There are so many beautiful hikes along the Oregon coast. Wander inland and you’ll find towering waterfalls and summits or stick to the coastline for the best seaside views.

Below are our favorites, listed in order from north to south.

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Northern Oregon Coast

Central Oregon Coast

Southern Oregon Coast

Disclosure: We’ve included affiliate links with recommended hiking gear in this post. If you click through and buy something, we’ll receive a small portion of that sale. You won’t be charged more, and we haven’t been paid by any of these retailers to share their information. These are all our genuine preferences.

View of the Tillamook Lighthouse from Clatsop Loop

Northern Oregon Coast

The northern section of the Oregon Coast has the largest, and most touristy, beach towns. You’ll find plenty of places to stay here, along with classic beaches.

Saddle Mountain

Hike one of the few summits near the coast for panoramic views. You’ll find wildflowers in spring and green forests year round.

Trail description: Oregon Hikers/Alltrails

Distance: 5.2 miles

Elevation gain: 1,900 feet

Season: April to November

Parking pass needed:

Dogs allowed on a leash: Yes

Nearest town: Seaside

Clatsop Loop

Here you’ll hike through beautiful coastal forests, with peek-a-boo views of the coast. Hike back on the Cannon Beach Trail to make it a loop.

Note: There are times the Ecola State Park closes for geological emergencies and repairs. Check the conditions here before going.

Trail description: Oregon Hikers/Alltrails

Distance: 3 miles

Elevation gain: 785 feet

Season: Year round

Parking pass needed: Oregon State Park Passport

Dogs allowed on a leash: Yes

Nearest town: Cannon Beach

Cape Falcon Hike

Yet another bucket list-worthy trail. Visit to see beautiful forests and gorgeous views of the Pacific no matter the weather.

Trail description: Oregon Hikers/Alltrails

Distance: 4.5 miles

Elevation gain: 580 feet

Season: Year round

Parking pass needed: No

Dogs allowed on a leash: Yes

Nearest town: Arch Cape

Neahkahnie Mountain

Reach the top of this hike to see the views of the coast for miles. Just watch your footing – the trail can be loose and rocky in places.

Trail description: Oregon Hikers/Alltrails

Distance: 3 miles

Elevation gain: 840 feet

Season: Year round

Parking pass needed:

Dogs allowed on a leash: Yes

Nearest town: Manzanita

Cape Meares

This is one of our must-stop locations on our Oregon road trip guide. The walk down to the lighthouse is quick, scenic, and a great spot to whale watch from.

Trail description: Alltrails

Distance: 1.5 miles

Elevation gain: 436 feet

Season: Year round

Parking pass needed: Year round

Dogs allowed on a leash: Yes

Nearest town: Oceanside

Tunnel Beach

Start your walk going north on Oceanside Beach State Park. When you reach Maxwell Point, you’ll see a wall of cliffs. Walk up shore to find a tunnel going through to the other side. Venture here at low tide to easily pass through to Tunnel Beach.

Don’t go past Tunnel Beach — there are strong rip tides beyond.

Trail description: The Outbound

Distance: 0.5 miles

Elevation gain: 20 feet

Season: Year round

Parking pass needed: None

Dogs allowed on a leash: Yes

Nearest town: Oceanside

Cape Lookout

With expansive views of the Pacific Ocean, this is one of the best spots to whale watch from land in Oregon.

Trail description: Oregon Hikers/Alltrails

Distance: 4.7 miles

Elevation gain: 810 feet

Season: Year round

Parking pass needed: None

Dogs allowed on a leash: Yes

Nearest town: Tillamook

Central Oregon Coast

You’ll find the Central Oregon Coast scattered with scenic state parks featuring rugged coastlines, forests, and national forest lands with waterfalls if you travel inland.

Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area

Hike here and you’ll be walking up a sand dune. Gorgeous views await you from the top but it will be a slow trek to get there!

Trail description: Alltrails

Distance: 1 mile

Elevation gain: 187 feet

Season: Year round

Parking pass needed: Tillamook County Day Use Access Parking Fee

Dogs allowed on a leash: Yes

Nearest town: Pacific City

Niagra Falls

The drive here will be longer than the hike, but explore here and you’ll find two 100-foot waterfalls.

Trail description: Oregon Hikers/Alltrails

Distance: 1.5 miles

Elevation gain: 472 feet

Season: Year round

Parking pass needed: No

Dogs allowed on a leash: Yes

Nearest town: Pacific City

Cascade Head

This is one of the more popular hikes along the coast. It starts with a jaunt in the forest before you reach grassy meadows overlooking the Salmon River running into the Pacific Ocean.

Trail description: Hike Oregon/Alltrails

Distance: 5 miles

Elevation gain: 1,200 feet

Season: Year round

Parking pass needed: None

Dogs allowed on a leash: No

Nearest town: Lincoln City

God’s Thumb

God’s Thumb sits cross the Salmon River from Cascade Head. The views are similar, but this hike has the option to make a loop.

Trail description: Oregon Hikers/Alltrails

Distance: 4.8 miles

Elevation gain: 1180 feet

Season: Year round

Parking pass needed: Northwest Forest Pass or an America the Beautiful Pass

Dogs allowed on a leash: Yes

Nearest town: Lincoln City

Drift Creek Falls

This trail is so fun! We love the suspension bridge and the access to the river and waterfall. You’ll find the waterfall at peak flows between December and April.

Trail description: Hike Oregon/Alltrails

Distance: 3 miles

Elevation gain: 525 feet

Season: Year round

Parking pass needed: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass

Dogs allowed on a leash: Yes

Nearest town: Lincoln City

Valley of Giants

As the name suggests, this hike features massive trees. They are 400 to 450 years old, with twenty-foot circumferences, and reach up to 200 feet tall!

This hike closes during wildfire season. Check here to see if it’s open.

Trail description: Oregon Hikers/Alltrails

Distance: 1.4 miles

Elevation gain: 535 feet

Season: December to July

Parking pass needed: Oregon State Park Passport

Dogs allowed on a leash: Yes

Nearest town: Lincoln City

Quarry Cove

While you’re visiting the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, wander the short path down to Quarry Cove before moving on. You’ll find an accessible path down to the beach, which is known for having great tide pools at low tide. Visit at high tide to see the cove filled with bright blue waters.

Trail description: Alltrails

Distance: 0.48 miles

Elevation gain: 121 feet

Season: Year round

Parking pass needed: The Yaquina Head Activity Pass

Dogs allowed on a leash: Yes

Nearest town: Newport

Cape Perpetua Trails

All the trails at Cape Perpetua are worth exploring, but there are a few that stand out. They can be combined into one longer hike or walked individually.

Captain Cook Trail

This trail is full of wonder! Go one hour before high tide to see the famous Thor’s Well fill up, but don’t forget to look for the nearby blow hole called Spouting Horn, too!

Trail description: Alltrails

Distance: 0.6 miles

Elevation gain: 98 feet

Season: Year round

Parking pass needed: National Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass

Dogs allowed on a leash: Yes

Nearest town: Yachats

Cape Cove Trail

The Cape Cove Trail is worth adding on to any trip to Cape Perpetua. Although it’s possible to wander to the Cape Cove Beach, our favorite spot is at Devils Churn. From there you’ll be able to watch waves come crashing into the rocky shore.

If you choose to wander on the rocks above Devils Churn, be extra cautious. Consider the tide, weather conditions, and waves before acting.

Trail description: Alltrails

Distance: 1 mile

Elevation gain: 127 feet

Season: Year round

Parking pass needed: National Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass

Dogs allowed on a leash: Yes

Nearest town: Yachat

Saint Perpetua Trail

Round out your experience at Cape Perpetua, with views of the coastline from above.

Trail description: Alltrails

Distance: 2.6 miles

Elevation gain: 800

Season: Year round

Parking pass needed: National Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass

Dogs allowed on a leash: Yes

Nearest town: Yachats

Southern Oregon Coast

The Southern end of the Oregon coast is made up of small towns. You’ll find the most dramatic coastlines featuring sea stacks, sand dunes, and road trip-worthy views.

Sweet Creek Falls

The boardwalks are our favorite part of this trail. They hug the cliffs and guide you over the river. Find the best views of Sweet Creek Falls from the upper viewpoint.

Trail description: Hike Oregon/Alltrails

Distance: 2.1 miles

Elevation gain: 330 feet

Season: Year round

Parking pass needed: No

Dogs allowed on a leash: Yes

Nearest town: Florence

Kentucky Falls

Although the road is a bit rough — steep with potholes — this hike is perfect for a rainy day. You’ll find the best views from the Lower Kentucky Falls viewpoint.

Trail description: Hike Oregon/Alltrails

Distance: 4.5 miles

Elevation gain: 785 feet

Season: March to early December

Parking pass needed: Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful Pass

Dogs allowed on a leash: Yes

Nearest town: Florence

John Dellenback Dunes

These sand dunes are some of the best in the United States. It’s also possible to rent ATVs and explore these dunes between September and March.

Trail description: Oregon Hikers/Alltrails

Distance: 4 miles

Elevation gain: 220 feet

Season: March to September

Parking pass needed: Oregon State Park Passport

Dogs allowed on a leash: No

Nearest town: Lakeside

Blacklock Point from Floras Lake

Treat yourself to ocean views, natural arches, and worn cliffsides with this walk. Start at Floras Lake for a longer hike, or at Blacklock Point for a faster, but less scenic route to the best views.

Trail description: Oregon Hikers/Alltrails

Distance: 9.1 miles

Elevation gain: 470 feet

Season: Year round

Parking pass needed: No

Dogs allowed on a leash: Yes

Nearest town: Port Orford

Cape Sebastian trail

Enjoy panoramic views right from the parking lot. As you can guess, this trail is great for whale watching, but you’ll get to enjoy forest bathing among Sitka spruce as well.

Trail description: Alltrails

Distance: 3.3 miles

Elevation gain: 797 feet

Season: Year round

Parking pass needed: No

Dogs allowed on a leash: Yes

Nearest town: Gold Beach

Secret Beach

Take the Secret Beach Trail to view one of Oregon’s most iconic ocean views, or follow the Oregon Coastal Trail to Seal Cove for beach access. Low tide is best for Seal Cove.

Trail description: Alltrails

Distance: 1.8 miles

Elevation gain: 416 feet

Season: March to October

Parking pass needed: No

Dogs allowed on a leash: Yes

Nearest town: Brookings

Sport Haven Beach walk

Time this hike with low tide and you’ll find beautiful caves and arches amongst the rocks. This is a spot well worth exploring.

Trail description: Alltrails

Distance: 1.9 miles

Elevation gain: 36 feet

Season: Year round

Parking pass needed: No

Dogs allowed on a leash: Yes

Nearest town: Brookings

Leave no trace

It’s important to follow leave no trace principles at the Oregon Coast. Simple acts, like staying on trails, rather than cutting switchbacks or scaling cliffsides, help prevent erosion and keep the parks beautiful for years to come.

Parking Passes

Many of Oregon’s hikes don’t require parking passes to recreate, but there are a few that do. Each hike mentions what pass it needs — we recommend purchasing them ahead of time.

Oregon Pacific Coast Passport

Although most of Oregon’s state parks are free to visit, 17 require an Oregon Pacific Coast Passport. Annual passes are $35, while it costs $10 for a five-day pass. You can purchase these at visitor centers and parks along the coast.

National Forest Land

If you’ll be hiking on national forest land, you’ll need a National Forest Pass ($30 for an annual pass or $5 for a day pass) OR the America the Beautiful Pass ($80 for an annual pass). We recommend buying the pass you’d prefer to have ahead of time since they aren’t usually sold at the trailheads.

Weather

Weather along the Oregon coast is temperate. It’s usually mild and cool, with seasonal fluctuations. In the summer months, temperatures rarely get above 70, and in the winter, there are lows in the high 30’s. Be prepared for cooler weather, especially in the mornings and evenings throughout the year.

The winter months bring rain and storms, so it’s pertinent to watch the forecast and pack for hikes appropriately.