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Lighthouses in Oregon

17 lighthouses in Oregon with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Clatsop County has the most (4). The darkest skies are at Cape Blanco Light (Bortle 1).

Top lighthouses

Cape Arago LighthouseLighthouse
Cape Arago LighthouseCoos County
Umpqua River LightLighthouse
Umpqua River LightDouglas County
Yaquina Head LightLighthouse
Yaquina Head LightLincoln County
Heceta Head LightLighthouse
Heceta Head LightLane County
Yaquina Bay LightLighthouse
Yaquina Bay LightLincoln County
Cape Meares LighthouseLighthouse
Cape Meares LighthouseTillamook County
Cape Blanco LightLighthouse
Cape Blanco LightCurry County
Cleft of the Rock LightLighthouse
Cleft of the Rock LightLincoln County
Coquille River LightLighthouse
Coquille River LightCoos County
Tillamook Rock LightLighthouse
Tillamook Rock LightClatsop County
Warrior Rock LightLighthouse
Warrior Rock LightColumbia County
Desdemona Sands LightLighthouse
Desdemona Sands LightClatsop County

Lighthouses by county

All lighthouses (17)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Cape Arago LighthouseCoos County10 mBarview3
Umpqua River LightDouglas County29 mReedsport3
Yaquina Head LightLincoln County—Agate Beach5
Heceta Head LightLane County—Florence2
Yaquina Bay LightLincoln County—Newport5
Cape Meares LighthouseTillamook County—Bay City3
Cape Blanco LightCurry County—Port Orford1
Cleft of the Rock LightLincoln County—Waldport2
Coquille River LightCoos County—Bandon4
Tillamook Rock LightClatsop County—Cannon Beach3
Warrior Rock LightColumbia County—Saint Helens6
Desdemona Sands LightLewis and ClarkClatsop County—Warrenton4
Willamette River LightMultnomah County—North Portland7
Pelican Bay LightCurry County—Harbor5
Point Adams LightClatsop County—Warrenton4
Tongue Point LighthouseClatsop County5 mAstoria4
Morgan Channel Light 42Multnomah County3 mLake Shore7

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph lighthouses

Lighthouses work at both ends of the day: blue hour when the beacon is lit, and golden hour when white towers take on warm tones.

  • During blue hour, use 5–15 second exposures to capture the beam; check whether the light is still active.
  • Shoot from the beach or a jetty to place the tower against open sky and sea.
  • Stormy weather and crashing surf add drama; keep a safe distance from waves on rocks and piers.
  • A telephoto from across a bay compresses the tower against cliffs or the moon.
  • Many lighthouses are on private or Coast Guard property — check public access and opening hours.

Season: Summer brings open towers and tours; autumn and winter offer storms, fewer crowds and lower sun angles.