Black-tailed deer, Cannery Hill (bobcat)

• Start point: Nestucca Bay Refuge Trailhead or
• Start point: Cannery Hill Trailhead
• End point: Cannery Hill Viewpoint
• Trail log:
• Hike Type: In and out
• Distance: 1.4 miles
• Elevation gain: 230 feet
• High Point: 290 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Seasons: Year round
• Family Friendly: Yes
• Backpackable: No
• Crowded: No

Hike Description

This relatively new trail in the Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge accesses woodland slopes, where deer are often seen, and a restored headland prairie. Vistas from the viewpoint at the top look down on the Little Nestucca River farmlands and north across Nestucca Spit to Haystack Rock, Cape Kiwanda, and Cape Lookout.

The refuge prefers hikers to begin the hike at the Nestucca Bay Refuge Trailhead even if the gravel section of Christensen Road is open. There’s a viewing gazebo here over the diked floodplain of Upton Slough and the Little Nestucca River. Flocks of waterfowl forage here in the winter. Walk up the road past the refuge manager’s residence and a maintenance shed. The road ascends in a mixed woodland of Douglas-fir, Sitka spruce and red alder. At a break in the trees, there’s a vista down to Upton Slough and the ditched and leveed refuge marshes. Christensen Road reaches the Cannery Hill Trailhead at a saddle.

Look for black-tailed deer in the meadow here. Then take the Pacific View Trail, a paved universal access path. Interpretive signs describe the flora, fauna, and restoration efforts. The meadow at the crest of the hill is being carefully restored to provide habitat for the endangered Oregon silverspot butterfly (Speyeria zerene hippolyta) and its food source, the western blue violet (Viola adunca). An array of wildflowers blooms here in the spring. Get views down to the Little Nestucca valley and forested ridges in the Siuslaw National Forest. The path switchbacks at a bench and then again below an elaborate viewing platform. From the platform, there are views north to Nestucca Spit, Haystack Rock, Cape Kiwanda, and Cape Lookout.

Note that from the Cannery Hill Trailhead, Christensen Road heads into a forested peninsula, between the two arms of Nestucca Bay, that was formerly a retreat location for the Society of Jesus. This land was purchased and added to the refuge in 2013. It is expected hiker access to this area will be developed.

Maps

• Maps: Hike Finder
• Cannery Hill Map (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)

Fees, Regulations, etc.

• No pets allowed
• Port-a-potty at Nestucca Bay Refuge Trailhead

Trip Reports

• Search Trip Reports for Nestucca Bay Refuge Hike

• Cape Kiwanda-Nestucca Spit-Cannery Hill

Related Discussions / Q&A

• Search Trail Q&A for Nestucca Bay Refuge Hike

Guidebooks that cover this hike

• none

More Links

• Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge
• “Nestucca in the middle with you” (Oregon Coast Today)
• “Take in view from Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge, then go to Birding and Blues Festival(OregonLive)
• “A long-sought land purchase allows Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge to grow” (OregonLive)
• Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge (OhRanger)

Contributors

• bobcat (creator)