First of all, this location is wicked cool. There truly is not anything like it (that I know of) and I think that alone makes this spot really freaking neat. So, if you are up for a fun and unique adventure for your couples session in Oregon, stick around to learn everything you could possibly need to know about planning a Devil’s Punchbowl couples session.
Where is Devil’s Punchbowl?
Devils Punchbowl State Natural Area is located in Otter Rock on the central Oregon Coast, just north of Newport. The park itself is relatively easy to reach from Highway 101, which is part of why it works so well for couples who want that dramatic Oregon Coast scenery without committing to a major hike—which by the way is roughly 30 minutes-1 hour roundtrip and is considered an easy-moderate hike.
The Hike at Devil’s Punchbowl
The Clifftop Viewpoint Walk
- Distance: 0.4-0.8 round round trip
- Duration: 20 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy
- Terrain: Mostly flat
This is the trail that you’d want to explore if you’re interested in seeing Devils Punchbowl from a birdseye view looking down into the punchbowl.
The Low Tide Beach Trail
- Distance: ½ a mile round trip
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Terrain: There is a steep hill to the beach access and lots of slippery rocks to be extra careful with when walking on the trail
This is the trail that you’d explore if you wanted to venture into the Devils Punchbowl to see the cave arches and sandstone that was carved out by the ocean waves and the legendary tide pools.
Why Devil’s Punchbowl is such a freaking cool place for your engagement/couples photos
There are dozens of Oregon Coast locations that will give you a pretty beach, and then there are locations where Mother Nature clearly decided she had something to prove. Devil’s Punchbowl falls firmly into category number two.
One of my favorite things about photographing here is that we can get photos that look completely different without driving 45 minutes to another location along the coast. Plus, the experience at Devils Punchbowl will be different depending on which tide time you visit.
For Kati and Josh’s couples session at the punchbowl, we went during a medium-high tide so we weren’t able to explore inside of the punchbowl—but this can be a really fun addition to your session if you’re feeling brave when the tide is low! I share more about this type of experience below.
What does a Devil’s Punchbowl couples session actually look like?
We can photograph around the cliffs
What makes this location so special is the sandstone cliffs and amphitheater that the ocean waves have created over time. There are beautiful rock formations that expose sea caves that you wouldn’t be able to typically see otherwise.
We can head down toward the beach
When you’re at the beach, you must go to the beach, right? Devils Punchbowl is connected to the C-Avenue trail that gives you access to the beach from Highway 101.
We can explore the rocks + tide pools
…and fossils!?!? If you’re lucky, you can crack open a rock to find fossils such as ancient burrows from clams, worms, and filter-feeding organisms. Plus, if you’re extremely lucky, you may even stumble upon some fossilized mammals, and petrified wood. You can read more about the historical significance of this area in this article.
We don’t have to photograph inside the Punchbowl
When you see Devil’s Punchbowl photos online, you might assume we’re climbing directly into the giant sea cave. We absolutely do not have to do that to get the photos you’re probably picturing. One of my favorite areas to view the punchbowl is by accessing the Clifftop viewpoint off of highway 101.
We NEED to Talk About the Tides
Another unique feature about this location is that your session time may revolve around the tide more than sunset. You can check out the tide table here.
The punchbowl itself is an entirely different environment at low versus high tide. Entering the formation can become extremely dangerous as the tide returns. This is why it’s extremely important to ensure you’re aware of the tidal changes so that you don’t accidentally get caught into a high tide moving into the punchbowl
I would normally tell you we’re chasing sunset, but for everyone’s safety at Devil’s Punchbowl, I care more about what the Pacific Ocean is doing that day.
High Tide vs. Low Tide
Depending on when you visit, you’re going to get two drastically different experiences. Which again, is what makes this spot so fun!
During high tide, the punchbowl is completely full of water from the pacific and is a fun sight to see from the viewpoint overlook because of how hard the waves are crashing in, it can almost create this vortex-like experience. Plus, the foam on the beach makes for a moody detail in your photos.
During low tide, the punchbowl is completely emptied and allows you the opportunity to actually go walk through the sea cave to check out the rock formations from a close-up view. This is the only time where you can actually see rock layers and tide pools.
The Best Time of Day for Devil’s Punchbowl Photos
My ideal session time depends on three things: the tide, the weather, and the light.
Sunrise:
This is often when the wind is going to be the most calm and can also be a great opportunity to check out the punchbowl if low tide falls during this time. Another perk of this time of day is the potential of seeing some whales as they have been mostly undisturbed throughout the night and become more active.
Midday:
This is the most popular time to visit so parking can be really difficult to secure. 1st street (Viewpoint Lot) parking lot is almost always full so it’s likely if you plan your session during this time, you’ll be circling the lot a few times.
Golden Hour/Sunset:
The cliff overlook faces west so this is another popular time to visit, especially if the weather is cooperating.
The Ideal Season to Schedule Your Couples Session
Spring
This is the most popular season to visit if whale-watching is on your bucket list/you want this a part of your couples session experience. This is also a time in the year where you may run into some fog—and depending on the vibe you’re going for, could be absolutely epic if you’re wanting a moody session, or quite tragic if you’re wanting more of those coastal views overlooking the Pacific.
Summer
Summertime is known as the “exploration” season because of how well mother nature shows off throughout the summer months. The sea is significantly calm, the sunsets are later, and you have a greater opportunity of checking out the tide pools this time of year.
Fall
Just like spring, this season can be unpredictable as the season is transitioning from summer to fall to winter in such a short timeframe. The obvious benefit of this time of year is the fall foliage and cooler temps. I definitely recommend layering during your session if planning a sunrise/sunset session time because the temps can drop quickly.
Winter
If seeing the iconic vortex of the punchbowl is high on your list, this is the time to visit. The Pacific experiences wicked storms that help create the perfect mix for the waves to crash into the punchbowl. This is the season where staying along the viewpoint trail is the safe choice.
Parking, Bathrooms + Getting Down to the Beach
A daily parking permit is required to visit. $10 for Oregon residents and $12 for out-of-state residents. You can purchase the day pass by the kiosks onsite or online. You can find more information about this here.
Parking:
- Viewpoint Lot off of 1st Street
This is the perfect lot to park at if you just want to take in the view of the punchbowl from the viewpoint rather than the complete hike down to the beach. This spot is the most popular and fills up extremely quickly—especially during the Summer season.
- Beach Access Lot off of 2nd Street & C Avenue
This is the lot that you’ll want to park at if you want access to a restroom or plan to hike down the beach.
- Street Parking
If both lots are full, you may be able to snag a street parking spot going towards the viewpoint lot. You only can park in the designated street parking spaces that are available
Down to Get a Little Sandy?
If giant cliffs, wild, windblown hair, running around the beach, and letting the Oregon Coast do whatever the hell it feels like doing sounds exactly like your kind of date night, you might have just found your couples session location and I would be absolutely honored to document it. Get in touch here.
Want to check out some other cool spots along the Oregon Coast? Head here next.
