Devils Churn is a narrow crack in the basalt headland just south of Cape Perpetua where waves drive into a channel perhaps thirty feet wide and surge up with explosive force. At high tide during swell, the water compresses into the channel and shoots upward in a plume of white spray. It is the loudest and most powerful of the coastal wave features around Yachats, and the most accessible — a paved trail leads to a viewing platform at the edge.
The Churn is a short walk from the Cape Perpetua parking area, and the combined loop with the tidepools and Cook's Chasm takes less than two hours. It is a good all-weather destination because the spray and turbulence are more impressive in rough conditions. The trail is stroller-accessible to the overlook, which makes it unusual for this stretch of the coast.