Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

There are certainly plenty of hiking trails up and down the Oregon coast, but few match the scenery of stunning Cape Falcon.

The cape is part of the headland that makes up Oswald West State Park, one of the more popular day-use park sites on the northern coast. But while surfers flock there to ride waves at Short Sand Beach, hikers can tackle Cape Falcon.



The trail starts at the northernmost of four Oswald West parking areas off U.S. 101, though truthfully you can access the Cape Falcon hike from anywhere in the park – it might just take a little longer.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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The roughly two-mile trail runs through coastal forest of Sitka spruce and past many cliffside views of the Pacific Ocean. You can peer down to watch surfers on the waves below, and look south to see Neahkahnie Mountain rising above the landscape. There are several spots atop the cape to sit and stare out at the scenery, but watch your step as you navigate the steep and crumbling cliffs.

There’s much more to hike from here, if you like. From the top of Cape Falcon, you can continue north on a trail that leads 6.5 miles to Arch Cape Creek at the northern boundary of the park. Go south and you can access the trail network in the more popular part of Oswald West, with paths leading to Short Sand Beach, Devils Cauldron and the top of Neahkahnie Mountain.

You could spend a long summer weekend hiking every inch of one of Oregon’s most beautiful state parks, but Cape Falcon is a perfect place to start.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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CAPE FALCON HIKE

Distance: 4.8 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Amenities: Parking lot, restroom nearby at Short Sand Beach



There are many trails within Oswald West State Park, but if you're just going to Cape Falcon and back the trip is pretty straightforward – assuming you can find parking at the Cape Falcon Trailhead. (Consider printing out a trail map ahead of time if you need to hike in from another point within the park.)



From the parking lot, the trail dives into the forest and heads west. At the first junction stay right to continue along the hillside to Cape Falcon (go left if you want to take a quick detour to Short Sand Beach and a restroom). Through the trees you’ll see the ocean as it meets the rocky headland, surfers on the waves just below.

The trail emerges from the forest and cuts through a thick patch of salal before coming to another fork. Go left for the main viewpoint atop Cape Falcon, looking south along the shoreline. You can take the other direction at the junction for a view on the north side of Cape Falcon, where the trail then runs for many more miles through the park.

To get to the Cape Falcon Trailhead, take U.S. 101 south about 9.5 miles from Cannon Beach. Look for the first parking area on the right side of the highway. If you miss it (or if it’s full) there is a larger parking lot immediately on the left, and another one just farther south on the right.

SEE MORE PHOTOS BELOW

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

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian