Thor’s Well (Oregon Coast): All You Need to Know
Thor’s Well was a spot I came across while researching what to see along the Oregon Coast. I remember viewing all of these professional photographs of Thor’s Well online, thinking to myself “there’s no way it can look that good.” When I finally saw it in person it absolutely blew my expectations. No pun intended. Thor’s Well left such a big impression on me. Because of that, I wanted to create this blog post to help others (aka you) discover this Oregon Coast gem too.
What is Thor's Well?
Thor’s Well (named after the Norse God of Thunder) is a giant hole among a series of basalt rock formations along the rugged Oregon Coastline. The hole looks as if it functions to drain the ocean’s water into a deep underworld abyss. After all, it is known as the “drainpipe of the Pacific.”
As much as it “drains” the water, it equally shoots out waves of water into the sky. This natural geyser-like display attracts many travel photographers (and common travelers like me) to the Oregon Coast, making Thor’s Well a common bucket-list item for all.
How Deep is Thor's Well?
How deep is my student loan debt Thor’s Well exactly? Despite it looking like an endless sinkhole, it only has a depth of 20 feet (6 metres). But don’t let its actual size fool you from its magnificence.
History of Thor's Well
How did Thor’s Well come to be?
Some believe it originally was a sea cave carved by the repeated crashing of waves. Eventually, the roof and floor of the cave eroded enough to collapse, creating two openings for water to flow in and out of.
How Does Thor's Well Work?
So how does this natural phenomena work? Where does the water go?
When the ocean waves come in, the bottom of Thor’s Well swells up with water. If enough water enters at a high enough force, the water ricochets against the walls and explodes up into the air like a natural geyser. It’s an amazing display of violent water spray that will leave you in awe (and possibly wet).
Where is Thor's Well?
Thor’s Well is located on the central Oregon Coast, just 3 miles south of Yachats and 1 mile south of Cape Perpetua. Yachats is a small coastal town and was named one of the “ten coolest small towns in the U.S.A.” by Budget Magazine in 2007. Cape Perpetua is a forested headland projection of the coast, with a Visitor center and is a part of the Siuslaw National Forest. Both Yachats and Cape Perpetua are excellent pit-stops near Thor’s Well to extend your stay and exploration of the Oregon Coast.
Speaking of things nearby, other points of interest are Spouting Horn (right next to Thor’s Well in Cook’s Chasm) and Devil’s Churn (in the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area). I did not personally check out these spots, but if you do or have, please comment about them below!
Thor's Well Parking
Parking is available on the southbound side (West) of the Pacific Coast Highway 1.
When to Visit Thor's Well: High Tide or Low Tide?
If you are asking this question, you are doing the correct research!
Going to Thor’s Well at the wrong time can lead to a very disappointing experience. You did not come all the way to the Oregon Coast to see Thor’s Well without it erupting with water!
Low tide at Thor’s Well: the water level may be too low enough for water to crash against the walls and cause a burst of water. However, you can take pictures of Thor’s Well and get an appreciation of its depth, lined with mussels around its walls.
High tide at Thor’s Well: the water level may be too high that it will prevent you from seeing the drain effect of the water. Also, you may not be able to get too close to the hole due to the high water level.
The best time to visit Thor’s Well is 1 hour before or after high tide. Viewing it at these time allows you to see Thor’s Well cyclically drain and fill from full to empty. It is also the sweet spot for the best chances of seeing the water spray into the air.
Locals say that visiting during a stormy day also yields dramatic shots of Thor’s Well. However, I would exercise heavy caution. Violent weather means more chance of danger at Thor’s Well in an already unforgiving Oregon Coast.
Is Thor's Well Dangerous?
It depends on who you ask and what they define as dangerous.
There have been incidents of people getting struck by “sneaker waves” that lead people to fall onto the volcanic rock, causing nasty scrapes.
However, nobody has fallen into the hole itself. There have been no reported deaths at Thor’s Well from the last I’ve checked.
Some argue that Thor’s Well isn’t necessarily dangerous, but the Pacific Ocean and its waves are.
The terrain around Thor’s Well is also very rocky. A fall onto your hands will not be pleasant. Walking around the area will require a level of focus as you try to wade your way on wet, slippery rock among pools of water. Let’s just say it’s not a place you should run and parkour.
Low tide is relatively safe because the tide is not high enough for water to jump out of the hole. High tide, on the other hand, requires more caution, as the Oregon Coast waves can catch you off guard and sweep you off your feet.
Just look at the video below, taken from my boyfriend, where everything is seemingly calm and then boom! Be cautious people!
How to Take Amazing Photos and Videos of Thor's Well
As mentioned earlier, the best time to visit Thor’s well is just before or after high tide to witness the natural wonder spray the ocean’s water into the air.
Keep in mind I am no photography expert. I simply own an iPhone. No fancy camera equipment here.
However, I came out with some great photos so I want to share my personal tips.
For photos, because the burst of water happens within a matter of seconds, you will want your camera settings on burst-mode or rapid-fire shooting. That way, from the series of photos, you can choose which looks best. My boyfriend was a great model.
For videos, I highly recommmend taking some in slo-mo. It adds to the dramatic effect and you get to really appreciate the formation of the water and every speckle of foam flying over your head as the wave crashes. It is soooo cool! I was so happy with how my videos came out. They really captured how exhilarating and powerful the Oregon Coast waves at Thor’s Well are.
Because I cannot upload slo-mo videos on this post (it will, ironically, make my site slow), here are a couple of before and after screenshots from those videos.
Verdict: Should You Visit Thor's Well?
You absolutely need to visit Thor’s Well sometime in the future. I wouldn’t say it’s a hidden gem, but it surely is a natural wonder. In a way, it is underappreciated. In general, the Oregon Coast is underrated, similar to the Northern California coast at Russian Gulch.
My experience at Thor’s Well could not have been more ideal. My boyfriend and I were practically the only ones there. We were able to take our pictures in front of Thor’s Well at leisure, as there was no queue for photos.
It was absolutely thrilling, more thrilling than I anticipated. I remember getting back to the car, feeling blessed we did not get hurt. Did you see the video? The waves were powerful and we got wet.
It’s the ultimate splash zone. Just enjoy it responsibly.
Thor’s Well, this exquisite, magical natural wonder on the Oregon Coast, gets a 10/10 from me. It’s something you simply have to experience for yourself.
Til’ the next adventure…
— Keanu (a.k.a. the 9to5travelguy)
2 thoughts on “Thor’s Well (Oregon Coast): All You Need to Know”
LOL that video has me 😂. Wish we could see your slowmo ones!
slo-mo ones can be found on my IG! hahaha @9to5travelguy