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Backpacker Magazine – May 2012
Rip & Go: Oregon Coast Trail - Ecola State Park to Arch Cape, OR
Slip past tides along cliffy coasts on an easy-to-plan long weekend.
(Photo by: Dave Hutchison)
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Tags:
- Oregon Coast Trail |
- Oregon |
Do It
The 382-mile Oregon Coast Trail (OCT) is your gateway to the state’s entire Pacific edge: rainforests, sea stacks, and beaches, as well as shoreline towns for grabbing ice cream on the way. This 15.7-mile section, only an hour from Portland, offers the perfect balance of convenience, scenery, and wild moments. Take three days to accommodate sparse camping and several spots passable only at low tide. Top off water at frequent frontcountry sites: the campsites are dry. From the north end of Ecola State Park (1), head south on the OCT, climbing 1,000 feet through spruce and alder rainforest to the bluffs of Tillamook Head. Hit Ecola’s backpacker’s camp (2) at mile 3.6, where you can pitch your tent or luxe it up in four-bunk shelters (both first-come, first-serve). In the morning, continue south 1.3 miles on a gravel road, then detour down to Indian Beach’s tide pools (3) (“See This,” next page). Continue south on the OCT above the beach for 1.2 miles to Ecola Point (4). From the upper parking area restroom (a good water source), the trail winds a mile through spruce and hemlock forest with occasional ocean views before petering out at Ecola Park Road (5); walk the roadside for .8 mile to enter the coastal community of Cannon Beach (6) (lunch options abound). Access the beach at the west end of 2nd Street and head south. After a mile, pass toothy, 235-foot Haystack Rock (7). At mile 11.4, Silver Point’s (8) rocky abutment is passable only during lower tides (“Key Skill,” next page). Continue along the beach, past Jockey Cap, a large sea stack. Cross Clayton Creek to Humbug Point (9), also passable only during low tide. Roughly a mile south, drop your gear at a campsite (10) in a cliffside nook. Day three, round Hug Point (11) near lowest tide. Continue south along the beach through Hug Point State Park to the beachfront community of Arch Cape (12). Proceed nearly to the impassable Arch Cape; exit onto Leech Lane (13) and walk .5 mile to US 101 (get a cab back to Seaside).
Trip Planner
Get there From Portland, take US 26 W 73 miles to US 101 N. Go 3 miles to a left on Ave. U, then link Edgewood St. and Sunset Blvd. to reach residential parking. Walk to the OCT in Ecola State Park.
Gear up Next Adventure, 426 SE Grand Ave., Portland. (503) 233-0706; nextadventure.net
Shuttle Arrow Taxi, (503) 738-5040; $20
Contact/tide table (800) 551-6949; oregonstateparks.org
Trip data backpacker.com/hikes/1383154
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READERS COMMENTS
My 3 daughters and I just did the first part of this. One word: awful. I hope I have not scarred them for life from hiking. From Seaside to the backpackers camp was probably 90% walking through mud puddles. Not fun at all, especially with a 13, 9, and 3 year old. Every step you had to watch to make sure you didn't sprain an ankle or worse... From backpackers camp to Cannon Beach, the trail is better, but the first 4.5 miles is not worth it. I will be very careful before I listen to whoever suggested this trail. Beware...
My 3 daughters and I just did the first part of this. One word: awful. I hope I have not scarred them for life from hiking. From Seaside to the backpackers camp was probably 90% walking through mud puddles. Not fun at all, especially with a 13, 9, and 3 year old. Every step you had to watch to make sure you didn't sprain an ankle or worse... From backpackers camp to Cannon Beach, the trail is better, but the first 4.5 miles is not worth it. I will be very careful before I listen to whoever suggested this trail. Beware...
My 3 daughters and I just did the first part of this. One word: awful. I hope I have not scarred them for life from hiking. From Seaside to the backpackers camp was probably 90% walking through mud puddles. Not fun at all, especially with a 13, 9, and 3 year old. Every step you had to watch to make sure you didn't sprain an ankle or worse... From backpackers camp to Cannon Beach, the trail is better, but the first 4.5 miles is not worth it. I will be very careful before I listen to whoever suggested this trail. Beware...
sp..sent? scent
Sigh... Here 2400 miles away, I can feel the sand sneak into my boots and hear the pounding of the waves on the rocks below, the sent of sitka spruce & Douglas fir wafting down as I step into the trees ... sigh. Must...not...get...homesick. Too late. Is that rain or sea spray in my eyes?
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