Oregon Coast Hikes
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
Contents |
Oregon Coast Trail
Hike | Difficulty | Distance | Elevation Change | Notes | |
[Oregon Coast Trail] | Difficult | 382 | ? | Mix of beach, trail, and road along the Oregon coast (official website) |
North Oregon Coast
Hike | Difficulty | Distance | Elevation Change | Notes |
Astoria Area | |||||
Astoria Riverwalk Hike | Easy | 12.8 | 0 | Take a rails-to-trails route along the Columbia River waterfront of Oregon's oldest settlement | |
Historic Astoria Loop Hike | Easy | 2.3 | 240 | A tour of the many elegant historic homes in old Astoria | |
Cathedral Tree-Coxcomb Hill Hike | Easy | 3.0 | 565 | Forested hike to a big Sitka spruce and then the Astoria Column | |
Skipanon River Loop Hike | Easy | 7.3 | 20 | Trails along the levees on the lower Skipanon River | |
Astoria Demonstration Forest Hike | Easy | 2.4 | 140 | Explore the trail system at the Clatsop State Forest headquarters | |
Fort to Sea Hike | Moderate | 5.0 | 160 | Varied ramble from Fort Clatsop to Sunset Beach | |
Netul River Hike | Easy | 1.5 | 20 | Easy walk along the Lewis and Clark River |
Fort Stevens State Park | |||||
Clatsop Spit Loop Hike | Easy | 4.6 | 10 | Very pleasant amble at the mouth of the Columbia with lots of wildlife | |
Fort Stevens Loop Hike | Moderate | 10.0 | 40 | Hike to historic artillery batteries, a shipwreck, dune thickets and a coastal lake | |
Fort Stevens Military Loop Hike | Easy | 2.6 | 20 | Visit various military fortifications and buildings dating to the Civil War | |
Coffenbury Lake Loop Hike | Easy | 2.4 | 35 | Loop around a shallow interdune lake |
Seaside/Gearhart | |||||
Sunset Beach to Necanicum Estuary Hike | Moderate | 12.6 | 25 | Walk a wide beach to the mouth of the Necanicum River | |
Cullaby Lake Loop Hike | Easy | 1.5 | 30 | Loop around the north end of Gearhart Fen and to a natural lake | |
Gearhart Ridge Path Loop Hike | Easy | 3.0 | 30 | Take a secluded trail past back yards in Gearhart and loop back via the beach and an estuary | |
Seaside Promenade Loop Hike | Easy | 6.2 | 20 | Walk the beach and a paved path to enjoy the sights of this historic beach town |
Cannon Beach Area | |||||
Clatsop Loop Hike | Easy | 3.0 | 700 | Loop hike to a view of Tillamook Rock Lighthouse | |
Tillamook Head Traverse Hike | Moderate | 6.3 | 1350 | Forested traverse hike from Seaside to Ecola | |
Crescent Beach Hike | Easy | 3.6 | 310 | Hike down to a secluded beach and explore the caves and tide pools | |
Ecola Creek Forest Loop Hike | Easy | 3.1 | 445 | Take a gated road up the West Fork Ecola Creek to see ancient cedars | |
Cannon Beach Nature Loop Hike | Easy | 2.1 | 10 | Observe numerous species of waterfowl on wastewater ponds and walk along Ecola Creek | |
Cannon Beach Hike | Moderate | 10.2 | 25 | Hike to secluded beaches past headlands and picturesque sea stacks | |
Hug Point Hike | Easy | 0.5 | 40 | Beach stroll to a small waterfall, caves and historic road grade | |
Hug Point to Arch Cape Hike | Easy | 4.5 | 40 | Walk to scenic Hug Point and then south around headlands to Arch Cape | |
Cove Beach Hike | Easy | 3.4 | 20 | Walk a secluded cobbled beach north to Arch Cape |
Oswald West State Park | |||||
Arch Cape to Short Sand Beach Hike | Difficult | 15.9 | 2750 | Take the Oregon Coast Trail through dense forest to a magnificent headland | |
Cape Falcon Hike | Moderate | 4.8 | 160 | Mostly level hike past a small cascade to a lovely viewpoint | |
Neahkahnie Mountain Loop Hike | Moderate | 8.0 | 2300 | Loop hike with old growth, clifftop views, and a mountain viewpoint; requires some road walking | |
Neahkahnie Mountain from North Hike | Moderate | 5.0 | 1450 | Forest hike with views from the summit ridge of Neahkahnie Mountain | |
Neahkahnie Mountain from South Hike | Easy | 3.0 | 840 | Quicker hike to the summit of Neahkahnie Mountain: good for children |
Nehalem Bay to Tillamook Bay | |||||
Nehalem Spit Loop Hike | Easy | 5.2 | 25 | Make a loop using an ocean beach and mossy bayshore woods | |
Manhattan Beach Hike | Moderate | 7.5 | 10 | Hike a wide beach to the mouth of Nehalem Bay with views of coastal peaks | |
Cedar Wetlands Hike | Easy | 0.4 | 10 | Short hike through the bogs of Saltair Creek to a gnarled and ancient cedar | |
Kilchis Point Loop Hike | Easy | 2.2 | 20 | Interpretive trails through coastal wetlands to mudflats on the bay | |
Tillamook Bay Wetlands Loop Hike | Easy | 3.6 | 20 | Loop around former pastureland with views of river deltas |
Three Capes Scenic Area | |||||
Bayocean Spit Loop Hike | Moderate | 7.6 | 50 | Beach and bay ramble out to the site of a 1920s area resort town swallowed by the unforgiving ocean | |
Cape Meares Hike | Moderate | 5.4 | 885 | Hike from a beach to enjoy old growth spruce, a lighthouse, and clifftop vistas | |
Short Beach Hike | Easy | 1.4 | 95 | Hike an intriguing trail down to a narrow cobbled beach | |
Oceanside to Netarts Hike | Easy | 6.4 | 20 | On this beach walk, find secluded coves, look for wildlife on Three Arch Rocks, and walk to Netarts Bay | |
Netarts Spit Hike | Moderate | 11.2 | 60 | Hike to the end of Northwest Oregon's longest spit | |
Cape Lookout North Hike | Moderate | 9.6 | 2340 | Forested walk with elevation gain and loss and clifftop views | |
Cape Lookout Hike | Moderate | 5.0 | 930 | Whale watching hike out to the tip of a dramatic peninsula | |
Cape Lookout South Hike | Easy | 3.6 | 840 | Shady hike down to a secluded beach at the base of the cliffs | |
Whalen Island Hike | Easy | 1.3 | 50 | Easy family loop hike through a coastal forest and estuary | |
Sand Lake-Cape Kiwanda Hike | Moderate | 8.2 | 240 | Hike the beach between a natural estuary and Cape Kiwanda's Great Dune | |
Cape Kiwanda Hike | Easy | 2.2 | 230 | Short hike to views of a stunning headland and the top of a high sand dune | |
Nestucca Spit Loop Hike | Moderate | 7.5 | 60 | Loop hike taking in a beach, wetlands, and an enchanted forest |
Northern Coast Range
Hike | Difficulty | Distance | Elevation Change | Notes |
From Highway 30 | |||||
Crown Zellerbach Traverse Hike | Moderate | 23.8 | 1805 | Follow an old logging road/railroad grade from Scappoose to Vernonia: can be hiked in sections | |
Liahona Loop Hike | Easy | 3.6 | 730 | Forested loop undulating around Camp Wilkerson County Park | |
Beaver Falls Hike | Easy | 0.7 | 100 | Short walk to an attractive waterfall splashing into a basalt amphitheater | |
Gnat Creek Hike | Moderate | 8.1 | 710 | Hike along a secluded Coast Range creek; shorter loop also possible |
Banks - Vernonia | |||||
Banks-Vernonia Traverse Hike | Moderate | 20.7 | 820 | Easy walking on a now paved former railroad line; the hike is described in five sections | |
Stub Stewart Northern Loop Hike | Easy | 4.1 | 480 | Gentle loop through the forest at the north end of Stub Stewart State Park | |
Boomscooter-Bumping Knots Loop Hike | Moderate | 9.1 | 1630 | Two loops in Stub Stewart State Park, including the isolated southwestern section | |
Williams Creek-Hares Canyon Loop Hike | Moderate | 10.7 | 1910 | This hike links four east-side loops in Stub Stewart State Park and includes a couple of viewpoints | |
Vernonia Lake Loop Hike | Easy | 2.9 | 15 | Flat hike on a paved trail around the Oregon-American Lumber Company's mill pond |
From Highway 202 | |||||
Northrup Creek Big Tree Loop Hike | Easy | 0.9 | 35 | Hike along Northrup Creek to visit some large and ancient maples and conifers | |
Northrup Creek Loop Hike | Moderate | 8.7 | 1725 | Loop on equestrian trails through secondary woods and logged areas in the Clatsop State Forest |
From Highway 26 | |||||
Four County Point Hike | Easy | 1.8 | 135 | Quick walk to a granite monument at the meeting point of four counties | |
Steam Donkey Loop Hike | Easy | 0.8 | 140 | Interpretive loops illustrating early 20th century logging activity | |
Bloom Lake Hike | Easy | 3.4 | 675 | Short hike to a secluded lake in the Clatsop State Forest | |
Spruce Run Lake Hike | Moderate | 6.8 | 1580 | Up and down hike to a small lake in the Clatsop State Forest | |
Saddle Mountain Hike | Moderate | 5.5 | 1600 | Hike to the summit of Saddle Mountain |
Highway 53 | |||||
Soapstone Lake Loop Hike | Easy | 3.2 | 305 | Short hike to a secluded Coast Range lake | |
Nehalem Falls Loop Hike | Easy | 0.9 | 70 | Loop to a rapid/chute on the Nehalem River and a stand of old growth | |
Cougar Valley Hike | Easy | 4.6 | 855 | Walk old logging roads in an unknown state park |
Salmonberry River | |||||
Wolf Creek Trestle Hike | Moderate | 10.0 | 740 | Trail closed | |
Belding Hike | Difficult | 7.2 | 570 | Trail closed | |
Enright via North Fork Hike | Difficult | 9.4 | 490 | Trail closed | |
Lower Salmonberry River Hike | Moderate | 9.6 | 275 | Trail closed |
From Reehers Camp | |||||
North Gales Creek Trail Hike | Moderate | 6.8 | 1465 | Begin at the Nehalem River and hike to a ridge crest in the Tillamook State Forest | |
Step Creek Loop Hike | Moderate | 7.6 | 860 | Take a little-used trail up a creek valley and then loop west to join the Gales Creek Trail | |
Triple C Loop Hike | Easy | 2.4 | 280 | Short loop along the Nehalem River and through secondary forest |
Highway 6: Rogers Camp Area | |||||
Gales Creek Hike | Difficult | 13.6 | 2040 | Hike up the secluded Gales Creek valley to a ridge crest | |
Low Divide Creek Hike | Moderate | 5.2 | 705 | Hike down to Gales Creek in lush woodland | |
Storey Burn Loop Hike | Moderate | 8.1 | 1645 | Forested loop with numerous creeks | |
University Falls Loop Hike | Moderate | 8.0 | 1275 | Loop hike through lush forest, including a waterfall and historic stagecoach route | |
Wilson River Wagon Road Hike | Moderate | 11.6 | 1800 | Hike a historic stagecoach road from the Devil's Lake Fork to Stagecoach Camp | |
University Falls Hike | Easy | 0.7 | 180 | Short hike to a 60-foot waterfall |
Highway 6: Elk/Kings Mountain Area | |||||
Elk Creek Hike | Difficult | 9.6 | 2100 | The "easier" hike in the area | |
Elk Mountain Hike | Moderate | 3.2 | 2080 | Hike to the summit of Elk Mountain, very steep and slippery, nice views | |
Elk Mountain-King's Mountain Loop Hike | Difficult | 10.8 | 3700 | Hike to the summits of Elk Mountain and King's Mountain | |
King's Mountain Hike | Moderate | 5.0 | 2500 | Hike to the summit of King's Mountain, in the woods with fewer views, steep last section | |
Kings Mountain Junior Loop Hike | Moderate | 5.9 | 2695 | Uncrowded loop option taking a narrow ridge to the Kings summit |
Highway 6: Wilson River | |||||
Wilson River Traverse Hike | Difficult | 22.6 | 3950 | Long hike with many creeks, views and small waterfalls; described in five sections for easier day hikes | |
Smith Homestead Hike | Easy | 0.8 | 20 | Short trail to the banks of the Wilson River and the site of a historic homestead |
Tualatin River Drainage | |||||
Hagg Lake Loop Hike | Moderate | 13.5 | 520 | Hike through forest and creek valleys around a foothills reservoir | |
Lee Falls Hike | Moderate | 6.6 | 355 | Walk a gated gravel road along the upper Tualatin River to an unusual block waterfall |
Trask River | |||||
The Peninsula Loop Hike | Easy | 0.9 | 250 | Hike a basalt ridge to a grove of old-growth Sitka spruce |
Nestucca Hills | |||||
Munson Creek Falls Hike | Easy | 0.6 | 95 | Easy trail to the Coast Range's tallest waterfall | |
Hebo Lake Loop Hike | Easy | 0.4 | 10 | Loop around a forest lake and popular trout fishing destination | |
Mount Hebo Hike | Difficult | 16.0 | 3230 | Hike to a moorland plateau and then down Hebo's remote back side to secluded lakes | |
Niagara Falls Hike | Easy | 2.0 | 350 | Hike down to visit two waterfalls in the Coast Range |
Central Oregon Coast
Hike | Difficulty | Distance | Elevation Change | Notes |
Cascade Head Area | |||||
Cannery Hill Hike | Easy | 1.4 | 230 | Walk in a wildlife refuge to a hillcrest viewpoint | |
Neskowin Beach to Porter Point Hike | Moderate | 9.6 | 15 | Check out sea stacks, shallow caves, and a drowned forest on this beach hike | |
Cascade Head Hike | Moderate | 6.8 | 1310 | Steep hike with stunning views and endangered flora and fauna | |
Hart's Cove Hike | Moderate | 5.4 | 1000 | Hike down into a coastal meadow with views of the ocean and a waterfall |
Lincoln City | |||||
Roads End Hike | Easy | 2.6 | 15 | Hike the beach to a headland and explore rock pools at low tide | |
Friends of the Wildwoods Hike | Easy | 1.0 | 45 | Short trail through an open space of forest and wetland | |
Spring Lake to Devils Lake Hike | Easy | 2.4 | 295 | Walk from a quiet forested lake to the busy shore of Devils Lake | |
Cutler City Wetlands Loop Hike | Easy | 0.8 | 5 | Rhododendrons, mossy woods, a salt marsh and a pond |
Siletz Bay to Yaquina Head | |||||
Salishan Spit Hike | Moderate | 8.0 | 20 | Beach walk to a harbor seal haul out site at the mouth of Siletz Bay | |
Cape Foulweather Hike | Easy | 0.6 | 120 | Quick stroll to a hidden meadow with ocean views | |
Devil's Punchbowl Hike | Easy | 1.8 | 100 | Low tide beach walk to tidepools and the inside of a collapsed sea cave | |
Beverly Beach-Moolack Beach Hike | Moderate | 10.3 | 80 | Hike a wide sandy beach and then enjoy low tide on wave-cut platforms and rock formations | |
Spencer Creek Loop Hike | Easy | 1.7 | 30 | Short nature trail along a coastal creek |
Newport | |||||
Yaquina Head Hike | Easy | 3.4 | 490 | See whales, seals, seabirds, basalt formations, and a historic lighthouse at this beautiful headland | |
Newport Beach Hike | Moderate | 8.2 | 195 | Walk the beach from imposing Yaquina Head to the historic Yaquina Bay Lighthouse | |
Big Creek-Forest Park Hike | Easy | 3.6 | 560 | Walk the wetlands and spruce forest on the back side of Newport | |
Newport Bayfront Hike | Easy | 2.6 | 140 | Walk Newport's historic bay front and then out to the beach and a lighthouse | |
Yaquina Estuary Hike | Easy | 0.9 | 10 | Interpretive trail along Yaquina Bay from the Hatfield Marine Science Center | |
Mike Miller Park Loop Hike | Easy | 1.2 | 115 | Loop around a pocket of old-growth Sitka spruce and hemlock | |
Cooper Ridge-South Beach Loop Hike | Easy | 3.3 | 70 | Wander through dense rhododendron thickets and then out to the beach |
Ona Beach to Waldport | |||||
Beaver Creek Loop Hike | Easy | 4.6 | 440 | Take the trails through the marshes and around a forested knoll at Beaver Creek |
Yachats/Cape Perpetua | |||||
Yachats 804 Trail Hike | Easy | 1.7 | 20 | Take this historic route along the rocky shoreline of Yachts | |
Ya'Xaik Trail-Gerdemann Preserve Loop Hike | Easy | 2.1 | 190 | Loop from the coast to hillside forest and a private botanical preserve | |
Amanda's Trail Hike | Moderate | 7.4 | 1170 | Hike from the rocky ocean shore to ascend steeply in lush forest to the top of Cape Perpetua | |
Cape Perpetua Hike | Moderate | 6.5 | 1100 | Varied trails at a spectacular coastal headland: blowholes, lush creeks, big trees, views, wildflowers, and more! | |
Gwynn Creek Loop Hike | Moderate | 6.3 | 1200 | Loop that visits old growth spruce and Douglas-fir in the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area |
Central Coast Range
Hike | Difficulty | Distance | Elevation Change | Notes |
Drift Creek/Siletz River Area | |||||
Drift Creek Falls Hike | Easy | 3.0 | 490 | Hike to a spectacular trail bridge | |
Valley of the Giants Loop Hike | Easy | 1.4 | 535 | Walk around a relic stand of massive Douglas-firs and hemlocks |
Kings Valley Area | |||||
Fort Hoskins Loop Hike | Easy | 1.8 | 430 | Hike through a meadow and around the site of a historic fort | |
Beazell Memorial Forest Loop Hike | Easy | 3.9 | 885 | Two short loops through forest and meadows |
Marys Peak Area | |||||
Marys Peak East Ridge Hike | Moderate | 5.5 | 1200 | Hike through old growth to the summit | |
Marys Peak Meadow Edge Hike | Easy | 1.8 | 450 | Wander through wildflower meadows and ancient Noble Firs | |
Marys Peak North Ridge Hike | Moderate | 9.0 | 1900 | Switchback to the summit in solitude through a magestic forest | |
Marys Peak Summit Hike | Easy | 1.5 | 400 | An easy walk around the summit of Marys Peak | |
Alsea and Green Peak Falls Hike | Easy | 4.2 | 230 | Visit two waterfalls in lush forest; optional loop to see old growth trees |
Drift Creek Wilderness | |||||
Drift Creek North Hike | Moderate | 7.6 | 1690 | Wilderness hike on an old growth ridge down to remote Drift Creek |
Florence Area | |||||
Kentucky Falls Hike | Easy | 4.0 | 650 | See three impressive waterfalls | |
Enchanted Valley, Oregon Hike | Easy | 4.0 | 80 | Follow an old roadbed through a valley with abundant wildlife | |
North Fork Smith-Kentucky Falls Bike and Hike | Moderate | 17.0 | 3200 | Hike uphill along a creek and past waterfalls; return on bicycle |