How to Visit Seal Rock State Recreation Site

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases through the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon at no extra cost to you.

Even on a coastline full of strange and wonderful rock formations, the sea stacks at Seal Rock State Recreation Site stand out. Running parallel along a picturesque Oregon Coast beach, a narrow ridge of basalt forms shapes that spark the imagination. The largest sea stack here is not any of the Seal Rocks, but Elephant Rock, the towering centerpiece of the basalt ridge. A short trail leads from dramatic viewpoints down to the beach, where you can see the rocks, waves, and tidepools up close. Here is everything you need to know about visiting Seal Rock State Recreation Site.

Elephant Rock Seal Rock State Recreation Site — *Elephant Rock*

Know before you go

Parking is free at Seal Rock State Recreation Site. You don’t need a pass or permit.
Look for restrooms and picnic tables next to the parking lot.
Leashed dogs are welcome at Seal Rock State Recreation Site.
A short (about 0.1-mile) paved trail leads from the parking lot to two viewpoints. This trail is flat and even without barriers like steps or large tree roots. It continues past the viewpoints down to the beach but becomes steep. Reaching the sand requires walking over rocks and driftwood. Restrooms and parking are accessible.
The viewpoints at Seal Rock State Recreation Site are fenced and family-friendly.

Viewpoints and beach access

*The trail above the beach has incredible views*

Once you park at Seal Rock State Recreation Site, you’ll see the first ocean viewpoint only a few steps away from the parking lot. If you’re pressed for time, this fenced overlook will give you a lovely partial view of the unique sea stacks at Seal Rock, but there are better views to come.

Follow the paved trail through some Sitka spruce trees out to a ridge with panoramic ocean views. You’ll see the large and distinctive Elephant Rock in the middle of a long, narrow ridge of sea stacks. This overlook is one of the best birdwatching spots on the Oregon Coast. Look for birds overhead and perched on the craggy basalt of the sea stacks.

Gulls Seal Rock State Recreation Site — *Gulls perch on top of Elephant Rock*

Continue a little farther and you’ll reach the last viewpoint before descending to the beach. The benches here are relaxing places to watch the waves roll in. You can get closer to the rocks by heading down to the beach but it’s worth taking a minute to admire the scope of Seal Rock’s unusual basaltic spine from above.

*These benches are excellent birdwatching spots*

After admiring the views from above, continue on the paved trail down to the beach. When it ends, make the brief stumbling walk over cobbles and driftwood to reach the sand. At low tide, you’ll be able to approach Elephant Rock and some of the sea stacks. From the parking lot, it’s about 0.25 miles to get down to the beach. You can walk south on the beach for about 0.3 miles to see the sea stacks.

*Elephant Rock and the beach access trail*

When to visit

Any time during the year can be a good time to visit Seal Rock State Recreation Site. Unsurprisingly, it’s best when the weather is mild and the sea is calm, which can be hard to predict on the Oregon Coast. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, bring a good coat but don’t despair. A recent visit on a blustery day had some added drama from crashing frothy waves around the sea stacks.

*Gale force winds at a very low tide covered sea stars with foam* *from a choppy sea*

My favorite time to visit Seal Rock is around low tide when you can get a closer look at the rocks and see the tidepools. Visit on a calm day if you can. High winds make the beach harder to explore, even at low tide.

Seal Rock State Recreation Site is open for day-use, 8 AM - 8 PM. Sunsets here can be gorgeous if the cloud cover isn’t too heavy.

*Seal Rock State Recreation Site has some beautiful sunsets*

Tidepools at Seal Rock

Giant green anemones tidepool Seal Rock State Recreation Site — *Giant green anemones in a tidepool at Seal Rock State Recreation Site*

If you visit near low tide, check out the rocks on shore for intertidal animals like sea stars, anemones, barnacles, and crabs. The lower the tide, the more you’ll be able to see. I’d suggest using a tide table like this one to know what to expect when you visit. While you admire the tidepools, make sure only to step on bare rock to avoid injuring the animals there. It is generally okay to gently touch tidepool animals, but please don’t touch the center of anemones (their digestive tracts) or remove anything from the pools. Watch your step as you explore. The rocks around tidepools are extra slippery.

Sea stars Seal Rock State Recreation Site — *The bases of rocks are good places to find intertidal life like these sea stars*

Wildlife at Seal Rock

Even if you miss low tide, Seal Rock State Recreation Site is a great place to look for wildlife. As the name suggests, seals and sea lions visit here and use the rocky ledges to haul out of the water. That being said, I’ve visited several times and have never seen seals or sea lions when I’ve gone. The Newport jetty and marina are better bets (or check out my guide to wildlife on the Oregon Coast for more suggestions).

Gulls cormorants Elephant Rock Seal Rock State Recreation Site — *Gulls and cormorants on Elephant Rock*

What I have seen on every visit to Seal Rock are seabirds. Gulls, cormorants, pelicans, and black oystercatchers enjoy the many rocky ledges on the sea stacks, especially Elephant Rock. While you can see them from the beach, the best birdwatching spots are the viewpoints from above. These elevated viewpoints double as good whale-watching spots.

Hike to Seal Rock

Distance: 4.5 miles out and back

Elevation gain: 100 feet

Difficulty: Easy

Pass required: None

Amenities: Restrooms and picnic tables are at the start (Ona Beach State Park) and end (Seal Rock State Recreation Site) of the hike.

Dog friendly: Yes

ADA access: No

Tides: Do this hike around low tide

*Hike to Seal Rock State Recreation Site to access this beach*

Instead of driving to Seal Rock State Recreation Site, you can start at Ona Beach and walk a couple of miles down a beautiful stretch of the Oregon Coast to reach it. From Ona Beach State Park (formerly Brian Booth State Park), take the paved trail toward the ocean. You’ll cross a wooden footbridge over Beaver Creek, then arrive at Ona Beach. From here, head south for about two miles until you reach the north end of Seal Rock State Recreation Site. Make sure to time your hike around the tide. High tides can block access to the beach.

Once you reach Seal Rock, you can explore the sea stacks and tidepools on the park's north side. While natural rock formations block access south, you can get around them by heading, briefly, inland. Around the northernmost sea stacks of Seal Rock, look for a staircase that leads from the beach up the hill to a driveway. Follow the driveway to Highway 101 and walk south until you reach the main entrance to the Seal Rock State Recreation Site (about 0.2 miles). From here, you can reach the viewpoints and southern beach access as described above.

Shorter hike option: If you park at the Curtis Street Beach Access next to Highway 101, you can walk south about a mile to reach the beach at the north end of the Seal Rock State Recreation Site.

Geology of Seal Rock

*The basaltic ridge of sea stacks sits on a sandstone bedrock*

By far the most striking thing about Seal Rock State Recreation Site is its rocks, especially the chunky basalt columns of Elephant Rock. Although visually similar to the nearby basaltic shores around Yachats, the geologic story of the Seal Rock sea stacks is very different.

Rather than forming from local volcanic activity, the basalt at Seal Rock came from far-traveled lava flows that erupted in northeastern Oregon around 15 million years ago. This lava traveled across the state, covering about 300 miles. Seal Rock is the southernmost point that it reached on the coast.

If you look closely at Elephant Rock, you’ll see its basalt sits on a base of sandstone. This sandstone bedrock is millions of years older than the overlying basalt.

Find more on the geology of Seal Rock:

Geology of the Seal Rock Area (PDF)
Marli Miller’s Roadside Geology of Oregon (guidebook)

What to bring to Seal Rock

Seal Rock State Recreation Site — *You’ll walk over driftwood logs and cobbles to reach the sand*

Sunscreen (even if it’s cloudy)
Water bottle
Binoculars to see the wildlife better. These Nikon binoculars are awesome and worth the price if you like watching wildlife.
Sturdy shoes for walking on driftwood and slippery rocks.
Jacket in case of rain or wind. I’d suggest something like this jacket for women or men.

Getting there

Seal Rock State Recreation Site is located in the small town of Seal Rock, OR, between the larger towns of Newport and Waldport on the central Oregon Coast. The parking lot is directly off Highway 101 about 15 minutes south of Newport. A large sign marks the parking lot entrance.

Just south of the parking lot, a couple of roadside pull-offs have good views of Seal Rock State Recreation Site’s sea stacks.

Enjoy your trip to Seal Rock State Recreation Site!

With love,

Emma