Ten miles south of Cannon Beach, you will find one of the best places to experience the beauty and variety of the Oregon coast: Oswald West State Park. Take a day hike Neahkahnie Mountain or simply stroll through the old-growth forest trail which leads straight to the beach.

Located just off Highway 101, choose from any of three parking lots which are only a quarter mile from the sandy shores of the Oregon coast. Grab a map before heading out as there are many paths through the forest (but don’t worry, the main paths are marked) and enjoy the diversity that this state park has to offer. From day hikes to short walks, the Oswald West State Park has something for every skill level.

If you’re looking for stunning ocean views and a have a few hours to spend, take the time to enjoy Neahkahnie Mountain trail hike. At 1,680 feet, this mountain offers full views of the ocean and beaches stretching on for miles. This hike is 7.6 miles round trip. For a hike with less elevation gain at only 300 feet and 5 miles round trip, you can enjoy the more leisurely pace of the Cape Falcon trail branching off to the north.

Are you a surfer? Beginners and advanced surfers alike enjoy the swells at Short Sand Beach.

Surrounded by mountains, the rigors of everyday life will be stripped away by the time your feet hit the sands of this unique beach, whether you are here to ride the waves or have a picnic.

To truly appreciate the rugged majesty of the Oregon Coast, take a walk through the coastal forest. Immerse yourself in the cool forest air, rich with fresh oxygen and the scents of the nearby ocean. Feel dwarfed under the thick trunk and distant canopy of a Sitka spruce. Watch the ceaseless crash of the surf from atop dramatic bluffs. Discover things growing in surprising places: crowded colonies of mosses perch in the corrugated bark of Douglas-firs, and scraggly huckleberry shrubs reach up from ancient stumps. Even the ocean itself seems alive.

Find all of this on the Clatsop Trail, a 2 1/2 mile loop hike at at Ecola State Park. The trailhead is a scenic ten-mile drive up the coast from Arch Cape Inn and is just north of Cannon Beach, making it a perfect day-trip destination. Pack a lunch for a picnic on the beach, and plan for dinner in town.

View Hike at Ecola State Park in a larger map

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