Sea Lion Caves

Sea Lion Caves was still worth visiting even though we did not see many sea lions during our trip. The cave itself was really cool to explore and the coastal views around the area were absolutely beautiful. It’s such a unique stop along the Oregon coast and the atmosphere inside the cave was amazing. Even without a lot of sea lions, the experience and scenery made it worthwhile. Definitely recommend stopping by if you’re driving along the coast and want to see something different and iconic.

As a part of my Sperm Donation World Tour of the USA I did a day along the Oregon coast starting here, was umming and arrhhing to pay the $18 entrance fee as the early morning fog/mist made it difficult to see the seals. Being the time of the year (summer) only a handful of Sealions were utizlizing the cave. The elevator going down is cool and some interesting stuff inside.

I was worried this wouldn't live up to the hype & be a corny roadside attraction, but it was really cool! My family & I found the walk easy enough, took our time at the different viewpoints and the gift shop, and made some great memories watching the sea lions. We found the prices of items pretty reasonable, scoring a few fun trinkets to bring home. All in all, I'm very glad we went! ♡

I hadn't been here in over 50 years. Nicely kept up. Nice gift shop. Paths to the viewing platform and the elevator to the cave are steep, so take your time.

Best $18 ever spent. It was an amazing experience to see all the sea lions, and to learn about them. Not to mention the view of the coast from the inside, and the view of Heceta Lighthouse. I would recommend this place to families, couples, and single travelers!

You buy the ticket inside the sea lion gift store. Adult $18, parking is across the street. You see about 10 sea lions going down the elevator on the rock in the middle. And about hundreds of them on the nearby shore rock. We need to support places fixed up for wild life more.

Elevator ride down was smooth, only 8 sea lions in the cave though. Over a hundred were outside sunning themselves on the rocks. We went down to the lookout and were lucky enough to see two whales as well!!

We visited Sea Lion Caves with our family using a valid raincheck receipt. While we understood and accepted that it is not breeding season and that sea lions typically return in early spring, our experience at the ticket counter was disappointing. When we presented our raincheck, the cashier spoke to us in a condescending and dismissive tone. It felt as though she did not want us to proceed into the cave. What stood out most was that, while waiting, we observed her interactions with other guests purchasing tickets. She communicated with them respectfully and calmly, clearly explaining that there were currently no sea lions visible due to the season. Her tone and manner with us were noticeably different. We are Southeast Asians, not Caucasian, and while no explicit statements were made, the difference in treatment was uncomfortable and left us feeling disrespected. We fully understand that wildlife sightings are never guaranteed and that the absence of sea lions during certain times of the year is normal. However, all guests—regardless of background—should be treated with the same level of courtesy and professionalism. Despite this interaction, we still enjoyed the breathtaking views and appreciate those who made the cave accessible to the public. The natural beauty of the site is something to be thankful for, and we hope future visits reflect both the beauty of the place and the warmth of equal hospitality.