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Neahkahnie Mountain from North Hike

From Oregon Hikers Field Guide

Revision as of 20:56, 31 January 2019 by Bobcat (Talk | contribs)

Looking south from the Neahkahnie Viewpoint (Steve Hart)
The trail switchbacks through the lower meadows on Neahkahnie Mountain (cfm)
Looking north from early in the hike (Steve Hart)
The trail up to the Neahkahnie Viewpoint (not a GPS track) (bobcat) Courtesy: Caltopo

Contents

Hike Description

The Oregon Coast Trail crosses Neahkahnie Mountain and the summit is reachable from either side. The hike from the north requires a little more elevation gain, but it ascends through a more varied landscape, passing below the south summit of Neahkahnie, and gaining great views north in the process, to reach the Neahkahnie Mountain Viewpoint, which offers sublime views south to Nehalem Bay. NOTE: Parts of this trail are badly eroded with many exposed roots. Proper footwear is a must, especially when the trail is wet.

From the North Neahkahnie Mountain Trailhead, cross the highway and start up the Oregon Coast Trail. The first section of the trail is cut through an otherwise impenetrable thicket of salal along a telephone line corridor. A wide variety of flowers bloom here each spring including Columbia wind flower, trailing blackberry, candy flower, coast fawn lily and, of course, the ever present salal. As the trail switchbacks higher in spruce/hemlock woodland, there are views of the ocean, including a look north to the stunning coastal cliffs at the Devils Cauldron and Cape Falcon.

The trail enters the forest near the top of the meadow. You'll soon cross a small creek of iron colored water and then the trail slabs across the north face of the mountain through carpets of sorrel and trilliums in season. The trail continues to switchback higher. The north, higher summit of Neahkahnie Mountain is heavily timbered and not accessible by trail. The trail winds around the south side of the northern summit into a woodland of moss-covered spruce. Next, it ducks under a low log and enters a section of very dense, dark forest completely devoid of undergrowth. You'll drop into a saddle, and then begin climbing to the south summit. There's a small switchback and finally you'll come to a rare open rocky area, the Neahkahnie Mountain Viewpoint. There's a very steep and potentially dangerous use path up to a peak, but the view to the south is really good from here. You'll see Neahkahnie Beach, Manzanita and the coast all the way to the Nehalem Bay Mouth. Take in the vista and then return the way you came.

Maps

Regulations or restrictions, etc

  • Trails closed 10:00 p.m. - 6:00 a.m.; no overnight parking
  • Dogs on leash

Trip Reports

Related Discussions / Q&A

Guidebooks that cover this hike

  • 25 Hikes on Oregon's Tillamook Coast by Adam Sawyer
  • Exploring the Oregon Coast Trail by Connie Soper
  • Hiking the Oregon Coast by Lizann Dunegan
  • Take a Hike: Portland by Barbara I. Bond
  • Portland Hikes by Art Bernstein & Andrew Jackman
  • 120 Hikes on the Oregon Coast by Bonnie Henderson
  • Day Hiking: Oregon Coast by Bonnie Henderson
  • Trips & Trails: Oregon by William L. Sullivan
  • Hiking Oregon's History by William L. Sullivan
  • 100 Hikes/Travel Guide: Oregon Coast and the Coast Range by William L. Sullivan
  • A Walking Guide to Oregon's Ancient Forests by Wendell Wood
  • Best Hikes Near Portland by Fred Barstad
  • 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles by Paul Gerald
  • 75 Hikes in Oregon's Coast Range and Siskiyous by Rhonda & George Ostertag
  • 50 Hikes in Oregon by David L. Anderson
  • Oregon Hiking by Sean Patrick Hill
  • Pacific Northwest Hiking by Scott Leonard & Sean Patrick Hill
  • Oregon Coast Hikes by Paul M. Williams
  • Oregon Campgrounds Hiking Guide by Rhonda & George Ostertag
  • The Oregon Coast Trail Guide by Jon Kenneke (eBook)
  • Oregon Coast Trail: Hiking Inn to Inn by Jack D. Remington
  • A Hiker's Guide to the Oregon Coast Trail by David E.M. Bucy & Mary C. McCauley
  • Oregon State Parks: A Complete Recreation Guide by Jan Bannan

More Links

Contributors

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Oregon Hikers Field Guide is built as a collaborative effort by its user community. While we make every effort to fact-check, information found here should be considered anecdotal. You should cross-check against other references before planning a hike. Trail routing and conditions are subject to change. Please contact us if you notice errors on this page.

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