Oregon's Free Coastal Wilderness
Oregon's beach access law is unique in the US: every inch of the Oregon coast is public land. No private beaches, no locked gates, no fees. The Oregon Coast Trail (OCT) takes full advantage, weaving between beach walking, headland scrambles through state parks, and occasional road walks through small coastal towns. It's a 382-mile trail anyone can walk, and it doesn't cost a cent to do it.
This 5-day itinerary covers the central Oregon coast from Cannon Beach to Pacific City — roughly 70 miles that hit the trail's greatest highlights: the iconic sea stacks at Cannon Beach, the old-growth headland forest at Oswald West, the dramatic Cape Falcon and Cape Lookout promontories, and the dune-backed beach approach to Pacific City.
Trip Overview
- Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
- Total distance: ~68–72 miles depending on tides and route choices
- Daily mileage: 12–16 miles/day
- Difficulty: Moderate — mostly flat beach walking with headland climbs to 1,600 ft
- Start: Cannon Beach, OR (Haystack Rock parking area)
- End: Pacific City, OR (Bob Straub State Park)
- Permit: No permit required. Camping fees at Oregon State Parks: $10–21/night
- Best months: June–September (fewer storms, longer daylight)
- Tides: Critical — check NOAA tide charts before each tidal headland passage
Day 1 — Cannon Beach to Arch Cape (13 miles)
Start at Haystack Rock, the 235-foot sea stack that is arguably the most photographed spot on the Oregon coast. At low tide, the tide pools around its base hold purple sea urchins, ochre sea stars, and giant green anemones. Walk south on the beach through Tolovana Beach State Recreation Site to Arch Cape, where a short tunnel through the headland — Oregon's only highway tunnel walkable by foot — leads to the next beach section.
Camping: Nehalem Bay State Park campground (reservable at oregonstateparks.org, tent sites from $21/night, hot showers). Alternatively, continue to Manzanita if miles allow.
Day 2 — Arch Cape to Nehalem Bay via Oswald West (14 miles)
The day's highlight is Oswald West State Park — one of the finest pieces of old-growth headland forest on the Pacific coast. The trail climbs through Sitka spruce and western hemlock draped in moss, with the roar of the Pacific audible but invisible through the trees. Short Beach (0.5 mile side trail) offers a secret cove with wave-carved caves accessible at low tide.
The trail descends to Short Sand Beach (Shorty's) — a pocket beach beloved by surfers — before continuing over Cape Falcon (1,600 ft) with panoramic views north to Tillamook Head and south to Cape Meares. Descent to Manzanita and beach walk to Nehalem Bay.
AllTrails: 4.9★ (2,847 reviews) — search "Oswald West Cape Falcon Trail"
r/PacificCrestTrail▲ 1.8k upvotes"Oswald West feels like the Olympic Peninsula threw a party on the Oregon coast. That old growth is unreal."
Day 3 — Nehalem Bay to Cape Lookout (15 miles)
Cross Nehalem Bay by walking the spit south. At low tide the beach here is wide enough to walk comfortably with a loaded pack; at high tide you'll be scrambling over driftwood logs near the forest edge. Pass through Rockaway Beach (resupply opportunity: grocery store on US-101) and continue south past Twin Rocks — two offshore rock pillars with seabird colonies visible through binoculars.
End the day at Cape Lookout State Park campground (highly recommended — hot showers, reservable, $21/night tent sites). The headland at Cape Lookout juts 2 miles into the Pacific — the optional 5-mile round-trip hike to the tip in the morning offers whale watching opportunities December through June.
Day 4 — Cape Lookout to Sand Lake (12 miles)
From Cape Lookout, the trail enters the Sandstone Camp area — a section of sand and shore pine forest above dramatic beach. The Cape Kiwanda promontory is visible ahead from miles away: a golden sandstone headland that dune surfers launch off and pelicans patrol. Pass through Tierra Del Mar (small community, limited resupply) and continue to Sand Lake Recreation Area.
Sand Lake offers dispersed camping among shore pines on the dunes — no hookups, pit toilets only, $10/night. This is the wildest camping on the route, with the sound of Pacific surf audible from every site.
Day 5 — Sand Lake to Pacific City (13 miles)
Final day is a beach march — 8 miles of hard-packed sand from Sand Lake to Pacific City, with Cape Kiwanda rising dramatically on your right as you approach. Pacific City's dory boats launch directly from the beach (a unique commercial fishing tradition — no harbor, no dock, just men driving trucks into the surf). Pelican Brewing at the beach is the perfect finishing pint with views back up the coast you just walked.
Gear Notes
- Trekking poles — critical for headland scrambles and loaded beach miles
- Waterproof boots or trail runners — wet sand and creek crossings are daily occurrences
- Tide chart printout or NOAA Tides app — several sections require low tide passage
- Bear canister or hang — coastal raccoons and rodents are persistent
- Wind layer — ocean headlands are exposed; 30 mph gusts are normal even in summer
