Seal Rock State Recreation Site, Coastal state park in Oregon, United States

Seal Rock State Recreation Site is a state park on the Pacific shore in Lincoln County, Oregon, about 15.8 km south of Newport. Offshore lie named rock formations such as Elephant Rock, Castle Rock and Tourist Rock. Paved walkways lead to two fenced viewpoints, and a steep path descends to the beach.

Development of this recreation site began in 1929 when Lincoln County provided initial land, with additional property acquired in 1936 and 1942. This gradual expansion formed the foundation for today's public facility.

The rocks give the site its name: a seal-shaped sea stack just offshore, where harbor seals haul out on the stone. Visitors scan the water and the rock ledges from the fenced viewpoints, and low tides expose tidepools below the bluff.

The site sits off U.S. Route 101 in Lincoln County, about 16 km south of Newport, with the parking area beside the highway. A paved path runs to two fenced viewpoints over the rocks; the route down to the beach is steep and footing is loose in places. Expect wet, windy coastal weather and dress for it.

The basalt formations originated from lava flows that erupted in northeastern Oregon roughly 15 million years ago. These ancient volcanic events created the rock structures that shape the shoreline today.