Catching Another Side of Astoria: Ethereal Oregon Coast Scenery at Night

Published 05/13/25 at 5:25 a.m.
By Andre' GW Hagestedt, Oregon Coast Beach Connection

(Astoria, Oregon) – Astoria in itself is always a scenic wonder. Which is a bit of a turn since most cities don't end up being in that category of “scenic,” no matter how pretty the architecture is. Yet this north Oregon coast has its spells to cast – visually. It manages to fuse rural sights with city lights. Yes, the rhyme was intended. (All photos Andre' GW Hagestedt)

It's something I caught a lot of years ago while traipsing around Astoria one day, except this was nighttime. These photos and words come from back then – over ten years ago. And they show the pretty place with a different, nocturnal side.

That particular kind of scenery I like to snag often on the coast – and really anywhere, actually. Yet when I happened across all this again something new hit me: the reference to “heaven” in the first few paragraphs. I got the chills. I've made it no secret one of my fave moments in time is when a character in Star Trek: Discovery said of Astoria: “It's heaven.” Loads of us across the states cheered that day in April 2022. According to Star Trek: 'Astoria. On Earth's Oregon Coast. It's Heaven'

I now like to think perhaps the script writers saw that article of mine. Many people did for years, actually.

So, consider this a kind of remix of the original photo essay: a bit of photo processing skills and wordsmith musings later. Years later.

Like a remix, here's a bit of an extra. This kooky little building up in the hills gets beyond funky after dark. It's like....well....it's a little like something outta Doctor Who as well as vintage TOS. Here's the original essay:

Astoria's Coxcomb Hill is always a scenic wonder, in just about any weather. Of course when it gets too windy you don't want to be at the top of these 595 feet. But other than the periodic inclement Oregon coast weather days, this place is a bit of heaven.

Or at least closer to Heaven.

Seeing these sights at night, however, is a whole different kind of ethereal. Something about Astoria just glows in a different way.

At the top, in late December one year, Coxcomb Hill yielded this extraordinary scene, with a full moon lighting up the skies and puffy clouds into massive, floating clumps of surrealism. Below this striking night scene is the famed Astoria-Megler Bridge lit up in quite the dramatic manner.

In the far distance, across the Columbia River, the lights of the south Washington coast.

Looking south, you spot the Young's Bay Bridge fired up on this dreamlike night, which is most likely how you got to Astoria, if you came from the south and the Oregon coast. Astoria looks larger and a tad more metropolitan from up here than if you're down below – and even more so with this abundance of twinkling lights.

The lights of Warrenton in the far distance seem so much brighter, however. Blinding even.

Another view, slightly southward, shows the slow, grinding climb of the twisting road up to Coxcomb Hill, with hints of the Astoria-Megler Bridge in the background and that fantasia-like sky above it.

A massive ship is slowly moving through the Columbia River, looking a bit like a small floating city all its own.

Another night scene, concentrating on that winding drive to the top, shows another shimmering side to these hillsides. A car is slowly heading up here, captured in motion by this long exposure photograph. This road was made famous in a few movies: now it's downright otherworldly.

At the very top sits the impressive and gargantuan Astoria Column, which was built in 1926 and stands about 125 feet tall. Here, the north Oregon coast landmark is dressed up for the holidays, as a full moon appears to dance around it. Beginnings, Construction of the Astoria Column - N. Oregon Coast History

Also on this night, with rain squalls periodically battering this soaring spot, the streets are soaking wet. This makes for an awe-inspiring sight as the lights of the Astoria Column are reflected there, and the moody night clouds swirl around above it.

For another hefty dose of mind-bending beauty, check out the Astoria-Megler Bridge on even a somewhat foggy night. The whole scene glows in a jaw-dropping, almost supernatural manner.

It all drives home the point even further how beautiful this place can be in ways you hadn't even considered before – if you took a few minutes to view Astoria from not just a different vantage point, but a different time of day.

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