July on the central Oregon Coast delivers long daylight, low-tide mornings, and a bustling cast of marine wildlife. Nestled between Newport and Waldport, Seal Rock State Recreation Site blends dramatic offshore stacks with shallow terraces that trap seawater, creating a natural amphitheater for harbor seals, brown pelicans, and anemone-laden tidepools.
Time | Action | Details |
6:00 a.m. | Park at Seal Rock SRS | Restrooms & picnic tables; display day-use pass or pay kiosk |
6:10 a.m. | Scan the stacks | Use binoculars to spot early-rising pelicans on Gull Rock |
6:20 a.m. | Descend beach trail | Steep but paved path to tidepool terrace; low-tide target ≤ 1 ft |
6:30 a.m. | Tide-pool safari | Look for purple urchins, sea stars, and hermit crabs—step only on bare rock |
7:00 a.m. | Harbor-seal watch | Move north toward Elephant Rock; maintain a 150-ft buffer from seals |
7:45 a.m. | Pelican photography | Golden light illuminates low-skimming flocks-use a fast shutter speed |
8:30 a.m. | Coffee & pastries | Drive 5 min south to Waldport’s Beachside Bakery |
10:00 a.m. | Estuary bonus stop | Continue to Brian Booth / Ona Beach for kingfishers & great blue herons |
Wildlife-Respect Rule: Keep dogs leashed, stay off driftwood logs with resting seals, and observe marine-guard rules—no collecting.
Panoramic bluff platform ideal for spotting pelican formations and whale spouts on calm mornings.
Shallow shelves trap clear seawater—prime habitat for sunflower sea stars, lined chitons, and bright orange sea cucumbers.
At tides below 2 ft, dozens of seals lounge here. Use a 200 mm lens or binoculars for candid seal-pup yawns.
Time | Activity |
6:00 a.m. | Seal Rock sunrise & tide-pools |
7:30 a.m. | Harbor-seal and pelican watch |
8:30 a.m. | Pastries + espresso in Waldport |
9:30 a.m. | Ona Beach estuary birding |
11:30 a.m. | Return to rental for balcony brunch |
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Secure your July getaway through Oregon Beach Vacations, and wake up just minutes from harbor-seal reefs, pelican fly-bys, and Technicolor tidepools.
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