Coastal Oregon

Oregon has 350 miles of wild and pristine coastline. Big uncrowded beaches are joined by rock islands that punctuate rugged coastal scenery on par with the world’s best. Unlike Southern California, the coast of Oregon is mostly undeveloped, with charming seaside towns instead of large beach cities. State parks preserve many beautiful capes and beaches along the coast, offering scenic ocean view hikes.

Cape Lookout Trail Oregon
Cape Lookout Trail

Hiking the Oregon Coast

This collection of trails lists hikes roughly from west to east and north to south, but the table may also be sorted alphabetically or by distance to help you pick your next hike. Click on any trail to see a full write-up complete with photos, GPS maps, directions, and all the other information needed to locate and enjoy these hikes. You can also view hikes around Coastal Oregon on the Hike Finder Map.

TrailDescriptionDistance Location
Ecola State Park Hike020Ecola Point to Indian Beach
This hike on Oregon Coast Trail explores wild beautiful scenery in Ecola State Park between Ecola Point and Indian Beach.
2.65 miles
350 feet
45.9195,
-123.9741
Cape Meares State Park Hike030Cape Meares Lighthouse & Octopus Tree
This easy hike in Cape Meares State Park visits a beautiful lighthouse and an equally impressive tree, exploring a coastal cape with tall cliffs and big ocean views.
0.8 miles
180 feet
45.4856,
-123.97443
Oceanside Tunnel Beach033Oceanside Beach to Tunnel Beach
This sandy stroll comes with an adventurous twist, a man-made tunnel through a cliff that leads from one beautiful beach to a second, more secluded beach.
0.8 miles
20 feet
45.4605,
-123.9700
Munson Creek Falls Trail037Munson Creek Falls Trail
This short hike near Tillamook travels up a forest canyon to the tallest waterfall in Coastal Oregon.
0.5 miles
90 feet
45.36565,
-123.77355
Cape Lookout Trail040Cape Lookout Trail
This hike in Cape Lookout State Park ventures down a promontory on the Oregon Coast with beautiful ocean views.
5 miles
440 feet
45.3414,
-123.9745
Whalen Island Loop Trail Clay Myers State Natural Area045Whalen Island Loop Trail
This hike explores a lovely island-like park in Sand Lake Estuary with ocean and wetland views.
1.5 miles
40 feet
45.2732,
-123.9502
Cape Kiwanda050Cape Kiwanda
This short beach hike explores tide pools and sand dunes at a rugged headland in Cape Kiwanda Natural Area near Pacific City.
1 mile
75 feet
45.2157,
-123.9711
Alder Island Hike Lincoln City052Alder Island Nature Trail
This short, easy hike off the coast south of Lincoln City explores a small island at the mouth of the Siletz River.
0.85 miles
5 feet
44.8954,
-124.0085
Saddle Mountain Hike055Saddle Mountain Trail
This out and back hike rises through fir forests and wildflower-filled grassy slopes up to a summit with panoramic coastal views.
5 miles
1635 feet
45.9628,
-123.6899
Beaver Falls Hike060Beaver Falls
This short hike slips down through forest to a beautiful waterfall plunging over a basalt wall.
0.7 miles
100 feet
46.10394,
-123.1298

Camping on the Oregon Coast

With so much undeveloped waterfront as well as the Coast Mountain Range, Coastal Oregon has a great selection of camping options, including:

Cape Lookout State Park CampgroundCape Lookout State Park Campground
This grand, oceanfront campground has over 200 sites right behind a big, beautiful beach.
Whalen Island CampgroundWhalen Island County Campground
This 33-site campground is a nice camping option on Whalen Island with easy access to estuary beaches and a loop hike.
View Oregon trails and campground in a larger map
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Cape Lookout State Park Campground Tillamook Coast Campsites Oregon Beach Camping
Jutting out from the coast of Oregon west of Portland, Cape Lookout is a prominent promontory with tall cliffs towering hundreds of feet above the Pacific Ocean. The campground in Cape Lookout State Park is not as soaring. Luckily for beach-lovers, the campground is tucked right behind a big, beautiful beach on the north side of the cape. Cape Lookout State Park Campground is a major... Read more.
By: Published: Last updated: June 29, 2021
Whalen Island County Campground Tillamook Coast Camping Oregon Sand Lake Estuary
Camping by the ocean should be easy and relaxing – Fun in the sun and toes in the sand. That's what you can expect to find at Whalen Island County Campground in Tillamook County. This 33-site campground sits inside the Sand Lake Estuary, a special spot along the Three Capes Scenic Loop between Cape Kiwanda and Cape Lookout on the Oregon Coast. Right from the campground, it is easy to... Read more.
Tagged with · Ocean Views · Tent Camping · Tillamook
By: Published: Last updated: June 29, 2021
Maple Ridge Loop Silver Falls State Park Maple Ridge Trail Canyon Trail Lower South Falls Waterfall Hike Oregon
Maple Ridge Loop travels behind two breathtaking waterfalls and goes through miles of wonderful forest in Silver Falls State Park. This 2.8-mile loop (with 375 feet of elevation change) is a combination of two trails, Canyon Trail and Maple Ridge Trail. Canyon Trail goes down the trough carved by South Fork Silver Creek, taking hikers amazingly close to South Falls and Lower South Falls. ... Read more.
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Tagged with · Oregon State Parks · Silver Falls State Park · Sublimity · Waterfalls
Distance: 2.8 miles · Elevation change: 375 feet
By: Published: Last updated: June 14, 2021
Cape Lookout Trail Coastal Hike Cape Lookout State Park Oregon
What is Whalen Island? It's not quite an island. It's not quite on Oregon's ocean shore. What it is... is a place that is unique, soothing, and beautiful. Wrapped be beaches and shaded by shore pines, Whalen Island sits at the heart of Sand Lake Estuary. Whalen Island – which only becomes an island during seasonal high tides - is just inland from the ocean (close enough to see the waves)... Read more.
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Tagged with · Beaches · Free Trails · Ocean Views · Oregon State Parks · Sand Dunes · Tillamook
Distance: 1.5 miles · Elevation change: 40 feet
By: Published: Last updated: June 28, 2021
Munson Creek Falls Trail Tillamook Coast Range Waterfall Munson Creek Falls State Natural Site Oregon
Measuring 319 feet tall, Munson Creek Falls is no tiny trickler. In fact, this is Oregon's tallest waterfall west of the Willamette River. Munson Creek Falls has picturesque silky tiers framed by canyon greenery. The trek to the waterfall, Munson Creek Falls Trail, is just a quarter mile long (half a mile round trip) with 90 feet of elevation change. The trail explores a lush and lovely... Read more.
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Tagged with · Creeks · Free Trails · Oregon State Parks · Tillamook · Waterfalls
Distance: 0.5 miles · Elevation change: 90 feet
By: Published: Last updated: June 28, 2021