Area Activities - Hiking
For those who like to hike, The Inn at Arch Cape offers easy access to several coastal and mountain hikes, with varying degrees of difficulty.
Arch Cape - (connecting to the Cape Falcon trail) Beginning at Arch Cape on the Old Mill Road, a swinging bridge crosses Arch Cape Creek. At this point, you enter Oswald West State Park and a 5-mile stretch to Cape Falcon. Trail treats hikers to lush coastal rain forest.
Cape Falcon Trail - 2 miles each way. Allow 90 minutes each way. Highest point 300 feet. Usually open all year, but can be muddy in the spring and fall if it has been wet. Travel to the Cape Falcon Trail by taking Hwy. 101 South to Oswald West State Park. Park at the first parking lot on the West side of the highway. A gradual hike with ocean vistas. Take a picnic lunch and enjoy a magnificent view at the top
Neah-ka-nie Mountain Trail - One mile each way (this according to information from others, also noted as being 2.5 miles). Allow 90 minutes for each way. High point along the trail is 1,631 feet. Usually open all year. Travel to Neah-ka-nie Mountain trail by Hwy. 101 South to point 2.6 miles south of the Short Sands parking area. The views are spectacular! Highly recommended.
Short Sands Beach - From the North, this 30-minute hike begins about five miles south of Arch Cape in Oswald West State Park. There are 3 parking lots. Best to take the one on the East side of Hwy. 101. It takes hikers into a rain forest along a creek that finally empties into the ocean. Hiking in is all downhill, out is up, up, up!
Ecola Park to Indian Beach Trail - A nice 2-mile hike from the parking lot of Ecola State Park. Provides open views of the ocean, off-shore rocks, myriads of birds and occasional sea lions. Allow 45 minutes to an hour each way. Indian Beach is also the start of the Tillamook Head Trail.
Cape Lookout Trail - 2.5 miles one way. Allow 90 minutes each way. High point 830 feet. Open all year. Travel to Cascade Head trail by taking Hwy. 101 South to the Three Rock Road just North of Salmon River in Tillamook County. Stop at the Tillamook Visitor’s Center next to the Tillamook Cheese Factory for more information and directions. Stop at the Blue Heron French Cheese Factory for Picnic goodies for your hike.
Tillamook Head Trail - 6 miles each way, beginning at either Seaside or Indian beach. Allow 3 hours each way. Highest point along the trail is 1,200 feet. Usually open all-year, but can be muddy during wet weather. The Tillamook Head Trail traverses a cape jutting out into the sea between Seaside & Cannon Beach near Ecola State Park. A short day-trip starts at Indian Beach and is 2 miles.
Saddle Mountain - The highest peak in the Northern Coast Range. 2 hours up & 1.5 hours hiking down. Hiking boots are recommended. Wild flowers abound. Usually open March to December. Travel to Saddle Mountain by taking Hwy. 26 East to Milepost 10. It is a 7-mile drive from Hwy. 26 to Saddle Mountain Trail. Not advised for small children. A fairly difficult hike.
Gearhart Ridge Path - See Gearhart page for details
Seaside Prom - See the Seaside page for details.
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