Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Thor’s Well in Oregon
THINKING ABOUT VISITING THOR’S WELL?
You’re in the right place! We’ve spent months traveling the Oregon Coast, and Thor’s Well is one of the most popular and fun attractions along this stunning coastline. It’s a natural wonder with beautiful views and an interesting water feature that appears to be an endless sinkhole.
In this article, we will share some important need-to-know tips and helpful information for visiting this famous Cape Perpetua Well.
What is Thor’s Well in Oregon?
Thor’s Well in Oregon is a large sinkhole off the coast of the Pacific Ocean. The theory is that the well was originally a cave that had its roof collapse because of water erosion. This collapse left a circular hole at the top and bottom of the cave.
Today, it is a large, bottomless hole in the rock bed. Thor’s Well, a drainpipe of the Pacific, is about 20 feet deep.
Thor’s Well is one of our favorite easy day trips from Portland, since it’s only about 3 hours away from the city.
Why is it called Thor’s Well?
Thor’s Well is named after the Norse god of thunder, Thor. The legend says that Thor created the sinkhole after striking the earth, creating the six-meter hole.
How does Thor’s Well in Oregon work?
When the ocean cave collapsed, a hole was left in the top and bottom of the rock. This leaves a path for the ocean waves to travel up through the cave and come to the surface.
At high tide, waves come up from the bottom until the tide is high enough that the waves cause a violent spray from the top of Thor’s Well at Cape Perpetua. As the waves recede, the water falls back down through the well.
Where is Thor’s Well in Oregon?
Thor’s Well on the edge of the Oregon Coast is about three miles south of Yachats in Cape Perpetua. Cape Perpetua is found along the Oregon coast about 30 minutes north of Florence. It is about 40 minutes south of Newport, Oregon.
Visiting Thor’s Well is also a great stop during a west coast road trip in Oregon because it is right off of Highway 101.
It is right next to the Spouting Horn at Cook’s Chasm. Parking for Thor’s Well is at the Cook’s Chasm pull-out along the Oregon Coast Highway 101. It is about .3 miles south of the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center.
If you put Thor’s Well into Google Maps, it should take you right to it.
Directions to Thor’s Well on the Oregon Coast
Can you see Thor’s Well?
From the parking lot off Highway 101, you can easily see Thor’s Well on Oregon although there isn’t a spectacular view because you are a bit away from Thor’s Well. However, if you don’t want to make the short walk down to Thor’s Well it is still worth a stop to see the well and long basalt shoreline.
How far is the hike to Thor’s Well in Oregon?
From the parking lot, there is a short path to get a closer look at Thor’s Well. This short path is paved and along the trail, there are viewpoints for Cook’s Chasm and Thor’s Well. The walk from the parking lot to the well is about 0.3 miles roundtrip.
At the end of the trail, you will have to walk along some of the sand and slippery rocks to get to Thor’s Well. Your shoes will most likely get wet so it is a good idea to wear some waterproof shoes.
Best Time to See Thor’s Well
If you happen to be driving down the coast and can’t really time your visit, a stop is still fun regardless of the time of day. However, if you do have some flexibility with your schedule, the best time to visit Thor’s Well in Oregon is starting at about an hour before high tide.
Visiting about an hour before the high tide will let you watch the pool fill up more as the tide rises. After the big winter storms or when the ocean water is rougher is also another good time to visit.
You can check the tide schedule here.
You will see the most water going through the well with a five to seven-foot tide.
Warning About Thor’s Well
As you are walking down to Thor’s Well at Cape Perpetua you may wonder if it is safe. I walked down with my five-year-old daughter and felt safe the entire time. However, there are some really important guidelines to follow to keep safe at Thor’s Well.
First, we stayed on the side of the well closest to the coast. It isn’t recommended to go between the well and the ocean. Also, never turn your back to the ocean because large sneaker waves may unexpectedly come.
Second, keep your distance from the well. We stayed a couple of yards away from the well. Do not try to look down the well or get too close to it. Thor’s Well in Oregon itself is not any more dangerous than the Pacific Ocean.
Stay aware of your surroundings and keep a good distance between yourself and the ocean waves. There are no guard rails so be very careful and keep a very watchful eye on your kids.
Tips for Photographing Thor’s Well
Along with visiting at high tide, you will want to plan your visit around sunset. The sky behind the water feature makes for beautiful pictures. However, if you have to choose between sunset or high tide, I would recommend visiting at high tide.
The best time to take your picture is when the water is draining into the well. The water comes up from the well below and then drains back down into the ocean. After watching the well for a minute or two, you will quickly start to see the water pattern in the well.
The most common and safest angle for photographing is facing west. If you are looking for more of an angle down into the well, you can stand on some of the nearby sharp volcanic rock.
If you do visit at low tide, you can expect less water going through the well but more dramatic splashes.
What’s Near Thor’s Well in Oregon
Thor’s Well is located in Cape Perpetua, a beautiful part of the Oregon Coast. There are lots of amazing sights here – beautiful lookouts, points of interest, hiking trails, tide pools, and beaches.
Spouting Horn at Cook’s Chasm
Spouting Horn shares a parking lot with Thor’s Well at Cape Perpetua and visiting both at the same time is really easy. It is an ocean geyser and is created as the ocean waves funnel into a cave. The waves come out of the top of the cave creating a spouting horn.
In this area, you can hike the Cook’s Cook Trail which will take you by Spouting Horn, Thor’s Well, and beautiful coastal areas. The hike is 0.75 miles long.
Devil’s Churn
Another beautiful water feature in the area is Devil’s Churn. There is a short walk from the parking area to the rocks by the Devil’s Churn. Along the trail, you will find two different overlooks. After the overlooks, you can walk down to the rocky edges next to the Devil’s Churn.
Be cautious of your surroundings, keep a safe distance, and don’t turn your back to the ocean.
Cape Perpetua
Cape Perpetua is a beautiful area of the Oregon coast and is a perfect place to stop during an Oregon coast road trip. Here are some other things to do in the area:
- Cape Perpetua Lookout: A scenic lookout with beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean and Cape Perpetua
- Cape Cove Beach: A secluded beach in a cove with lots of driftwood
- Neptune North: A wide and beautiful beach perfect for exploring
- Hobbit Trail: A easy mile scenic hike to the ocean
Florence
Florence, Oregon is a small “quaint” coastal town with lots of fun outdoor activities. You can go crabbing, explore the sand dunes, climb to the Heceta head lighthouse, go tide pooling and explore Old Town Florence. There are also lots of great RV parks near Florence if you want to go camping.
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Have you visited this stretch of the Oregon Coast? What are your favorite stops? Let us know in the comments below!
