Hiking the South Neahkahnie Mountain Trail on the Oregon Coast
Distance: 3.4 miles / 5.5 km
Neahkahnie Mountain, just north of Manzanita, is arguably one of the most beautiful day hikes on the roughly 362-mile (583 km) Oregon Coast!
That said, there are two different routes up Neahkahnie Mountain—one from the north and one from the south side of the peak—with my personal preference leaning toward the South Neahkahnie Mountain Trail.
This is exactly what this article is about. However, if you are interested in learning more about the two routes, I highly recommend reading my side-by-side comparison below.
North vs. South Neahkahnie Mountain Trail
Neahkahnie, or Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain, can be hiked via either the North or South Trailhead in Oswald West State Park.
Now, in terms of which Neahkahnie Mountain trail is better or more difficult, the answer is easy—the North Neahkahnie Trail is more challenging.
This is because the North Neahkahnie Trail is a bit longer, with a little more than 300 ft. (91 m) of extra elevation gain since the trailhead is located lower on the mountain. For this reason, and because there are hardly any additional views when hiking from the North Trailhead, my personal preference leans toward the South Neahkahnie Mountain Trail. However, if you prefer a quieter adventure with fewer people on the trail, I recommend choosing the North Neahkahnie Mountain Trail.
Read My Separate Post: North Neahkahnie Mountain Trail
South Neahkahnie Mountain Trailhead Parking
Parking for the South Neahkahnie Mountain Trailhead is located in a dirt parking lot at the very end of Neahkahnie Trailhead Road.
There isn’t a ton of parking, meaning that the lot can easily fill up during the busy summer travel season.
Google Maps Directions: South Neahkahnie Mountain 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 South Neahkahnie Mountain Trail
The Neahkahnie Mountain Trail begins up a series of 14 switchbacks, which gain about 725 ft. (221 m) of elevation in just 1.0 miles (1.6 km) from the trailhead to the Neahkahnie Mountain ridgeline.
This is the first viewpoint on the switchbacks of the South Neahkahnie Mountain Trail.
During the early summer, there were plenty of Salmonberries to find along the trail.
Salmonberries are edible and can range from sweet, bland, or even tart in taste.
Neahkahnie Mountain Ridge
Once on the ridge, go left at the first split, then right at the second.
The second split in the photo below on the right is where people tend to take the wrong trail, which doesn’t lead to the iconic beautiful viewpoint atop Neahkahnie Mountain.
After the split, the South Neahkahnie Mountain Trail contours the side of the ridgeline until it makes a hard turn up to the saddle below both summits.
Neahkahnie Mountain Saddle
Shortly after the switchback in the photos above, the South Neahkahnie Trail meets with the North Neahkahnie Mountain Trail at the saddle between both the east and west peaks.
Typically speaking, most people only hike the west summit, which is the route shown first. However, the East Neahkahnie Summit is by far less trafficked and has much more expansive views from the top!
Read My Separate Post: North Neahkahnie Mountain Trail
West Neahkahnie Summit
From the saddle, go right to hike up to the more popular West Neahkahnie Mountanin Summit.
The view from the summit of Neahkahnie Mountain looks south down Neahkahnie Beach, Manzanita, and Nehalem State Park.
It’s worth noting that the view from the top of Neahkahnie Mountain is not always a guarantee. Since the Oregon Coast can be very overcast, especially during the wetter times of the year, the view from Neahkahnie Mountain can be socked in the clouds as often as it’s this clear in the photo below.
On the other side of the saddle, the ridge that heads up to the east summit is far less trafficked and a little more narrow than the west.
Only experienced people who are comfortable scrambling with moderately high-exposure should climb up the East Neahkahnie Summit.
East Neahkahnie Summit
From the top of the East Neahkahnie Summit, the views up Nehalem River Valley are much more expansive than the west summit.
Again, only those who are comfortable scrambling up and down-climbing a slightly narrow ridge should attempt the east summit.
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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