Trip Report: Oswald West State Park, Oregon Coast
When: 05/04/2018
Location: Oswald West State Park
Conditions: Partially Cloudy turning into mostly Cloudy by mid afternoon. Highs in the low 60's.
Duration: 3.5 hours (8-ish miles Round-trip)
Difficulty: Moderate-Hard
Kid Friendly: Probably not
Pet Friendly: Yes
Usefull links: www.alltrails.com | www.outdoorproject.com
The Full Report:
We parked at the Oswald West lot above the ocean and took the north approach starting down the trail towards Short Sands Beach. After crossing a small wooden suspension bridge, we hit an intersection and took the trail upwards, following the Oregon Coast Trail, going away from the path towards Short Sands Beach. From there, the path meanders along coastal rainforest and cliffs, staying below highway 101, until eventually leading up to the road and another parking lot. This lot is where the Neahkahnie Mountain Trail begins. (6-ish miles Round-trip)
Crossing the road and following signs for the Oregon Coast Trail, we began following the trail up which from start to finish held a consistent, moderate incline that featured many roots, rocks and patches of mud to navigate including a slight rock scramble to the summit ridge, but had nothing the average hiker wouldn't be able to handle.
The route travels primarily through lush, green forest full of springs colorful flowers and creatures. The noisy birds in the area were especially noticeable, giving a sort of authentic and wild energy to the forest, even though its trail-head sits right off the busy highway 101. Along the way, there are many spots to stop for a quick water and snack break and to take in the surroundings. The trail wasn't too crowded until we reached the top (started around noon). Luckily the summit ridge is long and provided enough space to find a semi-secluded spot to hang out and relax. On this clear day the view from the top of the 1600ft. peak revealed a sweeping view from across the Oregon Coastline to the inland Coastal Range.
A few things we had to watch out for were a couple of tricky switchbacks with false trails leading off of them, as well as some confusing inter-crossing trials near the summit. The main route is marked with a white rectangle on trees along the trail. Paying attention and look for these markings, especially in tricky areas helped us stay on course without having to consult a map. From the summit, we explored a few other viewpoints following some of those connecting trails, then headed back to the car the same way we came up.
This hike is an easily accessible, moderate-hard hike that provides scenic hiking, amazing summit views, and a solid half-day distance (6 miles from the main lot, 8 from the Short Sands Beach lot). It's also less than 2 hours from Portland making it the perfect coast day hike!
The Full Report:
We parked at the Oswald West lot above the ocean and took the north approach starting down the trail towards Short Sands Beach. After crossing a small wooden suspension bridge, we hit an intersection and took the trail upwards, following the Oregon Coast Trail, going away from the path towards Short Sands Beach. From there, the path meanders along coastal rainforest and cliffs, staying below highway 101, until eventually leading up to the road and another parking lot. This lot is where the Neahkahnie Mountain Trail begins. (6-ish miles Round-trip)
Crossing the road and following signs for the Oregon Coast Trail, we began following the trail up which from start to finish held a consistent, moderate incline that featured many roots, rocks and patches of mud to navigate including a slight rock scramble to the summit ridge, but had nothing the average hiker wouldn't be able to handle.
The route travels primarily through lush, green forest full of springs colorful flowers and creatures. The noisy birds in the area were especially noticeable, giving a sort of authentic and wild energy to the forest, even though its trail-head sits right off the busy highway 101. Along the way, there are many spots to stop for a quick water and snack break and to take in the surroundings. The trail wasn't too crowded until we reached the top (started around noon). Luckily the summit ridge is long and provided enough space to find a semi-secluded spot to hang out and relax. On this clear day the view from the top of the 1600ft. peak revealed a sweeping view from across the Oregon Coastline to the inland Coastal Range.
A few things we had to watch out for were a couple of tricky switchbacks with false trails leading off of them, as well as some confusing inter-crossing trials near the summit. The main route is marked with a white rectangle on trees along the trail. Paying attention and look for these markings, especially in tricky areas helped us stay on course without having to consult a map. From the summit, we explored a few other viewpoints following some of those connecting trails, then headed back to the car the same way we came up.
This hike is an easily accessible, moderate-hard hike that provides scenic hiking, amazing summit views, and a solid half-day distance (6 miles from the main lot, 8 from the Short Sands Beach lot). It's also less than 2 hours from Portland making it the perfect coast day hike!