Cross the artful Alsea Bay Bridge as you approach Waldport, a delightful home base for your central Oregon coast visit. The pretty span crosses Alsea Bay, known for its fruitful clamming and marine wildlife. Between Yachats to the south and Newport to the north, Waldport is an excellent starting point for ocean, bay or forest adventures.
Get acclimated at the Alsea Bay Bridge Historic Interpretive Center. Study models and displays of the historic 1936 bridge and its subsequent 1991 replacement. Take a tour of the bridge with an Oregon State Park naturalist. Look down to spot people clamming or crabbing in the estuary below the bridge. Several local outfitters can supply instructions, crabbing gear, licenses and boat rentals if you want to try it yourself.
Head to the water in a kayak to paddle the Alsea River Water Trail. This 10-mile (16-kilometer) route follows the Alsea River, Drift Creek, and Lint Slough. Look for seals, birds and river otters along the way. During the fall and winter, fishing for steelhead is especially popular in these waterways.
Venture out from Waldport to Seal Rock State Recreation Site, 5 miles (8 kilometers) north. Besides the seal-shaped rock, you’ll see cute seals, sea lions and seabirds. Stay around for tidepooling at low tide or a picnic on the sandy beach.
Travel inland to the Siuslaw National Forest, which features Drift Creek Wilderness. Hike Horse Creek Trail beneath centuries-old Sitka spruce and Douglas fir, looking up to try to glimpse the rare spotted owl. Watch for Roosevelt elk and black bears. Before you head out, pick up a map in Waldport at the Central Coast Ranger District Office.
Waldport is on the coastal highway, north of Yachats and south of Newport. Use Waldport as your starting point for explorations up and down the Oregon coast. From coastal mountains and old-growth rain forests to long stretches of sandy beaches and crab-filled estuaries, this is the ideal spot for a northern Pacific coast visit.
