Yaquina Head Lighthouse

Yaquina Head Lighthouse is 93 feet tall making it the tallest lighthouse on the Oregon coast, it is the same style Lighthouse as Pigeon Point Lighthouse in California The light was lit and shone for the first time on August 20, 1873.

There is a vein of magnetized iron in the rock formation on which the lighthouse sits. If a ship passes too close, a traditional compass will not give an accurate reading. This was spooky for some early travelers along the coast by ship causing them to think it was due to ghosts.

The light was automated on May 1, 1966. The original lens is still in place, but is now illuminated with an electric 1,000-watt globe. It has a signature of two white flashes every 20 seconds: two seconds on, two seconds off, two seconds on, then 14 seconds off.

The Yaquina Head Lighthouse is open to the public during the summer from 9:00 a.m. until 4 p.m. the remainder of the year, hours is from noon to 4 p.m. with longer hours on weekends during the fall. For more information, call (541) 574-3100.

The parking area is very close to the lighthouse so the weather conditions and temperature would be much the same at the lighthouse itself. Therefore from the parking area you can decide if warmer clothing is needed.

Travel Directions: Yaquina Head Lighthouse is located off Highway 101 a short distance north of Newport. You will see a sign at NW Lighthouse Dr. on Highway 101 for Yaquina Head Lighthouse on the west side of Highway 101. Follow Lighthouse Dr. to the lighthouse. A modest entry fee is required. After paying at the gate the traffic may be diverted by cones into the museum and gift shop area (I suggest you make a visit here), you can then drive back out and continue down Lighthouse Dr. to the Lighthouse.

Check the weather at Yaquina Head Lighthouse


As you can see the parking at the Lighthouse is very close to the lighthouse.








This is a container used to store oil for the oil burning fixed light.
After filling the brass pitcher with oil they would climb the 114 stairs
to the top and fill the fixed oil burning light to send out its white light.


Preparing to climb the 114 stairs. This is looking up from the bottom before the climb.
When the Lighthouse keepers were attending, the electric lights of course were not there.


This is a view out from the lantern room at the top.
To the right you see a portion of the Fresnel lens.


The lantern room houses a first order Fresnel lens.
This is looking up into the lens; you can also see the 1000-watt lights.
Prior to the automation of the lighthouse with the 1000-watt lights
this is where the fixed oil burning light was located.


This is a closer look at a portion of the Fresnel lens.


We are preparing to walk back down the 114 stairs.
This is a view from the top of the stairs looking down.