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total distance is approximately 425 miles. The OCT is signed throughout its length, but in some places signage is not reliable. However it is difficult to become lost since the route is never more than a few miles from a paved road. In 2009, the State of Oregon posted a set of downloadable maps with brief route descriptions.
199:, following the shore as closely as practical. For many portions of the route, it is beach walking, mostly on sand. In populated areas it often follows the nearest street to the shore. Many parts of the trail leave the beach and take an inland path, usually where land formations make the shoreline impassable, such as at
263:
during nesting season. This limits camping on some areas of the trail to developed campgrounds, particularly along the northern beaches. Oregon Parks
Forever funded the creation and installation of nine Hiker/Biker pods for tent campers in state parks along the coast: They are located in hiker/biker
156:
of Oregon. The official coastal guide gives a length of 382 miles (615 km). About 39 percent of the route is on the beach, 41 percent is on paved road, and 20 percent is on trail and dirt roads. Private ferries can however be arranged at some estuaries to shortcut road segments.
227:
The Oregon Coast Trail (OCT) is a described route and not a continuous trail. Thirty-nine percent of the route is on beaches. Forty-one percent, or more than 150 miles (240 km) of the route is on pavement. Twenty percent follows trails. If walked in its entirety (without taking ferries), the
218:
Besides headlands, there are numerous rivers and creeks which must be crossed. Most creeks are forded by wading, although sometimes the water can be waist deep even at low tide. At high tide, some are hazardous or impossible to cross and require a boat or a detour to a bridge. Rainfall during
254:
Seasonal recreation restrictions are in place from March 15 through
September 15 in some locations to protect shorebird nesting. These restrictions include complete prohibition of dogs, camping, non-motorized vehicles (including bicycles and fat bikes), motorized vehicles, and kites. Hikers and
235:. Written by Connie Soper, the book details 40 consecutive day hikes, and also includes maps and logistical information for the entire Oregon Coast Trail, such as tidal considerations and arranging for boat rides. The trail is open to hikers, and in some places, to
264:
camps at Fort
Stevens, Devil’s Lake, Cape Blanco, Harris Beach, Cape Lookout, Bullards Beach, Nehalem Bay, Beverly Beach, Honeyman, and Sunset Bay. The State of Oregon has stated its intention to create more primitive and free camping areas.
164:, which formalized the public nature of the coastal beaches since the first such law was passed in 1913. Many of the locations, particularly on the southern portion, are remote and isolated. The Oregon coast is bordered by a
258:
Many state campgrounds have areas dedicated for hikers and bicyclists at reduced prices (compared to vehicles). Beach camping is allowed where out of sight of residences, not adjacent to state parks, and not near
288:
Cities and towns of various sizes are located along
Highway 101 every 20 to 25 miles (32 to 40 km) permitting re-provisioning on a regular basis. Public transportation is extremely limited along the coast.
796:
Beach camping is restricted within city limits, state park boundaries, and near snowy plover habitat areas (avoid roped and signed areas during nesting). Fires are not allowed upwind or near driftwood piles.
148:
The trail was envisioned in 1959 by Samuel N. Dicken, a
University of Oregon geography professor, approved in 1971 by the Oregon Recreation Trails Advisory Council and developed and managed by the
211:. The southern terminus of the trail is the unmarked Oregon/California border on a stretch of beach about 5 miles (8 km) south of Brookings, and about half a mile south of the
285:
Prevailing winds are from the northwest which makes the trail easier to hike from north to south. Route descriptions are also written assuming a north to south direction of travel.
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251:
and relevant topographic information can be extremely helpful. Sometimes a hiker must choose between waiting for a lower tide or walking inland to avoid high water.
207:. Other headlands are traversed by state park or forest service trails well above the sea. In many other places, the road is the only feasible route, mostly
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The northern trailhead is at the base of the south jetty of the
Columbia River, approximately 4 miles (6 km) north of the campground of
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243:(but not the entire route). As portions of the route lead around headlands or cross river mouths that are only passable at
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757:"Oregon Parks and Recreation : Western Snowy Plover : Parks, Campgrounds, Beaches : State of Oregon"
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equestrians must also stay on the wet sand. Shorebird areas are clearly marked on the beach with yellow signs.
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The difficulty of the trail ranges from easy to moderate, with elevation changes of up to a few hundred feet.
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Walked in its entirety, linking each trail/beach section, the distance is approximately 425 miles.
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Headlands visible from Oregon Coast Trail north of Cape Falcon within Oswald West State Park
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The sand beach at Oswald West State Park's
Smuggler Cove seen from the Oregon Coast Trail
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winter and early spring decreases the number of streams which are safely fordable.
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Several portions of the trail are pristine and secluded, such as the segment from
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Vehicles are allowed on a few beaches. Dune buggies are used extensively in the
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Oregon Coast Trail crossing over a headland in Samuel H. Boardman State Park
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A chief feature of the trail are the public beaches created in 1967 via the
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203:. Some of the rocky headlands are passable on foot at beach level only at
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in the United States. It follows the coast of Oregon from the mouth of the
787:. State of Oregon, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Archived from
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271:, a 40-mile (64 km) stretch of beach from Florence to Coos Bay.
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282:, where several days of relative solitude and free camping exist.
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A dedicated guidebook for the OCT was published in 2015, called
782:"Oregon Coast Trail: 8. Bandon to Humbug Mountain State Park"
809:"Three more hike/Bike pods funded along the Oregon Coast"
44:
New River Area of
Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC)
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in the background, Pinnacle Rock in the frontground.
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88:
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58:
50:
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746:Exploring the Oregon Coast Trail, by Connie Soper
191:and about 13 miles (21 km) from the city of
351:Places found along the OCT from north to south.
168:, much of which is now second or third growth.
195:. The trail runs north-south along the entire
8:
936:Long-distance trails in the United States
674:"The Oregon shore is blessed with beauty"
653:. Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
639:
623:List of lighthouses on the Oregon Coast
645:
643:
518:Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park
319:Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park
150:Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
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523:Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
508:Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park
269:Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
7:
463:Devils Punch Bowl State Natural Area
14:
916:Parks in Tillamook County, Oregon
599:Natural Bridges Viewpoint, near
233:Exploring the Oregon Coast Trail
29:
911:Parks in Lincoln County, Oregon
901:Parks in Douglas County, Oregon
886:Parks in Clatsop County, Oregon
840:Explore by Section trail guide.
828:– Oregon State Parks, with maps
672:Greg Johnston (June 19, 2003).
488:Seal Rock State Recreation Site
724:Nancy Prichard (May 9, 2001).
503:Neptune State Scenic Viewpoint
1:
896:Parks in Curry County, Oregon
838:Oregon Coast Trail Foundation
832:Archive of Henderson OCT page
550:primitive campground, at the
16:Long-distance trail in the US
906:Parks in Lane County, Oregon
891:Parks in Coos County, Oregon
533:Umpqua Lighthouse State Park
341:Port Orford Heads State Park
952:
678:Seattle Post-Intelligencer
590:Samuel Boardman State Park
576:Humbug Mountain State Park
35:The Oregon Coast Trail at
651:"Oregon Coast Trail Maps"
543:Bullards Beach State Park
223:Trail-walking information
54:425 mi (684 km)
28:
834:Descriptive trail guide.
628:California Coastal Trail
468:Beverly Beach State Park
931:Hiking trails in Oregon
595:Harris Beach State Park
443:Cape Lookout State Park
356:Fort Stevens State Park
328:Umpqua River lighthouse
189:Fort Stevens State Park
62:Pacific Ocean coast of
39:, looking north to the
571:Cape Blanco State Park
478:South Beach State Park
424:Cape Meares State Park
404:Nehalem Bay State Park
390:Oswald West State Park
363:, at the mouth of the
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339:looking south towards
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921:State parks of Oregon
811:. September 16, 2020.
794:on October 19, 2012.
703:Oregon Travel Regions
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114:) is a long-distance
726:"Oregon Coast Trail"
585:Rogue River (Oregon)
483:Ona Beach State Park
166:temperate rainforest
858: /
556:Boice Cope Park, a
699:"The Oregon Coast"
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293:Points of interest
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108:Oregon Coast Trail
24:Oregon Coast Trail
513:Heceta Head Light
162:Oregon Beach Bill
154:state park system
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826:Official Website
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728:. Great Outdoors
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380:Ecola State Park
141:border south of
118:route along the
100:Easy to moderate
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152:as part of the
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862:44.2°N 124.0°W
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820:External links
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761:www.oregon.gov
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705:. Go Northwest
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317:Sand dunes in
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209:U.S. Route 101
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76:Mouth of the
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926:Oregon Coast
867:44.2; -124.0
843:
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789:the original
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764:. Retrieved
760:
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742:
730:. Retrieved
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707:. Retrieved
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693:
681:. Retrieved
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667:
655:. Retrieved
558:Curry County
453:Lincoln City
439:Cape Lookout
385:Cannon Beach
350:
287:
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273:
266:
261:snowy plover
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201:Cape Kiwanda
197:Oregon Coast
186:
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159:
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111:
107:
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43:
18:
865: /
567:Cape Blanco
562:Floras Lake
337:Cape Blanco
280:Port Orford
241:equestrians
37:Floras Lake
880:Categories
634:References
581:Gold Beach
249:tide table
139:California
127:U.S. state
97:Difficulty
82:California
72:Trailheads
606:Brookings
601:Brookings
528:Reedsport
458:Depoe Bay
429:Oceanside
419:Tillamook
409:Garibaldi
395:Manzanita
143:Brookings
853:124°00′W
732:March 2,
709:March 2,
683:March 2,
617:See also
538:Coos Bay
493:Waldport
448:Neskowin
361:Gearhart
245:low tide
237:bicycles
205:low tide
123:coast of
59:Location
850:44°12′N
766:June 1,
657:May 14,
498:Yachats
473:Newport
434:Netarts
400:Nehalem
370:Seaside
193:Astoria
137:to the
120:Pacific
276:Bandon
239:, and
131:Oregon
116:hiking
92:Hiking
84:border
64:Oregon
51:Length
792:(PDF)
785:(PDF)
175:Route
41:BLM's
768:2021
734:2009
711:2009
685:2009
659:2009
583:and
569:and
441:and
402:and
125:the
106:The
548:BLM
278:to
129:of
112:OCT
89:Use
882::
759:.
701:.
676:.
642:^
343:,
215:.
145:.
770:.
736:.
713:.
687:.
661:.
110:(
80:/
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