Attractions

Aside from standing on the highway bridge watching the boat traffic passing in and out of the world's smallest harbor, the most popular activity here, especially when the seas are high, is watching the spouting horns across U.S. 101 from Depoe Bay's souvenir shops. Spouting horns, which are similar to blowholes, can be seen all along the coast, but nowhere are they more spectacular than here. These geyserlike plumes occur in places where water is forced through narrow channels in basalt rock. As the channels become more restricted, the water shoots skyward under great pressure and can spray 60 feet into the air. If the surf is really up, the water can carry quite a ways, and more than a few unwary visitors have been soaked.

Be sure to stop in at Depoe Bay's Whale Watching Center, 119 U.S. 101 (tel. 541/765-3304; www.oregon.gov/oprd/parks), which is perched on the cliff above the entrance to the harbor. There are displays about whales, and rangers and volunteers are on hand to point out gray whales if they happen to be visible. Memorial Day to Labor Day, the center is open daily from 9am to 5pm; call for hours in other months.

At Fogarty Creek State Recreation Area, a couple of miles north of Depoe Bay, you'll find a beautiful little cove with basalt cliffs at one end and a creek flowing across the beach. The parking area is on the east side of U.S. 101. Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint, a mile north of Depoe Bay, is a good picnic spot from which to look for gray whales. There are also tide pools among the rocks in some small coves here. Although the beach itself is not accessible from the state park pull-off, about midway between Boiler Bay and Fogarty Creek, a mile north of here, there's a trail that leads down to the beach.

South of Depoe Bay, U.S. 101 winds through scenes of rugged splendor, passing several small, picturesque coves. Just south of town, Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint, with windswept lawns, picnic tables, and great views of buff-colored cliffs and spouting horns, is a good picnic spot. In a few more miles you'll come to the Otter Crest Scenic Loop, which leads to Cape Foulweather and the Otter Crest State Scenic Viewpoint. Named by Capt. James Cook in 1778, the cape was his first glimpse of land after leaving the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii). The cape frequently lives up to its name, with winds often gusting to more than 100 mph. However, the views are quite stupendous. Keep an eye out for the sea lions that sun themselves on offshore rocks near Cape Foulweather. A historic building now used as a gift shop provides a protected glimpse of the sea from atop Cape Foulweather.

At the south end of the Otter Crest Scenic Loop, you'll find an overlook at Devil's Punchbowl State Natural Area. The overlook provides a glimpse into a collapsed sea cave that during high tides or stormy seas becomes a churning cauldron of foam. Adjacent to Devil's Punchbowl, in a small cove, you'll find numerous tide pools that can be explored at low tide. From this cove, you can also explore inside the Devil's Punchbowl. South of Devil's Punchbowl State Natural Area lies Beverly Beach State Park (tel. 541/265-9278; www.oregon.gov/oprd/parks), which has a large campground and is a popular surfing spot. Here at the Devil's Punchbowl, you'll also find Mo's Chowder House, 122 First St., Otter Rock (tel. 541/765-2442; www.moschowder.com), and the Flying Dutchman Winery, 915 First St., Otter Rock (tel. 541/765-2553; www.dutchmanwinery.com).

If you're interested in sportfishing or whale-watching, contact Tradewinds Charters (tel. 800/445-8730 or 541/765-2345; www.tradewindscharters.com), at the north end of the bridge, or Dockside Charters (tel. 800/733-8915 or 541/765-2545; www.docksidedepoebay.com), down by the marina. Whale-watching trips run $18 to $45, depending on the type of boat you go out on and how long you stay out. Fishing trips run from $75 for 5 hours to $210 or $225 for a day of halibut or tuna fishing.