Oregon Coast Real Estate Knowledge Center: Coast Photo Gallery featuring Online Image Tours of Key Points of Interest found along the Oregon Coast.
Coast Photo Gallery - Central Oregon Coast Lighthouses
Yaquina Head Lighthouse - Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area
The geological history of Yaquina Head dates back to 14 millions years ago and is classified now as the western-most toe of the Ginkgo Basalt flow of the Columbia River Basalts. The Yaquina Headland included at one time, two major hills of basalt origin. Due to the structure of the lava rock, the Yaquina Head Area was quarried between the years of 1917 to 1983. The accessible basalt rock was solid yet crushable, and ideal for local road construction. Due to the impact of the quarry operations, concerned citizens started a campaign to end the quarry operations and eventually, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) reclaimed the land. Signs of the quarry operations are still visible from the grounds of the Interpretive Center as well as from on top of the Salal Hill Trail that overlooks the remaining hillside left on the west side of the center. During the time period of 1992 to 1994, the BLM developed the quarry site into a barrier-free rocky intertidal zone, the first one ever attempted. From the observation deck near the roadway tunnel at the Interpretive Center, the trail system connects to the Quarry Cove Trail that leads along the crest of Yaquina Head’s southern edge to the Quarry Cove Tide Pool Area. Over time, the intertidal zone has started to attract the same marine organisms that live in naturally formed tide pools providing another opportunity to explore the wildlife of Yaquina Head.
Photo of the Interpretive Center at the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area located in the shadows of a former quarry site and now an educational center for providing information about the geological aspects of Yaquina Head plus the ancient visitors that used the site dating as far back as 4,000 years ago.
Photo of the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area offering trails to the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, to the Salal Hill Trail overlooking the Interpretive Center on the bordering hillside to the west of the center, and to the Quarry Cove Trail running along the crest of Yaquina Head’s southern edge leading to the barrier-free tide pools of Quarry Cove.
Photo of one of the interpretive display placards used throughout the park facilities located at the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area as part of an extensive information system designed to educate visitors on the natural and wildlife aspects of the Yaquina Head Area.
Photo of Quarry Cove and its tide pool areas reclaimed by Bureau of Land Management who then developed the former rock quarry over several years into a rocky intertidal zone supporting marine organisms similar to ones found within naturally-formed tide pools.


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