Yachats State Recreation Area
Yachats, OR
Yachats State Recreation Area sits right in town at the mouth of the Yachats River, where a small loop road leads to a viewing platform popular with whale watchers. The beach here is rockier than the sandy stretches to the north, but the river mouth itself draws crabbers and a steady handful of harbor seals.
A genuinely easy, reliable whale watching spot right in town, though the rocky beach itself is secondary to the river mouth and viewing platform.
How we score beachesThe viewing platform is one of the more reliable whale watching spots on the central coast during the winter and spring migrations, no hike required.
Free lot right in downtown Yachats.
A paved path and viewing platform sit at the river mouth; beach access nearby is over rockier, uneven ground.
Leashed dogs are allowed on the beach.
Gray whale migration peaks in late December and again in spring, roughly March through May, making winter and spring the best windows for whale watching here.
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