Hiking the Blacklock Point Sea Cliffs Trail on the Oregon Coast
Distance: 4.0 miles / 6.4 km
The Blacklock Point Trail to the Blacklock Sea Cliffs in the Floras Lake State Natural Area is, without a doubt, one of the best things to do on the Oregon Coast—especially when hiked for sunset!
That said, the Blacklock Sea Cliffs are a bit different from the Blacklock Point Trail, as there is no established trail to the overlook of the cliffs.
This is what truly makes the Blacklock Sea Cliffs an Oregon Coast hidden gem, and I aks that if you are fortunate enough to visit, please do what you can to protect this little-known secret!
Blacklock Sea Cliffs Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Blacklock Sea Cliffs Trail is at the very end of Airport Road, just outside of Cape Blanco Airport.
There are two areas to park in, which are both shown below.
Google Maps Directions: Blacklock Point Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Oregon Coast
Black bears can be found up and down the Oregon Coast, but hiking with or without bear spray is truly up to your own discretion and comfort level when adventuring in black bear territory.
Furthermore, here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike on the Oregon Coast.
Bear Spray & Holster - If you aren’t flying, don’t rent bear spray! It’s a waste of money. Prepare ahead of time by buying your own, as this may be one of the most important items on this list.
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Blacklock Sea Cliffs Trail
The Blacklock Sea Cliffs Trail starts out on a very flat trail, which will remain this way for the entire hike. This is another reason why the sea cliffs could easily gain too much attention.
That being said, I have seen the trails in Floras Lake State Park go from being as dry as shown in these photos taken during the summer to being completely underwater in the winter.
Prepare for any situation when you hike in Floras Lake.
The trail follows the fence for the Cape Blanco Airport for only a short distance, but I think it makes for a great mental checkpoint if you plan on hiking back in the dark after sunset.
During the winter, these first stretches of the hike were the muddiest and most tricky to navigate around when the trail was completely underwater.
At the first split, go left.
Blacklock Point-Floras Lake Junction
Soon after the first split, the trail will split again for both Floras Lake and Blacklock Point.
Go left again to keep on the Blacklock Point Trail, but this will not be the route for the entire hike.
On the trail out to Blacklock Point, you will come across a few side trails that are mostly used during the winter months when the Oregon Coast experiences its rainiest weather.
These little boardwalks shown below are great to avoid the worst of the mud and standing water.
Second Blacklock Point-Floras Lake Junction
This is where the trail may seem a little confusing, and in years past, Blacklock Point was never marked.
At the second intersection for Floras Lake and Blacklock Point, go right toward Floras Lake.
There is no route to the Blacklock Sea Cliffs if you go left out to Blacklock Point.
At the next split, go right and start looking for the turnout to the Blacklock Sea Cliffs on the left-hand side, approximately 0.2 miles (0.3 km) ahead.
Blacklock Sea Cliffs Junction
The trail last parts of the hike to the Blacklock Sea Cliffs is unmarked and unmaintained, leading to the viewpoint.
When the trail makes a turn in the direction toward Floras Lake and away from the coast, take either the first or second unmarked trail on the left-hand side.
The second trail may be a little more straightforward.
This will lead into a wooded area off the main trail.
If you find the best path from here, there should be no bushwhacking, but if you don’t, you may have to push your way through the trees until you reach the viewpoint.
The best advice I have is to turn right when you enter the wooded area off the main trail. Then, keep an eye out for a grassy area on the right with a trail running through it. If you find this trail through the grass, it should lead you on the best and least-overgrown path out to the sea cliffs.
Blacklock Sea Cliffs
Sunset on the Blacklock Sea Cliffs is truly one of my absolute favorite things to do in Oregon!
I’ve been lucky enough to hike out to this epic spot a number of times, but please do your part to keep it a secret.
The only reason I posted this was to keep people from getting lost, like we did during my first visit. If you know anything about search volume vs. impressions on social media, like Instagram, you would know that this post alone does not have the power to make Blacklock Sea Cliffs well-known, as social media does.
Blacklock Point Trail
If you were curious about the hike to Blacklock Point, this is what the rest of the trail looks like if you had gone left at the second Blacklock-Floras Lake junction.
Blacklock Point
It’s not that Blacklock Point wouldn’t be a great sunset spot, but in comparison to the sea cliffs, Blacklock Point doesn’t even come close.
In the summer, you may even see strawberries on the coast!
More Oregon Coast Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing Oregon Coast adventures, check out my separate posts below!
Best Way to Find Places to Stay!
Wherever I travel, I love to start my search for places to stay on VRBO.
Even if I don’t end up booking through them, I think it’s one of the best ways to see what’s in the area!
Washington
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Discover Cars!
Safety
Overall, the Oregon Coast has a fairly mild climate year-round, with beautiful summers and temperatures that seldom get below the upper 30s come winter.
That being said, there are a few things to know before venturing out on some of the many trails along the coast.
First, Pacific Poison-oak is found on trails up and down the Oregon Coast, which is why it’s important to learn how to identify it before hiking any trail.
Additionally, there are black bears on the Oregon Coast, and while hiking in black bear territory usually presents less danger compared to grizzlies, hiking with bear spray is never a bad idea. However, it’s really up to your own discretion and comfort level.
Disclaimer
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