Looking for the best hikes along the Oregon coast?
The Oregon coast hike is a vast and varied landscape with many different features to explore and admire.
This article includes a list of some of the top coastal hikes in Oregon, as well as tips on what to pack, and how to prepare for these adventures.
Also Read: Best Places to Visit on the Oregon Coast
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Best Hikes on the Oregon Coast
Here are our favorite hikes on Oregon Coast.
Cape Falcon Hike
Cape Falcon Trail located in Oswald West State Park is a popular northern Oregon coast hike.
The hike is 4.8 miles long and is of difficulty moderate level.
This is one of the best places for hikers who want to view the coast from above.
Short Sand Beach Trail
Also located in Oswald West park, Short Sand Beach is a family-friendly coast hike.
The entire hike is about 1.2 miles round trip with about 80 feet in elevation gain, making it a fairly easy trail to hike.
This is a great place to go on a leisurely hike with friends and family who have small children in tow.
Haystack Rock Trail
Haystack Rock Trail on Cannon Beach is probably amongst the most famous hikes on the Oregon coast.
It is more of a beach walk than a hike and can be attempted at low tide.
The hike begins along the shore and you can walk across the beach to the famous geological formation.
Spot sea lions, nesting sea birds, and watch the ocean waves crash against the sea stack.
Also Read: Best hikes near Cannon Beach, Oregon
Cape Perpetua Trail
On the Central Oregon coast, you will find around 1.9 miles long Cape Perpetua Trail.
The trail goes through an impressive old-growth dense coastal forest and is very scenic.
You will find numerous tide pools full of intertidal creatures like crabs and sea anemones, along the way.
Look for whales in the distance during the winter months as they migrate northward.
The trail also has numerous detours that will lead visitors to many iconic rock formations such as Thor’s Well, Devil’s Churn, and Cook’s Chasm.
Thor’s Well is one of our favorite places to visit on the West Coast.
This is a collapsed sea cave that looks spectacular at high tide.
You can get detailed trail maps at the Cape Perpetua Visitors Center.
Fort to Sea Trail
In the very corner of Northwest Oregon, you will find the Fort to Sea Trail.
The hike begins at Fort Clatsop, traverses the lush green temperate rainforest, and ends at Sunset Beach.
The hike is strenuous at 12 miles round trip.
The Fort to Sea Trail distance may be long but the hike is worth the spectacular views.
Because of its diverse attractions, this hike along the coast is a must-see for hikers and history buffs.
John Dellenback Dunes Trail
The John Dellenback Dunes Hike in Oregon brings hikers to a large expanse of coastal dunes that extend right up to the sea.
The hike is 5 miles long and of moderate difficulty.
The John Dellenback Dunes Trailhead is located in the Siuslaw National Forest.
The trail takes hikers through old growth forest to the dunes and the sandy beach.
Clatsop Loop Trail
Located in Ecola State Park, Clatsop Loop Trail is famous for its stunning views of the beautiful Oregon Coast.
The trailhead is located north of Indian Beach in Ecola State Park and ascends the coastal forest.
Hikers are treated to a vast array of natural coastal beauty during their walk through the forest which includes dense foliage, marshlands, and tidal pools.
In the end, you will have panoramic views of the Tillamook Head Lighthouse, Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach, and the rugged coastline.
This is an Oregon Coast hike where you need to pay attention for wildlife as you might just spot a deer, elk, migrating whales, or even a bald eagle along the way.
Bring your binoculars if possible to get an even closer look from a distance without startling the animals.
Wear sturdy hiking boots to tackle the varying terrain of this trail.
Tillamook Head Traverse Hike
The Tillamook Head Traverse Hike is a popular trail for hikers and backpackers.
The entire hike covers a distance of 13 miles and requires moderate skills to complete the hike successfully.
This challenging hike takes you through lush green coastal forests, views of crashing waves, secluded beaches, meadows full of wildflowers, and more.
You can begin at Indian Beach trailhead in Ecola State Park or the Tillamook Head Trailhead near Seaside.
On the trail, you can have stunning views of the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse.
This iconic lighthouse is popularly known as Terrible Tilly and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Natural Bridges Trail
While Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor located along the southern Oregon coast has many scenic trails, one of the hikers’ favorites is Natural Bridges Trail.
This is a great hike for all ages and fitness levels, but be prepared to get a little muddy as this trail runs through a lowland marsh with boardwalks over the estuary marshes.
The best time of year to visit this Oregon Coast hike is during late fall and winter months when birds are abundant.
Bass sparrows, wrens, terns and other coastal species all call this area home along with larger birds like bald eagles.
God’s Thumb
North of Lincoln City, you will find the area known as God’s Thumb.
The ultimate bike hike is 4.3 miles long.
This Oregon Coast hike is all about the journey and less about the destination.
On the trail, you will have amazing views of the foggy coast, woods, lush green meadows, and views of the ocean waves crashing on the cliffs below.
Along the way, you can enjoy the panoramic views of the ocean from the Knoll viewpoint.
The summit of God’s Thumb is significantly more difficult than the rest of the trail and should be attempted only by experienced hikers.
Cape Lookout
Cape Lookout State Park near Tillamook is a wonderful place for Oregon Coast hikes as it has miles of trails that lead through forests and along the coastline.
A trail also runs from the park to the tip of Cape where hikers are treated to some of the best views on the entire coast.
Most hikers choose to hike either the North or South Beach Trail which offers different views, but both lead to Cape Lookout where the best views of all can be seen.
This is one of those special places where you can view a lighthouse, a historic Coast Guard station, and the forested coastline all from the same location.
This is another Oregon Coast hike that requires some attention as you might just spot a deer or elk along the way, and if you’re lucky you might even see a black bear.
Cape Kiwanda
Cape Kiwanda, located near pacific City, is one of the best Oregon Coast trails for families.
The short trail is just 1 mile long and offers great views from the clifftop.
Cascade Head Trail
Lincoln City is home to one of the top Oregon Coast Hikes on the central coast – The Cascade Head Preserve Hike.
This 6.7 miles hike has difficulty moderate
Located at the south end of Lincoln City, this park offers easy coastal hiking trails along the beach leading to different rock formations and forest trails.
Neahkahnie Mountain Trail
Located near Manzanita, this is another popular Oregon Coast hike that offers spectacular views of Neahkahnie Mountain, Nehalem Bay, and the coast.
The trailhead is located right along Highway 101 and is very easy to access.
The Neahkahnie mountain trail distance is 2.5 miles long one way.
This is another great spot for whale watching on the Oregon Coast.
Sunset Bay to Cape Arago trail
Located in Sunset Bay State Park near Coos Bay, this Oregon Coast hike takes hikers along a trail that offers views of secluded beaches and interesting rock formations.
On the trail, you will find beautiful coastline views at every turn.
Along the way, you will see sea lions, the Cape Arago lighthouse, and the Shore Acres Botanical Gardens.
Cape Sebastian Trail
Considered one of the best Oregon Coast Hikes on the southern end, Cape Sebastian State Scenic Corridor offers several different trails that lead up to viewpoints offering spectacular views of the coastline.
One of the most popular ones is the 2.7 miles round trip Cape Sebastian Trail.
The trailhead is located near Gold Beach and the trail offers excellent opportunities for wildlife-watching and birding.
The trail also has beautiful wildflowers and a nice secluded beach at the end.
Oregon Coast Trail
The epic Oregon Coast Trail is 383 miles long and one of the most iconic thru-hikes in America.
Hiking the Oregon Coast Trail takes careful planning and several weeks to complete.
The trail stretches along the entire coastline and offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean.
The trail takes hikers through dense forest paths, the magnificent Oregon dunes, sandy beaches, and rocky coastline.
Oregon Coast Trail hikers will see several other wildlife species along the way including elk, deer, and black bear.
The experience is just incredible!
Oregon’s coast is home to some of the most beautiful hikes in the Pacific Northwest.
It takes a lot of time and effort to find these hidden gems but they are well worth the spectacular views.
We hope you liked our guide about the best hiking trails on the Oregon Coast.
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