Thor’s Well in Oregon
Located on the Oregon Pacific Coast in the North West of the USA, Thor’s Well is a circular hole, that was formed after a sea cave collapse.
At high tide, the waves come in under the hole and seem to fill it from the bottom, while spray bursts out of the top. As the waves recede, the hole empties and it looks like the sea is draining away into a bottomless hole, before it refills and empties again. Thor’s Well has many nicknames including the drainpipe of the Pacific and even the Gate to Hell.
Tousrists must be careful, as a rogue wave can easily cover visitors in spray or knock one over. However, the real danger is the sea and sharp volcanic rock, as opposed to the Well itself.
Thor’s Well is located just 3 miles south of Yachats in the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area and its Visitor Center.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Thor’s Well, Cape Perpetua, Oregon, USA
- Coordinates
- 44.27842, -124.11352
- Access
- Thor’s Well is an exposed, hazardous coastal rock feature, not a guarded viewpoint. The City of Yachats warns that sneaker waves and large sprays can sweep people into the ocean. View only from a safe established path or overlook well back from exposed rocks; keep watching the surf and follow Forest Service closures. Do not approach or stand at the well edge.
- Admission
- No separate admission fee for the natural feature is listed. A Forest Service day-use/parking fee may apply at Cape Perpetua lots; check current signs and fee information before parking. The exact current amount was not verified.
- Time needed
- No official visit duration is published. Time varies with the walk from the parking area and how long you observe conditions; do not linger on exposed rocks or approach the well edge.
- Best season
- No preferred season is published. For viewing conditions, the City of Yachats suggests arriving about one hour before high tide, when the feature may be visible before the water fills it. Tide timing does not make the shoreline safe: avoid exposed rocks, especially during storms or large surf, and check local conditions.
- Opening hours
- No separate Thor’s Well operating hours were found. Access depends on Cape Perpetua Scenic Area trails and any Forest Service closures; check current conditions before going.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-24
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-28
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