Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

by Jamie Hale | The Oregonian, OregonLive

There really isn't anything like it on the coast. No seastacks, mountains, hills or headlands stand out quite like The Thumb.



Also known as God's Thumb, the unique coastal headland is a tucked-away gem of a hike on the northern Oregon coast, lording over a small natural area in Lincoln City.



Nestled between Cascade Head to the north, and the Roads End neighborhood just south, The Thumb is a dramatic outcrop jutting out at the edge of a large, eroded bowl in the coastline. Instead of collapsing like the rock all around it, the segment appears to have only partially eroded, leaving a rounded protrusion that – as the name succinctly suggests – looks like a giant thumb.



You can see it poking up over the point at the north end of Roads End Beach, but the hike there is a great adventure, earning it a reputation as one of the best and most interesting on the coast.



After a short walk down residential streets, a trail picks up and heads sharply uphill to open meadows and through Sitka spruce forests before emerging at The Thumb itself, which affords stunning views all around. The hike requires some effort on the hills, but otherwise it's a moderate trek to a unique piece of coastal beauty.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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THE THUMB LOOP HIKE

Distance: 4.3 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Season: Year-round

Amenities: Parking lot, restrooms at Road's End park



There are a couple trailheads that lead to The Thumb, but both discourage parking on the neighborhood streets. That means you'll need to park at nearby Road's End State Recreation Site, and work your way through the neighborhood to get there:



-From the parking lot, walk north on Logan Road and turn right on 61st

-Stay straight past Spindrift onto Mast Avenue and turn right on 63rd

-Turn left on Port Drive, and follow it to the right when it turns to gravel

-Look for a gate on your right at the end of the road



Take the trail to the right, which quickly leads up a steep hill to The Knoll, a local open space. At the crest of the hill, the trail continues to the right, but take a quick side trip to the left for a great view of the Road's End beach and neighborhood. Walk back to the trail and take it down through a Sitka spruce forest. Stay left at the junction, heading northwest toward the ocean.



The trail continues through segments of forest, emerging into several meadows. When it comes to a T-intersection, go left and before long you'll see The Thumb rising up over the ocean. The trail follows along the edge of a particularly steep and unstable ridge, so watch your step as you go. You can follow the path all the way to the top of the headland, which affords great views in all directions.



To go back, cross the big meadow below The Thumb to the south (taking the trail you didn't hike already), which quickly enters the woods. Trails here tend to branch off in several directions. They pretty much all lead to the same end, but in general try to stay to the right. Before long you'll reach a gravel road – go left and follow it to a gate on Logan Rd.



From here, you can walk south down the side of the road until 73rd, where a small parking area offers access to the beach. A nice stroll down the sandy beach leads right back to the parking lot, from which you can make out the tip of The Thumb in the distance.



--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB

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A gate marks the trailhead for a hike to The Thumb. (Jamie Hale/The Oregonian)

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A forested trail leads through green open spaces to The Thumb. (Jamie Hale/The Oregonian)

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A meadow slopes down to the ocean near The Thumb. (Jamie Hale/The Oregonian)

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The view of Roads End beach from the top of The Thumb. (Jamie Hale/The Oregonian)

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The view north along the coast from The Thumb. (Jamie Hale/The Oregonian)

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An up-close look at The Thumb. (Jamie Hale/The Oregonian)

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