Oregon Coast Hiking

Northern Oregon Coast Hiking Trails

Southern Oregon Coast Hiking Trails

Oregon Coast Trails Listed South to North

The Oregon Coast Trails will eventually traverse the entire 350 miles of the coast border to border. Over 300 miles are now in use, many of those miles are on the beach, while others use existing or newly built segments over the headlands. 

Because some Curry sections of the trail come back to 101 frequently, it lends itself to short hikes of from ½ to 3 miles with longer hikes for those who want to cover several sections in a day. Numbers are Hwy 101 mile markers listed south to north.

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1. Lone Ranch Rest Area to Cape Ferrelo Parking Area. 
Moderate Hike. As of this writing, Lone Ranch is the southern anchor of the Oregon Coast Trails. Restroom and picnic facilities are here. The trail starts just past the restrooms. It crosses a bridge across Lone Ranch Creek and goes along north, above the beach before heading up the hill to the top of the westernmost portion of the Cape and then around the north edge and to the parking area on top.  

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2. Cape Ferrelo to House Rock Viewpoint. Easy Hike. 1½-Miles.
The trailheads north from the Cape parking lot and winds its way through open grassy areas and then into wooded   
areas. House Rock Viewpoint has a large parking area. A monument to Samuel Boardman, early Director of the
State parks System is here. 

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 3. House Rock Viewpoint to Whalehead Park. 2 ½  to 3 Miles.
Moderate Hike. Trail leaves from the northwest corner of the parking lot. In a short distance it comes back close to Hwy. 101 before crossing a bridge and then heading through a wooded area and then grassy slopes to the beach. The portion from the grassy area to the beach is steep and may be difficult as wave action sometimes takes the trails out.. The last half of the trail is along the beach to Whalehead Park. An easier alternate route leads to the right a hundred or
so yards past the bridge. It parallels the highway, passes by two beautiful waterfalls and comes out at Whalehead
Viewpoint. From there it is down to the beach and then to Whalehead picnic area.

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4. From the parking Area at Whalehead
to the next section leaves from just behind the rest room and parallels Hwy.101 to meet the south end of Whalehead Loop.

5. Whalehead Loop. 1 Mile. Easy to Moderate.
This loop is another scenic one and you return to Hwy. 101 just about 500 steps from you started. The trail begins where Whalehead Park Access Road joins Hwy. 101. The first part is steep but it levels out once you have gained the heights. 

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6. Indian Sands Section. 1 to 1 ½ Miles Easy to Moderate.
A wide spot along Hwy 101 is a place to park to start at the south end. The trail goes through woods and then a  panorama of sand, sculpted sandstone and breath-taking coves and arches comes into view. Indian middens may be found, but the are protected by law, so look but do not dig. Shortly after entering the sand area a trail heads up a steep hill to the Indian Sands parking area. To go further north, follow the trail along the upper end of the sand. It drops over a small saddle and then a steep draw and back to Hwy. 101, just north of Indian Sands parking area. Do not get too close to the ocean edge. Dangerous.

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7. To Thomas Creek Bridge. ½ Mile. Easy to Moderate.
Parallels Hwy 101 from the end of the Indian Sands Section. It swings around a steep, nearly open hillside, plunges through a spruce forest and traverses around the head of a draw and goes up towards the south Thomas Creek parking area. A side-trail leads to a spot below the bridge where great photo opportunities awaits. Thomas Creek Bridge is the highest bridge in Oregon. at 345 ft.

8. Thomas Creek Bridge to North Islands Viewpoint. Easy.
About ½ Mile. Leaves Hwy. 101 at the northwest corner of the bridge. After a short trek through wooded areas, it opens into small grassy areas before going back to Hwy. 101 at North Islands Viewpoint. An interesting side trip is across the meadow to the knob west of the trail. You can look back and see Thomas Creek Bridge and a considerable distance down the coast.

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9. North Islands Viewpoint to Spruce Creek. Moderate.
A delightful beach below China Creek is your reward if you follow this trail, moderate in difficulty, but the hike is well worth it. Leaves Hwy. 101 at the North Islands Viewpoint, and goes through wooded areas before joining the downhill trail. The trail will then switchback through dense thickets with a few “windows” before breaking out into the open. It’s an easy trek to the beach along the grassy hillside. The beach portion is wide and often dry above the waves.

Several nice picnic areas can be found. Walking north along the beach, the critical part is a rocky point that must be negotiated to make a complete loop. A tide of lower than 5 feet will usually give the chance to run around the point, before climbing up the bank over wave worn rounded rocks.

The trails marker is on the bank above the beach and then it’s uphill. Stop often to rest and gaze back at the ocean and it won’t seem sp steep. Occasionally you might see a flock of goats grazing or sunning themselves on the rocks near the ocean. A large parking area is located at the top of the hill and you’re back on Hwy. 101, near Spruce Creek.

10. Spruce Creek to Horse Prairie Creek. About ½ Mile.
Leaves Hwy. 101, about ¼ mile north of Spruce Creek and winds through a wooded area before traversing the slope on a narrow trail above a secluded cove.

11. Horse Prairie Creek To Natural Bridge. About ½ Mile.
Easy to Moderate. The trails path follows the slope just below Hwy. 101 and then crosses a grassy flat to the south access to this woodsy track that ends at Natural Bridge Viewpoint.. Just before Natural Bridge viewing platform, a steep primitive path heads west to a bench above the ocean with more spectacular views. A memorial to Dr. Sam Dickens, who first proposed the Oregon Coast Trails, is located at the north end of the grassy area by the parking lot.

12. Natural Bridge To Thunder Rock. About ½ Mile. Moderate.
Leaves the north end of the parking area and goes through some beautiful wooded areas. Near the beginning is a fork with a left trail dead-ending at a scenic view-point. Further along, just before swinging east back to Hwy. 101, another primitive path will take you to another bluff over looking a secluded cove.

13. Natural Bridge to Thunder Rock Cove. About 3/4 Mile.
Easy to Moderate. This portion is actually three segments that can be delightful hikes by themselves or can be combined into a longer hike. This section takes you above and to one of the most beautiful and isolated beaches in the area, known to some as “Secret Beach”, but no longer much of a secret. Again, you have two trails from which to choose. Shortly after the beginning of the trail, the left fork switchbacks down to another secluded cove and along the bluff above a portion of “Secret Beach”. The straight-ahead path is not maintained but can be used as a loop to come back from the scenic route. The second segment is the trail that goes on to Miner Creek where you enter “Secret Beach”. From Miner Creek and an old “cat” road provides one way back to Hwy. 101, but the trail itself goes through the woods and back to Hwy. 101, a little north in the third segment of this interesting section.

14. Miner Creek To Spruce Islands Viewpoint. About ½ Mile.
Moderate. Leaves Hwy. 101, just north of miner Creek section and follows the south slope above a beautiful cove. The trails path then goes along the bluff overlooking the ocean before going back uphill through a spruce forest and back to the parking area at Spruce Island Viewpoint. (Abundant Poison Oak here, so be careful)

15. Spruce Islands Viewpoint to Arch Rock.
This Approximately ½ mile segment is relatively easy. The south end starts from the middle of the viewpoint parking area and transverses the hillside where it provides several views of the ocean. The north end starts at Arch Rock picnic area at the end of the fence just off Hwy. 101.

16. Arch Rock Viewpoint, North.
Leaves from the paved path north of the parking area. It crosses a bridge and then through the woods and crosses another bridge before returning to Hwy. 101, at a parking area. The trail then is west of the guardrail on the highway shoulder.

      17. Just North of Hoskenaden Creek,
Leaves a primitive parking area and heads out towards the ocean. It goes through the grassy area and then down to a bench along the highway fill. At the end of the bench it side-hills down to a four wheel drive road. Cross the road and follow the trails path over a bridge just north of the road. The trails path heads north and crosses another small creek and then heads uphill to the east on an old road. About halfway up towards the top, the trail side-hills to the north and at the saddle you can see the concrete flume through which Whiskey Creek flows. The trails path parallels the flume and goes around the head of it and then up the north end of a meadow before plunging back into a spruce woods, then alder and fern and then a designated viewpoint parking area.

18. From the viewpoint parking area at the north end of No. 17,
he trail again heads north. It traverses just under the next viewpoint, goes into the woods, comes out at a wide spot along Hwy. 101 and continue on to a large viewpoint a short distance north. The highway shoulder is the next portion as it goes towards the north.

19. Pistol River Sand Dunes to Pistol River. Easy to Moderate.
This section is not an official part of the Oregon Coast Trail but until a permanent route is established, it does provide an interesting hike of about 1 mile. This is good area for just doing some exploring. The trail leaves Hwy. 101, at the end of the fence north of a road blocked by a gate. The gated road is about ¼ mile from the end of end of the southbound passing lane just south of Pistol River. The hiking trail wanders through the stabilized sand area and then through and into the dunes themselves. The trail heads towards the ocean at the blow-sand where it joins the horse trail marked with posts with a horseshoe painted on them. The left fork goes to the beach and to Pistol River. The right fork goes through the dunes and wooded areas and meets highway 101 south of the river.

20. Pistol River to Cape Sebastian.
Unless the river mouth is blocked by sand take Highway 101 bridge over Pistol River. The trail follows the beach to the base of Cape Sebastian at Hunter’s Cove. Several access points enable you to leave this segment and get back to Hwy. 101.

21. Cape Sebastian Trail. About 1 Mile. Easy to Moderate.
The best way to hike this section is from the south parking lot on top of the Cape to the beach. Have someone drop you off at the top and meet you at the Meyers Creek parking area south of the Cape. A rope is tied to a tree to help you access the beach.

22. From the south to north parking area on Cape Sebastian
the trail traverses the west side of the road. When it joins the North trail, either take a right to the North parking area or follow it to the road system. (See No. 23)

23. Cape Sebastian North. About 1/3 mile. Easy to Moderate.
The trail leaves from the east side of the north parking area, goes through a short section of spruce and pine woods before coming to a junction. The trail to the right is easy to moderate and goes about 1/3 mile back to Hwy.101, a short distance from the entrance of Cape Sebastian Park. The left fork travels through a spruce forest and then switchbacks down to a primitive road system above the beach. The road system has many hiking and scenic opportunities. At the first junction a road heads east and will take you back to Hwy 1010. Further on another road heads east and will take you back to hwy 101. Continuing to the north and west the road enters the beach. From there you can hike to Hunter Creek on the beach access on the 333 trail.

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24. Mileposts 333 to Hunter Creek. About 2 ½ miles.
Easy to Moderate. Park in the turn-off at MP 333 (just across the highway from 80 Acre Road). The trail is fairly easy traveling through alder patches, open meadows and spruce forests until you reach the beach. The trail goes along the beach to Hunter Creek. It’s a long trek on the beach, so be sure you are up to it.

25. Hunter Creek To Rogue River. About 2 miles.
Easy. Follow beach to the south jetty of the Rogue River. Several access points allow you to rejoin 101 along this section. Cross Rogue River on bridge.

26. Rogue River to Otter Point. About 2 ½ miles. Easy to Moderate.
Travel beach from the north jetty to s small creek slightly south of Otter Point. The beach section is easy. The trail leaves the beach at the first creek south of Otter Point. It traverses the bluff and then through waist high brush on the bluff. It ends at the parking area on Otter Point. The Otter Point area is a good place to explore further to see interesting plants and rock formations. Several beach access points allow you to leave the beach before reaching Otter Point. And get to Old Coast Highway.

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27. Otter Point to Geisel Monument. About 3 miles.
Easy. From Otter Point the trail follows the Old Coast Road as it crosses Highway 101 twice on the way to Geisel Monument.

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28. Geisel Monument to Ophir. About 4 ½ miles.
Easy to Moderate. The trail leaves at the north end of Geisel Monument and follows the paved road towards the community of Nesika Beach. Turn west off Nesika Road, north of the town and enter the beach. The beach is the trail to Ophir. Nesika Beach to Ophir is a highway rest area with restroom and picnic tables.

29. The Highway 101 Shoulder is the Coast Trail to Humbug State Park.

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30. Humbug State Park. Day Use and Overnight Camping. Moderate to Steep. Follows Brush Creek for a wile before going up the hill to avoid steep cliffs. Crosses a road and joins the next segment inside Humbug State Park Overnight Camping.

31. Humbug State Park Easy to Moderate.
Follows old Highway 101 from just inside Humbug Overnight Camping area. Joins new Highway 101 slightly south of “Entering Humbug park” sign at the north end. Another exciting trail leads from the south side of the campground and goes to the top of Humbug Mountain, a trip worth taking. Keep bearing left on the trail on the way up and come down the steeper section that starts just below the top. You will see the junction on the way up.

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32. Battle Rock Beach.
About ½ mile north of the Rocky Point Viaduct., a dirt road goes to Battle Rock beach. The beach is the trail to battle Rock Park at the south end of Port Orford.

     33. From Agate Beach on the heads at Port Orford,
the beach is the trail across Elk River and to the south of Cape Blanco. The trail ascends the south side of the Cape; goes close to the overnight camp and then drops down by two different trails to the north side of Cape Blanco. 

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34. Cape Blanco to the Mouth of New River.
From the north side of Cape Blanco, follow the beach across Sixes River and up towards Blacklock Point. Blacklock was a sandstone quarry and several buildings in San Francisco are made of Blacklock sandstone. A side trail leads to the rocks where some twisted rails can still be seen. The quarried rocks were transported out on a rocky causeway and then lightered to ships standing offshore. Just south of Blacklock, the trail goes uphill and follows the bluff through the brush and Sitka spruce forests and then opens up above a series of beautiful wave and wind sculpted cliff above the beach. For a short distance it follows the Old Coast Guard road before dipping back through a forested area where the road is washed out. The trail goes down through a draw and then comes back to the beach at the mouth of Floras Lake. From Floras Lake the beach is the trail along New River to public land at the mouth of New River, just outside Curry County. You can access the Coast Trail from Cape Blanco State park and from Airport Rd, a westbound road leaving Highway 101 directly across from the entrance to Pacific High School.