Sea Lion Caves, Central Oregon Coast

7. View North from the Sea Lion Caves

North of the Sea Lion Caves is the Heceta Head Recreational Area. The Lighthouse can be seen in the distance to the far left. We took this picture from the parking area just north of the caves.

About 12 miles north of Florence, sea lions cluster around Sea Lion Point where they live the year around mating and rearing their young pups. The barking of the sea lions resounds in the large marine cave at the base of the cliff; visitors can descend through the cliff by elevator to a viewing area. The rookery is especially interesting in spring when bull sea lions (weighing up to 2,000 pounds each) select -- and battle for -- their harems of 10 to 20 cows. Cubs are usually born in June. Most of the sea lions stay inside the cave during stormy weather, but when the sun comes out, they assemble on a long rocky ledge outside or frolic in the waves. Many seabirds nest on the cliffs or inside the cave. You must pay for the trip in the elevator but the sea lions can be viewed from the ledges just south of the cave.