While Depoe Bay may not be known for its hiking destinations (there’s really none, only some “walks” to be had) there’s still SO much to see and do in what’s known as the “Worlds Smallest Harbor”. Depoe Bay is one of my favorite coastal destinations, for a lot of reasons.

Depoe Bay was named after Siletz Native American Chief Charles “Charley” Depot of the Tututni tribe. It is said given he was given the name Depot Charley because he worked at the military depot near Toledo, and eventually the name evolved into “DePoe”. Charles DePoe was the land in 1894 as part of the Dawes Act.

Location, location, location! Depoe Bay is situated between Newport (to the south) and Lincoln City (to the north). This means if you are planning on spending multiple days on the Oregon Coast it is a great “homebase”. Once you’ve explored all you can in Depoe Bay you can either take a day trip(s) south, north, or both! South brings you to Newport, South Beach, Seal Rock, Waldport, & Yachats all within a 45 minute drive. North brings you to Lincoln City, Neskowin, Pacific City, Tierra Del Mar, & Netarts all within a 90 min drive.

Let’s be honest. When people talk about going to visit Oregon coastal cities they don’t say let’s go to the beach – they say lets go to the coast. Tourists don’t visit the Oregon coast to work on their tans like they would other “beachy” destinations. The water is COLD no matter the time of year and most days are also chilly, even on a sunny summer day due to how windy it gets. It is not unusual to see people walking along an Oregon beach in August wearing jeans and a hoodie.

What the beaches in Oregon lack in warmth they more than make up for in beautiful vistas.  Almost everywhere you look there is gorgeous rugged coastline with lush forests and rocky formations dotting the water and surrounding landscapes. Depoe Bay is perhaps the most rugged and beautiful spot along the Oregon coastline. There are so many places to pull off of HWY 101 where you can visit a gorgeous scenic viewpoint, some even with small “walking” trails available.

Boiler Bay is mostly just a park and sit viewpoint, but there is a 0.3 mile trail that encircles the parking lot where you can peer out over fencing and watch waves crash into the rocks below. This is a great picnic destination during high tide but also a great place for whale watching during whale watching season (Dec-Jan & Mar-May).

Devils Punch Bowl – don’t let the name scare you but this is my favorite stop off of HWY 101 near the Depoe Bay/Otter Rock area. Still not much of a “hike” as the trail is only 0.7 miles long but it’s a beautiful spot to visit during low tide especially. Devil’s Punch bowl got its name because it literally resembles a “punchbowl” after two caves collapsed, allowing water to pool into the bowl during high tide.

The waves have a demonic sound and intensity thanks to the frequent storms in the area. While it’s cool to watch the oceans demonstration of strength during high tide I love going down into the bottom of the bowl during low tide to explore the tide pools – just don’t get caught down there when the tide comes in! The first 0.4 miles of the trail is paved and accessible for wheeled users. But the last little bit to the tide pool isn’t wheel friendly, but is doable for even those with limited mobility on good days.

Even though Oregon beaches aren’t really as enticing as say California or Hawaii beaches, if you insist on getting sand between your toes the best beach to visit near Depoe Bay is Gleneden Beach. There is a large parking lot (which is rare in these parts) with ample free parking with just a 2 minute walk to the beach itself. Walk along the beach and enjoy the waves crashing against the shore, or bring a chair or blanket and just pop a squat and picnic or roast some s’mores on a campfire.

I’ve never stayed at a hotel in Depoe Bay but there are at least 10 available if you choose to go that route. My favorite way to stay in Depoe Bay though is house rental. Whether you Air B&B, VRBO, or use the local Oregon Beach Vacations rentals, there is an OVER abundance of houses to rent from big to small and most with amazing Cliffside ocean views. Restaurants are also plentiful in this area but I highly recommend Tidal Raves, Bay View Thai, Restaurant Beck, The Sticks, & HWY 101 Burger.