Newport Lighthouses

Newport’s two historic lighthouses are both popular tourist destinations, but they also serve as starting points for easy hiking explorations of Newport’s scenic coast. Begin at the Yaquina Head lighthouse, on a dramatic cape with a modern interpretive center. Then drive into town to visit the older Yaquina Bay lighthouse, where a 3-mile loop takes you through Old Town to the bayfront.

To find Yaquina Head, drive …

To visit Newport’s older Yaquina Bay lighthouse, drive …

Locals claim the Yaquina Bay lighthouse is haunted, in part because the building was abandoned after only three years. Planners had intended for a supporting lighthouse to be placed 10 miles north at Cape Foulweather, but a local Army colonel ordered it built nearer instead, on the more accessible Yaquina Head. The mixup left the older Yaquina Bay lighthouse superfluous.

For the hike, go down stone steps …

This chapter taken from the book 100 Hikes/Travel Guide: Oregon Coast & Coast Range.