Thor’s Well is a large natural sinkhole set into a beautiful basalt rock formation along the Oregon coast. The feature drains the seawater away giving the impression of an endless swirling pit. As the tide brings the seawater to shore and then back out to sea, it can create a mesmerizing vortex.
As you might have guessed, the feature gets its name from the Norse God, Thor. It’s a stunning sight and there’s a ton to explore in the area that’s also worth seeing too.
Where is Thor’s Well?
Thor’s Well is in Yachats, Oregon located in the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area. The formation has a parking area that is very close, off route 101 (it’s on Google maps). It’s the same place people park for Cook’s Chasm and Spouting Horn so don’t be worried you are in the wrong place if you see signs for those too.
Captain Cook Trailhead
If this map looks blank you can fix it by clicking the icon in the right-hand corner & changing the map layer
Once you park your car, near Captain Cook Trailhead, it’s a 3-5 minute stroll down to the formation near the water. There’s a paved footpath and some cement stairs with a sturdy railing so no need to go spelunking on this one. It’s pretty straightforward and well-marked.
Area Trail Map: There are some other connected paths if you want to walk and explore down the coast. I’ll link a map of the Cape Perpetua Area you can screenshot but, I wouldn’t count on cell service, so definitely do this before you leave, just in case.
When to view Thor’s Well?
Thor’s Well is best a little before high tide (20-30 minutes). You want just enough time so you can see the transition in water levels before peak high tide. This way you can take in the full effect and see the contrast. You can find a nifty chart and list of high/low tide times for Thor’s Well.
It’s also very cool to watch if there’s been turbulent weather patterns that make the seawater come up swiftly over the area and then get shallowed through the drainpipe.
How deep is Thor’s Well?
Despite its appearance, it’s not as deep as you might expect. Thor’s Well is estimated to be about 20 Feet (6 Meters) deep. So, it’s not an endless void but still treacherous should you fall in. The relatively shallow depth is likely due to the gradual nature of how Thor’s Well was formed.
How was Thor’s Well made?
Gary Hayes is a Coastal Expert and publisher of Coast Explorer Magazine, he explains:
“Formations like Thor’s Well and Spouting Horn are typically formed over long periods of time geologically. They begin as a sea cave and eventually the top of the cave collapses, leaving an opening where the tide surges from below send water shooting upward with dramatic force.”
Why kind of Wildlife is at Thors Well?
There are tons of local plants and animals you may be able to see while you are exploring. We saw gulls and the standard fare as far as coastal birds go but there’s also some extraordinary marine life there.
If you walk out along the rocks going around and to the north of Thor’s Well there are tide pools filled with surprises. They’re little muscles that cover the rocks in abundance but there are also starfish and sea urchins.
Warning
Obligatory “don’t be a dummy” disclaimer. Getting super close to a giant gaping hole, that drains out to sea, as the swell of the waves crash into the nearby rocks is a do-at-your-own-risk kind of activity.
It’s probably not very safe so be careful if you choose to explore close to the well and use common sense (especially if there has been a storm that makes the tide very high.)
FYI: If you go at high tide you will probably get a good amount of waves that sneak up and may spray you. I’d bring a windbreaker so you aren’t too wet and shoes with a good tread as it can be slick on the rocks.
Video footage of Thor’s Well
If you want a better look at the place we took some videos of it at high tide you can see here on TikTok: Thors Well
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