Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

The Oregon coast can be a dark place. Have you seen the storm surges crash into the rocky shores? Heard tales of the shipwrecks that still haunt the beaches? Seen the corpses of marine life litter the sand?

To top it all off, there are nearly a dozen places on the coast that are branded as "devils." Some are possessive – as if they belong to the devil itself – while the others lack the apostrophe, implying they're realms where many devils dwell.



It’s not clear why so many places on the coast earned the “devil” moniker. We know that Devil’s Lake was named for a monster that supposedly lives there, and that Seven Devils was named for ravines that were difficult to cross, but the rest remain a mystery. Was there some inherent danger therein? Or because they just generally looked ominous?

Either way, they make a perfect excuse to get back to the coast for the fall. Explore these devilish destinations, if you dare…

Seriously though, be careful out there. Some of these places are called “devil” for good reason.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

1. Devils Kitchen

Part of the Bandon State Natural Area, Devils Kitchen is a stretch of beach filled with dark, craggy rocks, where turkey vultures flock to feast on the carcasses of gulls and crabs. There is perhaps no more devilish destination on the coast, though with a trailhead and a few picnic tables, Devil's Kitchen is also a lovely place to spend a day at the coast.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

2. Seven Devils

The Seven Devils State Recreation Site offers a long stretch of sandy beach framed by a beautiful headland to the north and a small lighthouse to the south. It's not particularly dark or ominous, named instead for the deep ravines that run down the hills to the beach, and the difficulty white settlers had in cutting a trail through them.

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Foster Church/The Oregonian

3. Devils Punchbowl

Devils Punchbowl might be the most recognizable "devil" feature on the Oregon coast, a stunning bowl-shaped sea cave with a collapsed roof. A trailhead found a couple blocks east of the main viewpoint will lead you along a short and easy hike to the interior at low tide, but a word of caution: If you stay too long, the rising tide will trap you inside.

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Courtesy of Oregon State Parks

4. Devil's Lake

One of the few lakes on the Oregon coast, Devils Lake is ringed by private residences, with a state park site on the western end. The 3-mile fresh water lake is the site of popular campgrounds and day-use areas, and is conveniently located in downtown Lincoln City. White settlers apparently named it after a legend told by a local tribe of a giant fish or monster that lived in the lake.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

5. Devils Churn

Devils Churn is a narrow inlet that's part of the rocky shores of Cape Perpetua. As the ocean rolls into the chasm, it splashes and sprays, crashing over the rugged rock and threatening to pull in anyone who steps too close to the edge. It's also adjacent to Thor's Well, a perfectly devilish destination in its own right.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

6. Devils Cauldron

It's not really clear which part of the coastline is Devils Cauldron. Different maps label it as different small inlets at Oswald West State Park, where the Devils Cauldron Overlook Trail leads to viewpoints looking either way. Most people take that trail, but there's also a short, unmarked trail just south, which leads to a beautiful perch surrounded by tall cliffs and choppy ocean below.

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Courtesy of Oregon State Parks

7. Devils Elbow

Devils Elbow is the name given to the headland just south of Heceta Head. You can see one side of the elbow from the beach below the Heceta Head Lighthouse, and the other side from the Sea Lion Caves. In between is a rocky chasm that's best viewed from satellite imagery. The beach there used to be called Devils Elbow Beach.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

8. Devil's Staircase

Among all the places on the coast labeled "devil," the Devil's Staircase waterfall is perhaps the most dangerous. Not because of the waterfall itself, but because of the long hike through the remote, unmarked wilderness to get there. While Devil's Staircase is on public land, YOU SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT TO HIKE THERE. Oregon Wild has spent years trying to designate the Devils Staircase Wilderness, but for now there's no safe way to access the waterfall without firsthand knowledge of the area and experience hiking in the Northwest wilderness.

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9. Devil's Backbone

A little-visited spot on the southern Oregon coast, Devil's Backbone is a small headland that juts out into the ocean, forming a cove and sandy beach. It's found at the north end of a long stretch of sand that runs between the small communities of Nesika Beach and Ophir.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

10. Devils Bend

OK, so Devils Bend isn’t really much of a destination, but it is a place named “devil” on the coast. It’s apparently a small feature on the Alsea River just east of the Alsea Bay Bridge in Waldport (the above photo looks in the approximate direction), but there isn’t any detailed information. It might be the name for the bend in the river at the Day Drainage Ditch, but who knows. You can probably boat there, if you feel so inclined.

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BONUS: 7 Devils Brewing

It might not be a natural destination, but you can always stop by 7 Devils Brewing in Coos Bay. The small brewery serves pub fare and pours its own beer, as well as kombucha and a good selection of whiskey.

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Jamie Francis/The Oregonian

NORTHWEST TRAVEL GUIDES

Oregon's most beautiful places: From the Cascade Mountains to the high desert, these are the 50 most beautiful places in Oregon.

Volcano road trip: Take a tour of Oregon's volcanic legacy, with highways up to mountain tops and out to hidden desert caves.

Oregon's best roadside attractions: A fairy tale wonderland, mysterious vortex and many strange statues highlight Oregon's best roadside attractions.

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--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB

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