Visiting Cape Perpetua

I drove out to the Oregon Coast today, expecting nothing but rain because the forecast made it sound like the whole day would be washed out. Instead, the weather turned out almost perfect — calm air, soft light, and dramatic clouds drifting over the horizon. This part of the coast doesn’t have sandy beaches; it’s all sharp black cliffs, volcanic rock, and the constant crash of waves against the shoreline. I found a flat patch near the edge and launched my drone, watching the rugged coastline unfold from above. At one point a woman walking by noticed the drone and came over, curious. She asked if she could see the controller screen, and I showed her the live view of the cliffs and swirling whitewater from the air. After that first flight, I hiked up toward Cape Perpetua, one of the most striking places on the entire Oregon Coast. The trail winds through dense coastal forest before opening up to a sweeping overlook more than 800 feet above the Pacific. Cape Perpetua is part of the Siuslaw National Forest and is known for its dramatic volcanic headlands, old‑growth trees, and natural features like Thor’s Well, Spouting Horn, and Devil’s Churn. From the top, the coastline curves away in both directions, and the cliffs drop straight into the ocean. It feels like standing on a balcony above the world. I flew the drone again from up there, capturing the cliffs, the forest canopy, and the ocean far below. And then came the highlight of the day: while scanning the water, I spotted a whale just offshore. First a plume, then the slow rise of its back breaking the surface. It moved calmly along the coast, completely unbothered by anything happening on land. What started as a supposedly rainy day turned into one of the best coastal trips I’ve had in a while — great weather, a peaceful hike, two incredible drone flights, and a whale sighting to top it all off. Sometimes the forecast gets it wrong in the best possible way.