May 2024 visit. We had to stop by twice to catch them when they were open... and I'm so glad we did. My favorite part was the view, but I also enjoyed exploring the old lighthouse. It's pretty small but the self guided tour was free so we didn't mind. I currently feel more peaceful just thinking about being there. read more

Yaquina Bay Lighthouse - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Newport, Oregon

I just visited the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse a couple of weeks ago (in the beginning of March) and it was open for tours. This is the original, smaller, and, in my opinion, the more interesting of the two lighthouses in Newport. This lighthouse is built into an actual three-story house, which you can walk through most of. Although it was not possible to walk to "the top," I'm not aware of any lighthouse that is currently still allowing this in 2026. (Lighthouse lenses are extremely expensive, and, unfortunately, it's not difficult to imagine how one or two bad tourists might have ruined this for the rest of us.) But you can still walk through the first three stories of the house, and I thought that was pretty cool. On the first floor of the house, there was a replica of a fifth order Fresnel lens, which is the smallest standard size lens used in lighthouses. For the lighthouse enthusiast, it's really interesting to compare the size of this lens to the much larger first order lens at Heceta. I also found it interesting to think about the lightkeeper walking through their actual house with hot oil, rather than filtering it in an oil house and then carrying it up to the separate lighthouse. While the rooms were roped off, it was possible to walk right up to the doorway of each one, and see that they were filled with replica furniture similar to what would have been used in the late 1800s. Eventually, this small lighthouse was replaced by the much larger Yaquina Head Lighthouse, which is 4 miles to the north. The Yaquina Head Lighthouse was not open for tours when I visited, but I've seen pictures, and it looks almost exactly like the Heceta Lighthouse, except it's still whitewashed. So, in my opinion, this smaller lighthouse is actually more unique, and maybe even more worth visiting than its replacement. This Yaquina Bay Lighthouse is managed by State Parks. Parking is $10/day or free with an annual pass. The Yaquina Head Lighthouse (the newer, taller one 4 miles to the North) is managed by BLM, which charges the same daily use fee, but is covered by a different (federal) parking pass. So, you can't see both with the same pass. If you absolutely have to choose, in my opinion, Yaquina Bay has the better lighthouse, while Yaquina Head has the better beach, museum, and hiking trails. read more

Yaquina Bay Lighthouse is the other lighthouse on the south side of Newport, Oregon. A small town I am very partial towards. I love the fact that there are two lighthouses on both sides of town. The place is scenic already with the Oregon Coast but having not one but two lighthouses makes it all the more magical. This one looks a lot different than the lighthouse north of town. This has a fine historical aspect to it and served as a residence as well if you can go in and tour around which you can't always do. And of course like most lighthouse locations there is a great view involved here and you can look out over the ocean. I recommend visiting both lighthouses in town but the one north is my favorite but both are nice, minor walks and plenty of picture opportunities are are available here. read more

Yaquina Bay Lighthouse - I got a nice picture of the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse on a nice, clear day! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Newport, Oregon

This lighthouse is not approachable right now. They are redoing the outside. There were no signs for that anywhere so until we arrived we didn't know. Unusual construction compared to the others we have seen this week. Like, mostly , living quarters. over 100 years old. read more

Yaquina Bay Lighthouse - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Newport, Oregon

Under construction and very underwhelming regardless. We mistook this lighthouse for the much more grandiose Yaquina HEAD lighthouse and definitely won't return here. Maybe the current yelp reviews reflect the tour experience? Beyond that, there is not much to do or see here. Views are fine, there are some picnics areas... but in my opinion I'd say head straight to Yaquina Head instead! read more

Great stop to check out lighthouse and bridge view! Good parking, gift shop was closed, lighthouse closed, you can access beach if you desire. @glampedlife read more

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Definitely worth stopping in. Don't forget to buy the pass to hit all the parks in Oregon saves you a lot of money

Wonderful experience @ Yaquina Bay Lighthouse in Newport, OR. !! We were lucky enough to visit this historical site on a beautiful warm day during open house hours. We enthusiastically signed in, received a state park sticker, and took a self tour of the whole house with numerous friendly guides on hand for any questions we might have. As seen in several already posted pictures, each room was roped off to keep the memorabilia untouched and pristine. I appreciated the educational well-written detailed plaques, as well as the video, and historical pictures. Thank you so much. read more

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No, this is not the more elaborate Yaquina Head Lighthouse Natural Area up the road...it's Yaquina Bay State Park. Here you'll find a nice picnic area, a decent amount of parking, great ocean, bridge, and river views...as well as some trails heading down to the beach and jetty. The old lighthouse is fenced off and no longer open to the public, but it's still cool to look at. We stop by the other Yaquina quite often, this was our first time here. It's probably not a place I'll return to over and over, but it's a nice spot to spend a few hours roaming. read more

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I did not realize that there are actually 2 lighthouses in this immediate area. As you drive north on Hwy 101 just across the large bridge, you come to the small Yaquina Bay State Park. We parked in a small lot and walked up about 20 stairs to a small light platform (maybe 2 - 3 stories high) and a small house presumably for the lighthouse keeper originally. There were 2 rangers / volunteers seated at a table outside the house. They apologized that this place was closed for tours. I told them we just hiked up the short way for the view anyway. They offered a brochure about the lighthouses on the coast, which I accepted. I asked if they had any favorites. One replied, "Yaquina Head". I thought she was referring to this place and trying to be amusing. I hesitated and said that we'd visited it. She then offered that Yaquina Head had replaced this lighthouse, so I realized it was a different place. I then confirmed that it sounded like we hadn't seen it so they described how to get there. It was just a couple of miles further north up the coast. You can stop here if you like, but it was pretty modest. If you want the taller and more classic lighthouse plus a much more extensive visitor center, you should proceed to the Yaquina Head Lighthouse instead. read more

Yaquina Bay Lighthouse - Yaquina Bay Lighthouse - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Newport, Oregon

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Can't beat free. Good size parking lot. There are picnic areas and access to the beach. Not as dramatic at its sister down the shore but beautiful setting. read more

Yaquina Bay Lighthouse - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Newport, Oregon

Mom said she's never seen a lighthouse in her life so we figured while in Newport, take advantage of the opportunity to take her to the two lighthouses in town. Yaquina Bis the first one we went to which is the smaller and older one. It was first used in 1871 but was decommissioned after only three years. Since then, it has been used as living quarters for the army and later for the coast guard until its conversion as a state park. It is now considered as the oldest structure in Newport. Entrance to the lighthouse is free to the public but donations are welcome. We saw the stairs from the parking lot to the lighthouse. Due to knee and back problems, my mom stayed in the car. We were greeted promptly by volunteers and was informed of a back entrance that is handicapped friendly. We were delighted that mom made it inside the lighthouse. We then toured the different rooms inside and took the flight of stairs leading to the light keepers bedroom. There is also a basement where the gift shop is located. Mom didn't make it upstairs nor downstairs but was nonetheless happy that she didn't just see a lighthouse but was able to go inside as wel read more

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We ventured to this historical lighthouse again the day after Christmas, unfortunately just after their 4 p.m. closing time so we just viewed the shuttered lighthouse from afar and walked down the steps leading to the beach. Just a note that the Yelp address is incorrect, it directs you to the other lighthouse (Yaquina Head) in town that's behind a state park (paid) entrance. The correct address to visit the Yaquina Bay lighthouse for your GPS is Yaquina Bay State Park or SW Government & 9th St. "The structure is accessible via paved trails and a walkway that leads to the top of the hill within the Yaquina Bay State Park, at the north end of Yaquina Bay. Access-compromised visitor groups are encouraged to use the large parking lot at the back of the lighthouse (entrance at SW Government and 9th Streets)." You'll see a beautiful view of the majestic Yaquina Bay bridge (great spot for taking photos) and plenty of parking here. When the lighthouse is open, take a brief tour of the interior and learn more about its unique Oregon history. Stay and enjoy the stunning sunset over the bay too if you have time! read more

What can I add that other Yelpers have not....thats hard. If you love the history of lighthouses and how they became then this one is pretty basic. Built on the bluff over looking the mouth of the Yaquina River on the North side in 1871, Newport was a very small town. It stands 51 feet. Sadly it was disengaged in 1874 with only 3 years of use. Inside you'll find many homely items, 2 flights of stairs to light room which is not open. Its definitely not suitable for ADA access. Pictures and a video in basement area that educates ya on its history and surrounding area. Its currently privately owned and said to be haunted.... read more

Thank you, Ohio! It is important to know that I am a bit of a lighthouse geek and have enjoyed visiting almost every one still open to the public in Oregon. Now, the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse barely qualifies, since the 'light' is just a nub on top of a quaint two-story house. The lighthouse, which sits on a bluff at the northern entrance to Yaquina Bay, was in operation for less than three years before it was decommissioned and fell into disrepair. So it is probably the shortest in stature and duration (insert your own joke here). After coming close to being demolished in the 1950s, an Ohio industrialist (raised in Oregon) helped spearhead the effort to restore the structure and classify it as a state historical site. It has operated as a Lincoln County museum every since. There are two things that are really cool about this lighthouse. 1) It is FREE to visit. If you want to see a 'real' lighthouse, you can venture a few miles north to the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, which I highly recommend, but you will pay $7 for a day use pass. 2) While you aren't able to climb all the way up to see the lens (the lantern room is closed to the public), the house is fully furnished with period pieces and is one of the best examples I've seen of what life was like for our lighthouse keepers. Not only that, the space is charming and cozy and the docents on duty were absolutely lovely. This is located very close to downtown Newport and well worth a visit if you're in the area. You can get some lovely views of Newport and its stunning bridge from the Yaquina Bay State Recreation Site. read more

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I love lighthouses and this is one I hadn't gotten the chance to visit yet. We got to this one just before closing time and basically had the place to ourselves. It was nice to see the displays and to walk through. I was disappointed that we couldn't go all the way up to the lamp room. There is a replica downstairs that you can see, but it isn't quite the same being able to get the panoramic view from the top. The lighthouse is located in a very nice park. It was raining during our visit, but I can imagine this is a popular location for picnics and such during the summer. Checked another one off the list. read more

Yaquina Bay Lighthouse - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Newport, Oregon

The lighthouse itself is currently closed due to COVID, but the park is still open (including the restrooms). The park has a great view of the ocean, the Yaquina Bay, and the bridge. It also has a lot of picnic tables spread throughout. It's a great place to bring takeout from a local restaurant to eat in a beautiful place and maintain distance from others. read more

The one star is based on we never got to see the lighthouse. There was no one collecting money to get into the park when we went in. However we arrived around 3:30pm and watched as they chained u the gate. I overheard the staff tell another visitor the fire marshall came and closed them down as they had 35 visitors and are only allowed 20? I don't understand why you would close it down-just have a certain number leave before having more enter. Well, no one was even coming out and he chained the gate. Perhaps he just wanted to leave early. Not sure, but we were able to walk down to the beach instead and that was nice. The tide was low and you can walk way out before hitting the ocean. As cold as it was, you eventually got used to it and my daughter didn't want to leave. The beach was also pretty empty and it felt like we had it all to ourselves. read more

The setting is is absolutely gorgeous. We took the self guided tour of the light keeper's family quarters and then visited the small gift shop. read more

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We had JUST missed when this was open but we were there so we took the opportunity to walk some of the trails and get some pictures. It's a really beautiful area at least so it was still worth the stop. Hope to make it in time to see the inside some time :) read more

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This lighthouse is in great condition, very accessible, and was closed at the time of our visit :( No hiking needed or necessary because it is visible from the parking lot. It is also very close to town. It is so conveniently located you could very easily make a stop between your hotel to the aquarium or from the beach to a restaurant. read more

So glad we stopped! The docent was SO nice and knowledgeable. We listened to him tell the story about the lighthouse and it really MADE the visit. Thanks for the personal touch! It's a free tourist attraction, but they have a jar to help pay for maintenance and as nice as the staff is, I'd say remember to bring a dollar or two per person! It's just a little light house so you don't need a lot of time to see this little piece of Americana. 15 to 30 minutes, I'd guess. Great beach town! read more

This is a short lived lighthouse. It was first lit in 1871 and decommissioned in 1874. Now, it sits on Yaquina Bay State Recreation Site. The reason why the lighthouse was decommissioned? The nearby Yaquina Head Lighthouse is a much taller, brighter, and more useful. On the bright side, Yaquina Bay Lighthouse has been relit since 1996. Yes, the light actually shines again! Yaquina Bay Lighthouse is the oldest structure in Newport, and it is considered a national historic structure. I was surprised how small the lighthouse living area. The rooms are really small. You cannot go inside the rooms, but you can peek inside through the doors. I was a little disappointed that there were no guided tours and you cannot go up to the very top of the lighthouse. However, the exterior of the lighthouse is very well kept for such an old building. A nice place to visit if you're a fan of lighthouses! read more

Yaquina Bay Lighthouse - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Newport, Oregon

We were able to reserve a tour and really enjoyed our time at the lighthouse. Informative and fun! We saw a pod of grey wales, many seals and otters. We explored the tide pools! Such a lovely visit! read more

The Yaquina Bay Lighthouse is the not-working lighthouse of Newport. It was built first, then less than a decade later, bypassed in favor of the new lighthouse at Yaquina Head, just a few miles north. But in terms of a great park area -- it's the Bay Lighthouse you want. The landscaping is beautiful -- there's plenty of parking, picnic tables, and walking trails -- there are several acres of roaming (and roam-worthy) shore and headlands here. The best (and most surprising) view is of the great deco bridge that spans the entrance into Yaquina Bay. The engineers and architects of this depression-era masterpiece must have designed and built it to be seen from right on the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse property. It's a stunner. And -- for convenience and because I suspect this is a great stop for people touring the area -- there's even public restroom facilities. The building itself is lovely and well cared for -- a testament to how we've all come to feel about these landmarks. It's a great place to spend time and enjoy the absolutely beautiful view of the Pacific. read more

The tour through the lighthouse was as well organized as can be. While in line, one tour guide asked if there was anyone willing to take an "express tour" meaning we'd just walk in, see the rooms on the way in and get to take a look up the stairs. No fancy business, and no guide. We took the "express tour" - well worth the NOT waiting! There are a lot of areas nearby to venture off and touch ocean life or climb rocks. read more

Great to see once and glad it was free! The area is very nice with access to the beach. We visited in July and should have brought a jacket! It was in the 60s and the water felt colder than that! read more

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It's a baby light house. So cute. It only operated for 3 years. You can't walk to the top (which is only on the roof of a 2 story house) which was disappointing. I wish I was the original inhabitants, the view is amazing. They also have some rally beat old antique furniture in it. It is free too. read more

The beach below the lighthouse is vast and sandy with deep rolling dunes, and when I went on Friday morning, it was also low-trafficked. We saw only a few people. Absolutely glorious .... read more

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My son and I absolutely loved this little historic wonder. The volunteers there provided us with amazing interpretive talks about the lighthouse and my son loved the ghost stories! I spent a fortune going to little tourist attractions around Newport but this freebie was the most fun we had! Make sure to leave them a donation, they do amazing work here! read more

Several volunteers on hand to offer guided tour or you can opt to do on your own. Enjoyed hearing the history while touring the place. The lighthouse is owned by Friends of the lighthouse and is dependent on donations and fundraisers. Small gift shop downstairs. read more

Beautiful and we actually saw whales in the distance! Take your jacket because the breeze off the ocean can get chilly. So nicely well kept. Costs $$ to get in. read more

This is a great house and lighthouse all in one. It is free to enter and is a self-guided tour. The view from the house is beautiful and picturesque. This is a great stop if you are on hwy 101 on the Oregon Coast. This is a great mix of history and scenery. read more

I'm spoiled because I come from hawaii but honestly there is nothing to see here besides sand, grass and maybe some gulls. The tide pools don't have much just dead crabs, mollusks and anemones. It would be a much better use of your time to go to a different beach with more to see read more

Never seen a real lighthouse before...there's one next to navy pier but it's on an island and private property...this one is fully staffed and offers tours by staff in period costume! read more