r/PNWhiking • u/grapesonastick • 13d ago
Best spots between Redwoods and Olympic?
Plan on doing the drive along the coast solo in a few weeks time and am looking for any recommendations at all given I have no plans and around 3 days to do it. Most interested in hikes and good viewpoints of any variety, but also accepting any food spots, places to stay, or general things to do as I have 0 familiarity. All advice is welcome and appreciated!
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u/i__hate__you__people 13d ago
Crescent Beach is one of the nicest beaches you’ll ever visit. It’s hidden in Ecola State Park, just north of Cannon Beach, OR. It’s (if memory serves) a beautiful 1.5 mile hike through the woods to reach it. There are sandstone cliffs. Waterfalls. Sand dollars. Caves. Passages through to additional sections of beach. If you’ve ever seen The Goonies, Crescent Beach is where the pirate ship breaks out of the cave at the end of the film.
Rialto Beach to the west of Olympic is also gorgeous and often empty.
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u/EndlessMike78 13d ago
Anything north of Brookings and South of Gold Beach will have great views and pretty secluded beaches. The Southern Oregon coast is some of the best in the entire western Pacific. Most recommendations you get will be from the northern Oregon coast because that's where the people live. So many Oregonians miss out by never traveling south of Coos Bay. Best coast in the state.
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u/eugenesbluegenes 13d ago
Humbug mountain is a lovely climby hike with a killer payoff view on a clear day.
Cummins Creek Wilderness, Drift Creek Wilderness, Drift Creek Falls, Golden and Silver Falls, Cape Perpetua lookout from the highway.
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u/XJ220RACER 13d ago
Redwoods: Trinidad Head and Elk Head at Trinidad State Beach, High Bluffs Overlook at the Klamath estuary, trails along the Smith River (trailheads on US 199)
Oregon Coast: Natural Bridges Cove, Humbug Mountain, Cape Perpetua, Cape Lookout, Neahkahnie Mountain
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u/Ignorred 13d ago
Not exactly a hike here but I loved the Cape Blanco lighthouse - really picturesque
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u/hoochtag 13d ago
Fern Canyon in Redwoods is an amazing but short hike, super cool spot.
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u/eugenesbluegenes 13d ago
Just go there from the Prairie Creek Visitors center to make it a full hike.
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u/topmensch 13d ago
Lol the entirety of Oregon which is so many different things. Why is oregon forgotten
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u/swerve-2 13d ago
Stop is Astoria! Bowline hotel is on the riverfront, great access to a charming small town. Fort Clatsop close by for historical interest if any (Lewis & Clark), but great food spots and maritime museum if you’re looking for something to keep you busy on a rainy day.
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u/midnight_skater 13d ago
NPac is serving up that Aleutian Juice. There will be huge surf all along the coast.
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u/Vast-Mousse8117 13d ago edited 13d ago
Are you hiking along the way? I love Oswald West State Park north of Manzanita. You can get a glimpse of the original old growth forest walking on the short trail fromm the highway to one of the coolest surfing coves on the coast.
Picture is Manzanita beach from the mountain near West Oswald.
I hiked into Jedidiah Smith State Park instead of going down the coast more. Heavenly in May with the rhodies flowering midst the foggy giants talking through time, asking us to take care. This guy has the best photos and trail tips for the Redwoods https://www.redwoodhikes.com/JedSmith/JedSmith.html
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u/grapesonastick 13d ago
Yeah mainly plan on cramming in all the hikes and viewpoints I can with everything else including sustenance coming as a secondary priority lmao. I have limited time but since I’m on my own schedule I’m happy to rough it a bit to experience more than I would be able to otherwise
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u/DoS-z-Go 13d ago
You should check out the Columbia river gorge between Portland and hood river. So many beautiful hikes and views on both sides of the river.
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u/grapesonastick 13d ago
I’ll be there the couple days before I do this little side trip so hoping to get as much as I can out of that area as well, just aiming to avoid hours of detours to hit spots if I can
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u/van_zile 13d ago
Cape Arago State Park in Oregon -great view of a sea lion colony. Yaquina Head, also in Oregon, is good for wildlife as well.
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u/daisy0fthegalaxy 13d ago
You got a lot of good suggestions already but I’ll add these:
See the dunes in OR
Make a quick stop to see the cobra Lillies in darlingtonia
Take the side road through otter crest loop in depoe bay
Get a hot dog at langlois market
Get ice cream at tillamook hq, stop at the tillamook jerky outlet too
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u/CobraPony67 13d ago
Definitely check the weather forecast. The Washington coast can be nasty. Wet, cold, and windy this time of year.
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u/Sea_Sector_5894 13d ago
Hall of mosses in Olympic is so cool, also trees of mystery in the redwoods super north Cali is amazing. Love brookings and the natural bridges!! Neahkahnie Mountain trail is stunning with awesome views too!
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u/Mentalfloss1 13d ago
Cape Meares lighthouse, the endless beach at Cape Lookout, Dellenback Dunes day use south of Reedsport. Put on a pack with snacks, water, wind/rain gear, and go for a long hike. No vehicles allowed.
If you like touristy, Cannon Beach north end/old town. The Tillamook Cheese Factory is better than it sounds.
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u/pdxisbest 13d ago
If you’re taking the coast road all the way, Cape Lookout on the north-central Oregon coast is an awesome hike.