Click button for more
![]()
Pacific
Northwest
ACCOMMODATIONS
Campgrounds
Hotels and Motels
RV Parks
Vacation Rentals
Cities and Towns of the Oregon Coast
Oregon Regions
Cascade Mountains
Central Oregon
Columbia River Gorge
Northeast Oregon
Oregon Coast
Portland Area
Southern Oregon
Willamette Valley

Depoe Bay claims the smallest harbor in the world. Entrance from the sea is via the narrow channel under the Highway 101 bridge. Photo by Go Northwest!.
Depoe Bay, nestled among towering cliffs and expansive state parks, is the whale-watching capitol of Oregon.
Grey whales make their home near this rocky refuge 10 months out of the year, providing up-close wildlife viewing, sometimes on a daily basis. Tour vessels operate out of Depoe Bay and nearby towns, offering ideal opportunities for observing the giant mammals in their own habitat.
But Depoe Bay is known for another idiosyncrasy as well: Girded by impressive basalt cliffs that were formed millions of years ago by natural forces, Depoe Bay is the world's smallest fishing harbor. The 5-acre port has acted as a safe harbor for vessels for many years but getting into the port has often involved great strategy and chance.
The stone entrance is less than 50 feet wide and more than 100 feet long. Boats attempting to navigate the coast's volatile waters are often referred to as "shooting the hole," a risk that has sometimes resulted in devastating consequences.
For years Depoe Bay served as a safe harbor for commercial fishing taking refuge from coastal storms. Today it acts as a home port and stopping point for charter vessels and private launches as well as a point of fascination for thousands of visitors who stand on the bridge and walkways to observe incoming vessels.
The town shares the nearby shoreline with several state parks and recreation areas. Fogarty Creek State Recreation Area and Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint abut the town on either side and provide scenic locations for wildlife viewing.
Shopping, fine dining and vacation accommodations are available in town. RV parks and camping can be found both north and south of the town, as well as in Newport, approximately 15 miles south of Depoe Bay.
| More Oregon region maps Click
here to see a |
Go Northwest! Bookstore
Best selection of books on the Northwest.
Click here!
Insiders'
Guide to the Oregon Coast, 4th by Lizann Dunegan. This guide offers
travelers, locals, and newcomers alike the most comprehensive
information on what's happening along the more than 300-mile stretch of
shoreline that comprises the Oregon Coast. From fishing villages to
charming resort towns, discover the region's natural beauty, ample
opportunities for outdoor recreation, and cultural attractions.
Order now...
Day
Hiking: Oregon Coast by Bonnie Henderson. Paperback, 320 pages.
Mountaineer Books, 2nd edition, April 2007. Replaces 120 Hikes on the Oregon
Coast. It includes six new hikes in a completely revamped format that
includes a quick guide to the hikes and lists outings by features such as
walks or hikes to hidden beaches, along bay spits, to lakes, or across sand
dunes. Sidebars explore the natural history, flora and fauna, and geology of
the area. Order now...
Oregon
Curiosities, 2nd: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities, and Other Offbeat
Stuff by Harriet Baskas. Your round-trip ticket to the wildest,
wackiest, most outrageous people, places, and things the Beaver State has to offer!
Order now...
The
Photographer's Guide to the Oregon Coast: Where to Find Perfect Shots and
How to Take Them by David Middleton and Rod Barbee. Lively descriptions
of each place are accompanied by directions and detailed maps for how to get
there, plus information on seasonal timing, places to eat and stay, and
other photo opportunities to explore along Oregon's coast.
Order now...
The
Oregon Companion: An Historical Gazetteer of the Useful, the Curious, and
the Arcane by Richard H. Engeman. A-Z handbook of over 1000 people,
places, and things. This entertaining and delightfully meticulous compendium
is an essential reference for anyone curious about Oregon.
Order now...
Oregon
Discovery Guide by Don W. Martin, Bettywoo Martin, Bob Shockley
(Illustrator) Driving guide to the splendors of Oregon highlighting the best
routes, scenic detours, hikes, and city walks. The authors describe top
local attractions and pinpoint where to dine, recline, and camp in comfort.
23 photos, 11 illustrations, 25 maps.
Order now...
We appreciate your orders. They help keep
Go Northwest! online.
Northwest Books
from . . .
![]()
Go Northwest! gonorthwest.com(tm)
Go Northwest! gonorthwest.com (tm) and GoNorthwest.com
(tm) are trademarks of Go Northwest, LLC
All original text, maps, photographs, and other images on this web site, as
well as the compilation and design thereof, are
Copyright 1997-2010 Go Northwest, LLC. All rights reserved.