Oregon Coast Trail: A 5-Day Itinerary
One coast, beaches, headlands & tidepools, all along Highway 101.
Five days sampling the best of the Oregon Coast Trail along the scenic north coast: Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock, Oswald West, Cape Lookout, Cape Kiwanda, and the tidepools and cliffs of Cape Perpetua.
“I’ve requested to book a Chain Lakes Loop guide on ExplorOFF, and it was the best idea ever! I highly recommend going with their guided option since you get a real human connection on the trail and don’t have to worry about a thing. Yulia was great to talk to!”
17 stops on a real mapEvery stop pinned in order→Oregon Coast Trail: every stop pinned in order.
Cannon Beach, the Three Capes & Cape Perpetua · North Oregon Coast
Every stop on this trip, in order, opens as one driving route in the Google Maps app. No copying addresses across one at a time.
Oregon Coast Trail in photos: 5 of the stops.
Plan and book your 5 days in Oregon Coast Trail, one step at a time
How 5 days in Oregon Coast Trail split up
Plan 5 days for Oregon Coast Trail. Total distance: ~180 mi. Difficulty: Moderate. Full OCT: ~362 mi. The Oregon Coast Trail runs about 362 miles down the entire Oregon coast, from the Columbia River at Fort Stevens to the California border. It is not one continuous tread: it strings together long beach walks, forested headland trails, and stretches of road walking, with a handful of river mouths that you cross by short boat or seasonal ferry. Almost nobody hikes the whole thing at once, so most people walk sections. That makes backpacking the Oregon Coast unusually flexible: you can carry a tent and use the cheap hiker/biker camps in the state parks, or day hike the best sections from the beach towns like this route does.
Day 1: Cannon Beach · Ecola State Park & Haystack Rock
4 stops · Day one
Day 2: Oswald West State Park · Cape Falcon & Short Sand Beach
3 stops · Day two
Day 3: Cape Lookout · old-growth to a headland over the sea
3 stops · Day three
Day 4: Cape Kiwanda & Pacific City · the Three Capes finale
3 stops · Day four
Day 5: Cape Perpetua · Thor's Well, Devils Churn & Heceta Head
4 stops · Day five
Cannon Beach · Ecola State Park & Haystack Rock
Start on the north coast at Cannon Beach, about 1.5 hours from Portland (PDX). The town fronts a long, wide beach anchored by Haystack Rock, a 235-foot sea stack ringed by tidepools and a protected seabird colony, including puffins in early summer. Walk the sand at low tide to see the anemones and sea stars in the rocky garden at its base.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Drive from
~1.5 hr · Highway 26 to the coast · DriveFly into Portland (PDX) and drive about 1.5 hours west on Highway 26 to Cannon Beach on the north coast. This is the classic gateway to the most scenic stretch of the Oregon Coast Trail, with sea stacks, headlands, and beach towns lined up along Highway 101.
Ecola State ParkHeadland viewpoints & coastal forest · ViewpointEcola State Park packs in the OCT's most famous viewpoints: forested headland trails, the overlook to Tillamook Rock Lighthouse out at sea, and the cove at Indian Beach. The state park trail between Ecola Point and Indian Beach is a classic taste of the Oregon Coast Trail through coastal forest above the surf.
Official info →- Haystack Rock & tidepools
Low-tide tidepools · seabird colony · HikeCannon Beach fronts a long, wide beach anchored by Haystack Rock, a 235-foot sea stack ringed by tidepools and a protected seabird colony, including puffins in early summer. Walk the sand at low tide to see the anemones and sea stars at its base, but do not climb on the rock or disturb the birds.
Jeff Gunn from Atlanta / CC BY 2.0Stay in Cannon BeachWalkable coastal town · lodgeBase in Cannon Beach, a walkable coastal town right on the sand with galleries, restaurants, and easy beach access. It fills up fast on summer weekends, so book lodging well ahead, or stay a little inland to save money.
Oswald West State Park · Cape Falcon & Short Sand Beach
Drive a short way south to Oswald West State Park, one of the most loved stretches of the whole Oregon Coast Trail. A forest trail drops through old-growth Sitka spruce to Short Sand Beach, a cove tucked in a rocky amphitheater that is a magnet for surfers and a perfect spot to watch the swell roll in.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Cape Falcon Trail~5 mi RT · moderate · forested headland · HikeFrom the Oswald West lot, a forest trail drops through old-growth Sitka spruce to Short Sand Beach, then the OCT continues out to Cape Falcon (about 5 miles round trip, moderate), a long forested headland that ends in a grassy point with sweeping views over Smuggler Cove and Neahkahnie Mountain.
Official info →- Short Sand Beach
Walk-in cove · surfers · ViewpointShort Sand Beach is a cove tucked into a rocky amphitheater, reached only by a short forest trail from the highway lot. It is a magnet for surfers and a perfect spot to watch the swell roll in. The lot fills on summer weekends, so arrive early.
Jeff Gunn from Atlanta / CC BY 2.0Second night in Cannon BeachStay put · Oswald West is a short drive · lodgeStay a second night in Cannon Beach so you can explore Oswald West, Cape Falcon, and optionally Neahkahnie Mountain without packing up. Everything on Day 2 is a short drive south down Highway 101.
Cape Lookout · old-growth to a headland over the sea
Head south past Tillamook to Cape Lookout State Park and one of the signature hikes of the Oregon Coast Trail. The Cape Trail (about 4.7 miles round trip, moderate) runs out along a narrow forested headland of old-growth spruce and hemlock to a tip that juts more than two miles into the Pacific, hundreds of feet above the surf. In spring it is one of the best whale-watching perches on the coast.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
RickObst / CC BY-SA 4.0Cape Lookout Trail~4.7 mi RT · moderate · old-growth headland · HikeThe Cape Trail at Cape Lookout (about 4.7 miles round trip, moderate) runs out along a narrow forested headland of old-growth spruce and hemlock to a tip that juts more than two miles into the Pacific, hundreds of feet above the surf. In spring it is one of the best whale-watching perches on the coast.
Official info →
Cape Lookout sand spit & beachLong spit · dune-backed beach · ViewpointCape Lookout State Park also has a long sand spit, a campground right behind the dunes, and easy beach access for an evening walk. This is the heart of the Three Capes scenic stretch, so slow down with the pace of the coast.
Stay in Pacific CityThree Capes base · lodgeBase in Pacific City, the laid-back beach town at the south end of the Three Capes route, steps from Cape Kiwanda. You can also camp at Cape Lookout State Park, which sits right behind the dunes and reserves out far ahead for summer.
Cape Kiwanda & Pacific City · the Three Capes finale
Spend the morning at Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City, a stubby sandstone headland streaked orange and gold, fronted by a giant dune and its own offshore Haystack Rock. Climb the steep sand dune for the classic view down the cape, watch the dory boats launch straight off the beach, and explore the wind-carved sandstone, staying well back from the unfenced edges and sneaker waves.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Jordan Beard / CC BY-SA 4.0Cape KiwandaSandstone headland & dune climb · ViewpointCape Kiwanda is a stubby sandstone headland streaked orange and gold, fronted by a giant dune and its own offshore Haystack Rock. Climb the steep sand dune for the classic view down the cape and watch the dory boats launch straight off the beach. The cape edges are unfenced and crumbling and sneaker waves are a real danger, so stay well back.
Official info →
lamblukas from San Fra / CC BY 2.0Pacific City beach & dory boatsEasy beach walk · ViewpointSpend a relaxed afternoon on the Pacific City beach, the southern end of the Three Capes route that links Cape Meares, Cape Lookout, and Cape Kiwanda. Watch the dory fleet launch off the sand and take an easy beach walk before the drive south.
- Stay in Yachats
~2 hr down Highway 101 · lodgeDrive about 2 hours south down Highway 101 to Yachats, the small village that is the gateway to the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area. Stay here to be right next to Thor's Well, Devils Churn, and Heceta Head for tomorrow. Newport, a bit to the north, is another good base with more lodging.
Cape Perpetua · Thor's Well, Devils Churn & Heceta Head
Finish at the most dramatic stretch on the route, the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area just south of Yachats. The Captain Cook Trail leads down to the rocky shore and the basalt show: Thor's Well, a sinkhole that appears to swallow the sea, the Spouting Horn, and Devils Churn, a narrow chasm where waves explode. These features are best near high tide on a day with good swell, but the rocks are slippery and dangerous, so watch from a safe distance.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Thor's Well & Captain Cook Trail
Sinkhole · best near high tide · HikeThe Captain Cook Trail at Cape Perpetua leads down to the rocky shore and the basalt show: Thor's Well, a sinkhole that appears to swallow the sea, the Spouting Horn, and tidepools. The features are best near high tide on a day with good swell, but the rocks are slippery and dangerous, so watch from a safe distance.
Official info → 
Tony Webster from Minn / CC BY 2.0Devils Churn & Cape Perpetua overlookHighest viewpoint on the coast · ViewpointJust north, Devils Churn is a narrow basalt chasm where waves explode. For the big view, drive or hike up to the Cape Perpetua overlook, the highest viewpoint you can reach on the Oregon coast, looking far up and down the shoreline.
Heceta Head LighthouseIconic lighthouse & tidepools · ViewpointEnd the trip a few miles south at the Heceta Head Lighthouse area, with its picture-perfect lighthouse on a headland and tidepools below, reached by a short walk from the Devil's Elbow lot. Time the tidepools for low tide before you start the drive home.
Another Believer / CC BY-SA 4.0Getting home: Portland (PDX)~3.5 hr from Yachats · DriveFrom Yachats it is roughly 3.5 hours back to Portland (PDX). Start the drive with daylight to spare, and break it up with a stop in Newport or the Willamette Valley if you have time.
Book the 4 nights
Beds near the trailheads are the one thing on this trip that genuinely runs out. Everything else can be decided later.
Tell us your dates and we will do the checking. We find what is still open near each trailhead and email you this plan back with a booking link for each night. Nothing is charged and you decide at the end.
Request to bookWhat to pack for Oregon Coast Trail
Built from this route, not a generic list. Every line says why it is here.
On every day of this trip
On your feet
Because you are sleeping indoors
For the driving days
Specific to Oregon Coast Trail
What we actually learned on the coast.
Carry a tide table, always
The single most important tool on the Oregon Coast Trail is a tide table. Several headlands can only be rounded safely near low tide, and tidepools are only exposed at low water. Check the tide before every beach section and plan your timing around it.
Respect sneaker waves & cliff edges
The Oregon coast is beautiful and dangerous. Sneaker waves arrive without warning and have swept people off rocks and logs. Never turn your back on the ocean, stay well back from unfenced cape edges like Cape Kiwanda, and keep your distance from Thor's Well and Devils Churn.
The OCT is not one continuous trail
The route stitches together beach walks, forested headland trails, and stretches of road walking, with a few river mouths crossed by short boat or seasonal ferry. This 5-day plan drives between sections, so you hike the best headlands and beaches without the logistics of a full thru-hike.
Book state park camps early
Oregon State Parks run popular campgrounds and hiker/biker camps all along the coast, and the best ones, like Cape Lookout, reserve out months ahead for summer. Book early through Oregon State Parks, or base in coastal towns and drive to the trailheads.
Summer is driest, but pack layers
June through September is the driest and warmest window, though the coast can still be cool, gray, foggy, and windy any day of the year. Spring and fall are quieter and often lovely between storms. Bring rain and wind layers no matter the season.
Drive Highway 101 unhurried
Highway 101 ties the whole route together, winding past viewpoints, state parks, and beach pullouts. It is slow, scenic two-lane road, so build in extra time, watch for cyclists and pedestrians, and stop often. The driving is half the trip.
Oregon Coast Trail: questions before you go
Oregon Coast Trail: the questions people ask most.
The Oregon Coast Trail is a roughly 362-mile route that runs the entire length of the Oregon coast, from the Columbia River at Fort Stevens to the California border. It is not one continuous tread: it links long beach walks, forested headland trails, and some road walking, with a few river mouths crossed by short boat or seasonal ferry. Most people hike sections rather than the whole thing at once.
A full thru-hike of all 362 miles typically takes most people about three to four weeks, depending on pace, weather, and the river-mouth crossings. Because the trail is not continuous and a few headlands must be timed to low tide, most visitors instead hike scenic sections over a few days, which is what this 5-day north-coast itinerary is built around.
Yes. Backpacking the Oregon Coast Trail is a classic trip, and Oregon State Parks run inexpensive hiker/biker camps along much of the route, so you can walk beach and headland sections and camp night to night. Most backpackers pick a section, like the north coast covered here, resupply in the beach towns, and time the headland crossings to low tide. If you would rather sleep in a bed, this itinerary drives between the same sections and hikes them as day trips.
Moderate overall. Backpacking the Oregon Coast means long, flat beach walks broken up by short, steep headland trails, so the challenge is less elevation gain and more soft sand, wind, rain, and tide timing. A few headlands can only be rounded near low tide, some stretches follow the road, and river mouths interrupt the line. Plan conservative daily mileage, carry a tide table, and pack real rain gear in any season.
The north coast is widely considered the most scenic stretch and is the focus of this itinerary: Ecola State Park and Cannon Beach with Haystack Rock, Oswald West with Cape Falcon and Short Sand Beach, the old-growth Cape Lookout trail, Cape Kiwanda at Pacific City, and the dramatic Cape Perpetua area with Thor's Well, Devils Churn, and Heceta Head Lighthouse to the south.
Yes. The tide is the most important thing to plan around. Several headlands on the Oregon Coast Trail can only be rounded safely near low tide, and tidepools at places like Haystack Rock and Cape Perpetua are only exposed at low water. Always carry a tide table and time your beach sections accordingly. Watch for sneaker waves and never turn your back on the ocean.
June through September is the driest and warmest window and the most popular time to hike the Oregon Coast Trail, though the coast can still be cool, gray, foggy, and windy. Spring and fall are quieter and often beautiful between storms. Winter brings the biggest storms and swells, which make the surf features dramatic but the conditions far riskier.
For this route the natural bases are Cannon Beach for the first two nights, Pacific City for the Three Capes, and Yachats or Newport for Cape Perpetua and Heceta Head. All are small coastal towns that fill up on summer weekends, so book early. Oregon State Parks also run campgrounds and hiker/biker camps all along the coast that reserve out well in advance.
The most common gateway is Portland International Airport (PDX), which is about 1.5 hours from the north coast around Cannon Beach. From there you drive Highway 101 between the trailheads. This 5-day itinerary loops down the coast and back, ending near Yachats, which is roughly 3.5 hours back to Portland.
Many sections are very family friendly, especially the beach walks at Cannon Beach and Pacific City and the easy tidepool stops. Others, like the Cape Falcon and Cape Lookout headland trails, are longer and muddier, and the cliff edges at Cape Kiwanda and the surf features at Cape Perpetua demand close supervision. Pick sections to match your group and always mind the tide and sneaker waves.
On a linear thru-hike the OT hits wide river mouths and bays that are too deep to wade, which otherwise force long detours inland to a highway bridge. The usual fix is a short boat ride: arrange a local dory-boat or water-taxi transfer across crossings like Tillamook Bay and Nehalem Bay, and line those up well ahead of your hiking window, since they are not always available on demand. This 5-day driving route skips the problem by road, but it is the key logistic for anyone walking the whole trail.
Yes. Tell us your dates and we check what is still open for the plan on this page, then send it back with a booking link for each night and the total. Nothing is charged and nothing is held, and you pay the normal rate.
Pick how you want to go.
Same 5-day route. Same 11 stops.
- 2 nights, a campsite near Cannon Beach
- $30
- 1 night, a campsite near Pacific City
- $15
- 1 night, a campsite near Yachats
- $15
- 2 nights, a room in Cannon Beach
- from $266
- 1 night, a room in Pacific City
- from $127
- 1 night, a room in Yachats
- from $145
- A private local guide, rooms and campsites booked
- Included
- Airport pickup and every drive
- Included
- Park, permit and campsite fees paid
- Included
- All the gear and the trail meals
- Included
Written and walked by Yulia Vasilyeva · Co-founder · Lead planner and guide
Three years leading guided hikes in the Pacific Northwest, rated 5.0 by 20+ verified guests, and she builds every custom itinerary herself. Based in Seattle.
Last checked September 2026
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All reviews are from verified guests. ★★★★★ 5.0 average from 20+ bookings.
"Felt like going out with a really knowledgeable friend who just happens to know everything about the area. No awkward tour-guide energy, just a magnificent day."
"Yulia is an incredible guide. She knew every trail, every viewpoint, and exactly how to pace the day for our group. The photos she took of us were stunning. 100% booking again."
"I was visiting Seattle solo and this was the best decision I made on the trip. Yulia picked me up, had snacks, and took us to a trail I never would have found on my own. Absolute must-do."
"We did this as a couple's trip and it was perfect. Yulia adapted everything to us, our pace, our interests, our photo obsession. The mountain views were unreal."
"Phenomenal experience. Yulia has deep local knowledge and a real passion for the outdoors. She went out of her way to show us the hidden gems tourists never see. Will remember this forever."
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