Seal Rock

The Seal Rock Recreation Site is located 20-minutes south of Newport on the Central Oregon Coast, along Highway 101.   This area has a rich archeological history, and the ancient remnants from Native American shell middens are still clearly visible, estimated at 300 to 1800 years old.

Visitors can take a short walk along a paved path to the Seal Rock viewing platform, with commanding views of an arc-shaped bay with jagged off-shore rocks and islands teeming with wildlife.  These rocks are protected wildlife refuges, and important breeding grounds for marine wildlife.  The most prominent landmark is the “Elephant Rock” sea stack, rising over 40-feet from the ocean.  The silhouette of pigeon guillemots and black oystercatchers is clearly visible atop the sheer rock.

Visitors can also venture down to the sandy beach to explore rock-pools during low tide, and marvel at brightly colored sea anemones.  The exposed orange and beige sandstone cliffs provide a stark contrast to the black basalt of the off-shore rocks.

There is no camping at the Seal Rock Recreation Site.