| Oregon Hikes - North Coast |
| From an email from PIELC 2008 Co-Director, Mark McLaughlin ... |
| Having grown up there, the north Oregon coast offers many epic, magnificent, inspiring as well as challenging hikes! Many of the hikes are part of the Oregon Coast Trial (OCT) which spans the entire coastline of the state: http://www.oregonstateparks.org/images/pdf/coast_trail_guide.pdf. Here is some general info for hiking in Oregon: http://www.oregon.com/hiking.cfm, but i'll try and outline the highlighting hikes from my experience: |
| -Saddle Mountain: Saddle Mountain is the most challenging hike on my list, but also the closest to the Portland area. The road to Saddle Mountain State Park is located roughly at mile post 10 of HWY 26, just east of the Necanicum Junction (HWY 26 and HWY 53 junction). It will be on your right as you head to the coast along 26, just when you get to the bottom of the long 2 lane passing lane heading down from David Douglas Pass. It is about a 5 mile roundtrip hike, but you clime over 1500 feet in elevation, so it can be quite difficult at times. Once you get to the summit, there are some sheer drop-offs, and on a clear day it is definitely worth the workout, as you have amazing views of the Pacific Ocean, the town of Seaside, and even the mouth of the Columbia River. Also, there is no fee to access this state park. http://www.nwhiker.com/SaddleMtHikes.html. |
-Tillamook Head: Tillamook Head is along the OCT and can either be accessed from Ecola State Park in Cannon Beach (see below) from the south, which will cost you $3, or you can access the trial for free from the north side in Seaside. To get there from HWY 26, turn North onto HWY 101 towards Seaside for about 5 miles or so, and turn left at Avenue U, the first streetlight when you just get into Seaside (there will be a 76 gas station on your right). Then take your first left just past the golf course (Edgewood St), and follow it to the ocean, and continue past the parking along the beach on your right and follow the road up the hill for about a mile or so. The road will dead-end at a bunch of condos but the trailhead is right there on your left, with a sign. It is about a 4 mile hike out to the headland, and there is even some cabins which you can spend the night at for free. This trial offers not only great views of the ocean, but also awe-inspiring walks through a magnificent forest. http://www.oregonstateparks.org/images/pdf/ecola_map.pdf. |
-Ecola State Park: $3 day use required. Not only can you access Tillamook Head (from the booth, turn right to Indian Beach, and follow for a couple of miles, and the trailhead is right behind the bathrooms once you get to the beach), but there are also a number of shorter hikes along the coast, and also trails where you can access the beach and tidepools (check for low tide http://www.cannon-beach.net/cbweather.html). To get there, turn left on HWY 101 from HWY 26 for about 3 miles, take the north exit for Cannon Beach and turn right when you reach the 3-way stop and follow signs for Ecola State Park. The road to the park is quite a spectacle itself as it winds through the forest for about 2 miles, with trees even nearly impeding the roadway. You can obtain trail maps from the park entrance booth where you pay for the $3 day use fee. http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_188.php, http://www.oregonstateparks.org/images/pdf/ecola_full.pdf |
-Oswald West State Park: The park and the 1/4 mile walk to the beach is epic as it follows Short Sands Creek through an old-growth forest, to get to the beach park in the main parking lot (with the restroom), and the trail starts just under the bridge next to the information kiosk. Cape Falcon is a relatively easy and flat 4 mile roundtrip hike, and can offer spectacular views. It is an amazing hike and I highly recommend it, and is also part of the OCT. The Cape Falcon parking lot is the most North lot on the West side of HWY 101, just kiddy corner from the main lot, and is distinguishable because of a giant old Sitka Spruce snag in the center of the parking lot. Though you can also access Cape Falcon from the beach trial as well, which has a connecting trial from the beach overlook right next to the kiosk, just before you start walking down the steps to Short Sands Beach. You can also walk from the campground to the summit of Neahkanie Mountain, (see below) which is about an 8 mile round trip, but is also an epic hike through oldgrowth forest and meadows. Once you cross the suspension bridge over Necarny Creek heading toward the beach, just continue you the trial until you hit the fork just before you get to the beach, it will be on your left and will immediately start to head uphill.
To get to Oswald, just head about 15 miles south on 101 from HWY 26, and is about 10 miles south of Cannon Beach. You'll see signs once you head through the Arch Cape Tunnel, and is only a few miles beyond that. http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_195.php. Another great thing about Oswald is that it is free to park. |
| -Neahkahnie Mountain: This is one of my favorite hikes along the PCT, mainly because it is only 2 miles from my house but also on a clear day you have an awesome view of the Pacific Ocean looking south over Manzanita and the Nehalem Bay. http://www.neahkahnie.net/neahkahnie.htm. There are basically 2 trailheads to reach the summit. The first is just south of Oswald, where there is a gravel turnout on the right (if you reach all the paved turnouts you've gone too far). Though the trail is on the east side of the highway so be careful crossing 101. I recommend the other trailhead as I think there are better views along this trail before you reach the summit. This trailhead is located just off 101 on the east side of the highway a few miles south of Oswald. Look for the brown sign with a picture of hikers (between mileposts 41 and 42) just across the highway from a large subdivision called Neahkahnie Meadows, and turn east (left as you are heading south on 101) onto the gravel road. About 1/2 a mile up the road there is a Trailhead Parking sign and room to park a few cars. The trail starts at the gray post to the left of the parking area. This trail is only about a 3 miles round trip, and there are some steep parts but is well worth the climb. There is no fee to park here. |
I hope this is helpful, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions!! Happy hiking!
Cheers,
Mark |