Smelt Sands is a small state recreation site on the coast just north of Yachats, the trailhead for the 804 Trail — named for the old highway designation it follows. The trail runs along the top of the basalt bench above the surf for about a mile, giving close access to the wave action on the rocks below. It is an exposed walk and dramatic in almost any weather.
The site takes its name from the Pacific smelt that historically ran in large numbers at the mouth of creeks along this coast, scooped up by local communities in dip nets. The smelt runs are much reduced today, but the name persists. The 804 Trail is a good easy walk if the main Cape Perpetua trails feel like too much — flat, short, and rewarding without requiring more than an hour.