"Rugged Coast" Trip? Suggestions Please! (Portland, Salem: rental car, rental)

[BurnInTheMil]

Good Evening To All,

My wife and I will be going on a trip for a few days for our anniversary in late October, and would really like to visit the Oregon Coast. We definitely want "scenic" and love all the photos of the more rugged coastline. Along with that, we definitely want to have some hiking options as well. We prefer to either stay in a nice hotel, or be able to rent a vacation rental on VRBO/HomeAway. We don't have to stay right on the beach/coast but want to be within an easy drive.

We love the rain, and "chilly" days so late October does not detour us form wanting to go. Suggestions on some areas that could fit our "wants" would be greatly appreciated! We will be flying into Portland more than likely, and will have a rental car for the trip as well.

Thanks in advance!

[Larry Caldwell]

Oswald West State Park. You can hike Cape Falcon and Neakahnie from the parking lot, or there is an old gravel quarry on the side of the mountain that shortens the hike by taking you to the top on a switchback trail. The real views are out on the face of the mountain, so you have to get off the improved trail and clamber over some rocks to see the sights. It's not a hard climb. If you take the switchback trail it's about 45 minutes from the quarry to the top. If you go from Short Sands Beach it's about 2 hours or so. The parking lot is a quarter of a mile from the ocean, and the path goes through a stand of really old spruce. There are no concessions in the park, so wear a backpack with everything you will need for a day.

[leastprime]

by mid October, hotels should be 40-50% off summer rates. You should be able to get a motel with kitchenette for <$100 or less.

Munson Falls, south of Tillamook, on 101. Backtrack towards Tillamook to take the 3 Capes Route to Cape Meares Lighthouse, Cape Lookout, and Cape Kiwanda where you will catch 101 again to meet Neskowin and Cascade Head. Spectacular views and still somewhat affordable. Really affordable without views.

At Otis Junction, Highway 18 to Salem, about 5-6 miles on 18 will be road "Drift Creek" for
Drift Creek covered bridge, Drift Creek Falls & Suspension bridge. Interesting because the bridge is a cable suspension bridge in the wilderness. A short spell of gravel road. Continue on will get you into Lincoln City.

[leastprime]

A motel that is easy drive from the Beach, along most of the Oregon, a few hundreds yards at most .
Motels from Lincoln City and south to CA are mostly above the Tsunami zone
.

[Cloudy Dayz]

Originally Posted by Greg10556

Good Evening To All,

My wife and I will be going on a trip for a few days for our anniversary in late October, and would really like to visit the Oregon Coast. We definitely want "scenic" and love all the photos of the more rugged coastline. Along with that, we definitely want to have some hiking options as well. We prefer to either stay in a nice hotel, or be able to rent a vacation rental on VRBO/HomeAway. We don't have to stay right on the beach/coast but want to be within an easy drive.

We love the rain, and "chilly" days so late October does not detour us form wanting to go. Suggestions on some areas that could fit our "wants" would be greatly appreciated! We will be flying into Portland more than likely, and will have a rental car for the trip as well.

Thanks in advance!

The only problem I see with your plan is that hiking options could be limited in October due to weather. In October the weather could be really nice, or it could be stormy.

FYI the entire coast is scenic. The Central Coast, slightly more so than the North or South Coast.

[BurnInTheMil]

Originally Posted by Cloudy Dayz

The only problem I see with your plan is that hiking options could be limited in October due to weather. In October the weather could be really nice, or it could be stormy.

FYI the entire coast is scenic. The Central Coast, slightly more so than the North or South Coast.

I figured October would have some "iffy" weather, hopefully not too bad and we can enjoy it.

[Hans64]

I would look at the Three Capes Loop that runs from Cape Meares down to Pacific City. For me getting away from Hwy 101 is very appealing and this is one of the only areas of the coast where you can do so. Cape Lookout State Park has spectacular hikes that take you out on the Cape hundreds of feet above the ocean. There is also a new natural area called Clay Meyers/Whalen Island further south for peaceful wetlands and dune hiking. Jacobsen Sea Salt works is an interesting stop on Whiskey Creek Road on Netarts Bay. Note that the Loop is interrupted between CM and Oceanside due to a road closure.

[Larry Caldwell]

https://rootsrated.com/stories/five-...e-oregon-coast

[Silverfall]

I second Neahkanie Mountain but don't do it in bad weather as you do have to climb over rocks to get to the top. Manzanita right by Neahkanie isn't a scenic beach, but Cannon Beach is more scenic and the view from Ecola State Park is really nice. If you stayed around the northern coast then you could also pop inland to Saddle Mountain.

If you like to hunt for agates, then I like to go to Oceanside for that. We go early for agate hunting, eat breakfast at the Blue Agate Cafe which is really good, then go hike Cape Lookout.

[BurnInTheMil]

Originally Posted by Hans64

I would look at the Three Capes Loop that runs from Cape Meares down to Pacific City. For me getting away from Hwy 101 is very appealing and this is one of the only areas of the coast where you can do so. Cape Lookout State Park has spectacular hikes that take you out on the Cape hundreds of feet above the ocean. There is also a new natural area called Clay Meyers/Whalen Island further south for peaceful wetlands and dune hiking. Jacobsen Sea Salt works is an interesting stop on Whiskey Creek Road on Netarts Bay. Note that the Loop is interrupted between CM and Oceanside due to a road closure.

Thanks for the info! I'll look into it