Hiking the Cape Lookout Trail on the Oregon Coast
Distance: 4.9 miles / 7.9 km
The Cape Lookout Trail, just north of Pacific City, is one of my favorite day hikes across all 362 miles (583 km) of the Oregon Coast!
I say this because the Cape Lookout Trail traverses a relatively easy but towering peninsula above the ocean, meaning the beautiful views along the trail are easy to come by, as the elevation change is fairly mild throughout the hike.
Now, this all goes without saying—Cape Lookout State Park, including the Cape Lookout Trail and South Cape Lookout Trail, is one of the more popular destinations on the northern Oregon Coast. For this reason, I recommend visiting early if you have the option, in order to enjoy a quieter, less crowded experience in the park!
Cape Lookout Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Cape Lookout Trail is located just off Cape Lookout Road in a large open parking lot for the state park.
Even though these photos make the parking lot look very big, Cape Lookout is a popular destination, and the lot will fill up fast during the busy summer season.
Google Maps Directions: Cape Lookout 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 Cape Lookout Trail
The Cape Lookout State Park Trailhead is the start of three different trails, which all begin right next to each other.
Follow the Cape/ South Trail for the hike out to Cape Lookout.
South Cape Lookout Trail Junction
Shortly after the trailhead, the South Cape Lookout Trail will split off from the flatter, more popular Cape Lookout Trail.
Know that the hike out to Cape Lookout is entirely downhill, but I never felt that the hike back up to the trailhead was ever too steep, especially when it was cool in the morning.
In my opinion, some of the best views were well before the end of the trail, but it entirely depends on the cloud conditions.
Wells Cove Lookout
The Wells Cove Lookout is a very popular turnaround spot for many hikers, as the rest of the trail gets a bit more muddy and exposed in sections.
However, the severity of the mud will likely depend on what season you’re visiting in, with the wetter winter months being worse than the summer.
Toward the end of the Cape Lookout Trail, the exposure off to side gets much more dramatic than the beginning of the hike.
This may not be the best sections of trail to hike with young kids, as a fall would very likely be fatal.
Cape Lookout
Like I said, I had the trail entirely to myself, but that was only because I started first thing in the morning.
As I was hiking back, I passed many more groups, as the park became busier and busier.
Additionally, I would also consider Cape Lookout to be a great place to watch sunset if you’re lucky enough to get clear conditions in the evening.
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.
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