If your summer legs are itching for a big adventure, look no further than the Oregon coast.
While Oregon’s long mountain treks get all the attention, the coastal trail networks offer a bounty to hardy day hikers, who can climb up headlands, traverse dense forests and soak in ocean views — all on a single excursion.
Many long-distance hikers may immediately think of the Oregon Coast Trail, a 425-mile thru-hike that runs the length of the state’s coastline, but that complex hike involves too many jaunts along the side of the highway, too many tricky river crossings, too many low-tide-only walks for the average person.
These five long-distance coast hikes are a bit easier to handle. All are along established trails through public lands, maintained by Oregon State Parks, the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service.
Almost all of these hikes are cobbled together from interconnected trail networks and are therefore highly customizable. Don’t want to go so far? It’s no problem to make the hike easier. Want an even longer hike? In some places, there are even more miles of trails to explore.
Do your stretches, pack the essentials and head out on these long-distance hiking trails along the Oregon coast.
CAPE LOOKOUT TRAVERSE
Distance: 12.6 miles
Amenities: Campground, restrooms
Why you go: Great views, easy-to-navigate trails
Home to an enormously popular campground and seriously beautiful views, Cape Lookout State Park is also very easy to navigate, with three distinct trails running through the park. From the campground and day use area, you can hike the 2.3-mile North Trail up to the Cape Lookout headland. There, you can walk 4.6 miles out and back on the Cape Trail. Finish it off by walking the 1.7-mile South Trail down to South Beach. Head back the way you came for a 12.6-mile round-trip hike.
Want to make it easier? Skip the South Trail for a 9.2-mile round-trip hike between the day use area and the end of Cape Lookout.
FORT TO SEA TRAIL
Distance: 13 miles
Amenities: Restrooms, museum
Why you go: Forest, farmland and beach all in one historical hike
Tracing the Lewis and Clark Expedition’s journey between Fort Clatsop and the Pacific Ocean, the Fort to Sea Trail today is a 13-mile out-and-back adventure that runs through coastal forest, farmland and ocean beach. Start at the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park in Astoria, then hike the 6.5-mile trail out to Sunset Beach. Soak in the ocean views, then hike back to the Fort Clatsop replica.
Want to make it easier? Arrange for a ride back from one end of the trail, turning it into a 6.5-mile one-way hike.
YACHATS TO CAPE PERPETUA
Distance: 13.5 miles
Amenities: Restrooms, visitor center
Why you go: Tons of coastal scenery and history
There are tons of trails packed into this hiking corridor south of Yachats, and while each one makes a great outing, you can easily string them all together for one epic adventure. Start at Yachats Ocean Road State Natural Site and take the 3.4-mile Amanda Trail, a culturally significant hike that leads past the Amanda Statue and up to the top of Cape Perpetua. From there, you can hike 1.2 miles to the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center and a network of short paved trails that lead to a number of natural attractions: Thors Well, Devils Churn and Cape Cove. Another must-see is the Giant Spruce Trail, which runs .8 miles past a campground to an enormous tree. Add it all up for an out-back-hike of about 13.5 miles.
Want to make it easier? Skip the natural attractions (which are all easy to drive to) and just do a 6.5-mile out-and-back hike along the Amanda Trail.
ECOLA TRAVERSE
Distance: 17.2 miles
Amenities: Restrooms, hiker camp
Why you go: Breathtaking views and dense coastal forest
Ecola State Park in Cannon Beach is easily one of the most beautiful places on the north Oregon coast. With breathtaking cliffside views and dense coastal forest, it’s a magical place — no wonder it’s been used in so many movies. The south side of the park is well-loved, while the wilder north end is a bit more of an adventure.
To see it all, start at Ecola Point and hike 2.1 miles north on the Indian Beach Trail. Next, take either branch of the 2.5-mile Clatsop Loop Trail to reach the rustic hikers camp, with an offshoot to a viewpoint of the Tillamook Head Lighthouse. From there, it’s a quiet four miles along Tillamook Head to the northern trailhead in Seaside. Completionists can add on the 3-mile out-and-back hike to Crescent Beach at the far southern end of the park, either at the beginning or end of the adventure.
Want to make it easier? Cut the Crescent Beach portion for a 14.7-mile journey. Still too long? Cut out Tillamook Head for a 6.7-mile round-trip hike from Ecola Point to the hikers camp.
OSWALD WEST TRAVERSE
Distance: 26.4 miles
Amenities: Restrooms
Why you go: Views, surfing, cliffs and A LOT of trail
If you want to do some serious coastal hiking, Oswald West State Park is the place to go. The lengthy trail system includes a mountain and a cape, as well as a beloved beach and lots of forest. Start on the southern end at the south Neahkahnie Mountain trailhead, then make the 3.3-mile hike up and over the mountain. Cross the highway and hike 1.4 miles along Elk Flats to Short Sand Beach, popular among surfers. From there, climb 2 miles up Cape Falcon, where the views are incredible. Hardy adventurers can go on for 6.5 miles to the Shingle Mill Trailhead in the community of Arch Cape. Head back the way you came for a whopping 26.4-mile experience.
Want to make it easier? Cut out the Arch Cape adventure to make this a more reasonable 13.4-mile out-and-back hike.
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