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Experience the Majesty of Oregon's Coastline at Cook's Chasm Scenic Bridge

Architectural Splendor: The Cook's Chasm Scenic Bridge

Perched above the impressive Cook's Chasm, this concrete arch bridge, completed in 2003, spans approximately 175 feet. Its design has often been likened to that of an ancient fortress, exuding a regal presence. From the Thor's Well Overlook, visitors can descend to the shore level to appreciate the bridge's grandeur from a different vantage point, enhancing the visual experience of this coastal engineering feat.

The Cape Perpetua Visitor Center: Your Coastal Exploration Hub

The Cape Perpetua Visitor Center is an essential starting point for any exploration of this region. It boasts both interior and exterior viewing platforms, all of which are wheelchair accessible, providing expansive views of the Pacific Ocean. As the primary entry point to the 2,700-acre Cape Perpetua Scenic Area, the center offers access to an extensive network of 26 miles of hiking trails. The cape itself, named by British explorer James Cook in 1778, features the highest car-accessible viewpoint on the Oregon coast, reaching an impressive elevation of 800 feet above sea level.

Unveiling Nature's Wonders: Thor's Well and the Spouting Horn

A paved trail, known as the Captain Cook Trail, stretches 0.8 miles round-trip from the Visitor Center to Cook's Chasm. This path leads to two of nature's most enthralling displays: the Spouting Horn and Thor's Well. The chasm itself, formed by the collapse of a sea cave, provides a dramatic setting for the ocean's raw power. Thor's Well, a 20-foot-deep hole in the rocks, creates a spectacular show as water surges upwards with immense force, often reaching heights of 20 feet. Similarly, the Spouting Horn, another natural marvel, witnesses powerful Pacific waves forcing water skyward through rock formations, mimicking a geyser. The most opportune time to witness these phenomena in their full glory is during high tide, when the ocean's force is at its peak.