruce trees on the hidden Hobbit Trail. Take in this whimsical, otherworldly path just off the highway.

6. 6

   Thor's Well

   Pass by

   At Cape Perpetua, see how the ocean has carved Thor's Well out of solid basalt. Take in this dramatic natural phenomenon, one of the coast's most striking sights.

7. 7

   Stop 7

   Pass by

   Explore Cape Perpetua, where the ocean has carved the Devil's Churn and the Spouting Horn out of solid basalt. Learn how Depression-era workers, suspended on ropes above crashing waves, carved the Half-Million Dollar Mile out of solid cliff face nearby.

8. 8

   Stop 8

   Pass by

   See the Devil's Churn, another dramatic feature carved into the basalt cliffs at Cape Perpetua. Take in the powerful surge of water crashing through this narrow rock channel.

9. 9

   Oregon Coast Aquarium

   Pass by

   Pass by the Oregon Coast Aquarium, a world-class marine education attraction that opened on Yaquina Bay in 1992. Please note that admission is not included in this tour, though the aquarium is known for once housing Keiko, the orca made famous by Free Willy.

10. 10

    Hatfield Marine Science Center

    Pass by

    End your tour at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in South Beach, where Oregon State University scientists study everything from marine genetics to tsunami preparedness. Take in the real blue whale skeleton reassembled in the courtyard, a fitting final sight on your journey.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.