Hiking to God’s Thumb on the North Oregon Coast

Looking for more adventures on the North Oregon Coast?
Hike to Drift Creek Falls, explore Winema Beach near Pacific City, hike to Short Sand Beach at Oswald West State Park, or follow the trail along the Sand Lake Estuary at Sitka Sedge.

WE HIKED IT

September, 2022, about 3 hours and 45 minutes

CURRENT INFO

Information and maps for the trail to The Knoll and God’s Thumb are available on the OregonHikers website and the AllTrails website.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Parking is free. There are three parking areas along The Knoll Loop Trail. The main one is located at the north end of NE Devils Lake Boulevard. Also called The Villages Trailhead, there are many marked parking spots along the road here. Arrive early to park closer to the trailhead. The other parking areas are at the edge of the residential neighborhood that borders the park. Please be considerate and follow the posted signs that indicate where public parking is allowed.
• Toilets and garbage bins are not available at the trailhead or along the trail. Head to the nearby Road’s End State Recreation Site for access to a public restroom. This is also the closest beach access near God’s Thumb.
• Remember to pack the 10 Essentials. Bringing your own water is especially important since it’s not available at the trailhead or along the trail. Much of the trail is shady, but God’s Thumb is open to the elements. Shade hats and sunscreen are essential on sunny days.
• Wear closed shoes with good traction. Hiking poles are recommended for extra stability. Even in summer, parts of the trail are muddy and slick.
• Download a trail map ahead of time if you can, such as the one from AllTrails. Signage at the trailheads show the route for The Knoll Loop, but not the trail to God’s Thumb. Fortunately, it’s hard to miss the turnoff for God’s Thumb at the top of the loop. The side trail for The Knoll viewpoint is easier to miss if you’re not actively looking for it.
• Pets on leash are welcome.
• Always follow Leave No Trace principles.

HIGHLIGHTS

On a clear day, the view from God’s Thumb is superb, and those who dare the climb to the summit will be richly rewarded. To the north, past turquoise coves and a secluded beach, lies Cascade Head. To the south, Lincoln City stretches out along a wide swath of sandy coastline.

The main trail leads through verdant coastal forest, and The Knoll also offers a glorious view from a less precarious viewpoint. If you’re not up for the full hike, The 2.8-mile Knoll Loop is a great option that still provides a good workout.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

The variety of terrain on this trail really kept my kids interested, especially on the final stretch to God’s Thumb. Although the kids aren’t as into viewpoints as their elders, this one was a real “wow” experience, partly due to the adventurous trail leading out to the viewpoint.

Please note that the ascent to God’s Thumb is not appropriate for all children. It’s narrow and steep with sheer drop-offs, and the dirt trail can be slippery whether dry or muddy. Keep a close watch on young ones. But even if you don’t climb all the way to the top of God’s Thumb, this hike is worth the trek, both for the lovely forested hike and the view from the bluff before the trail gets a little scary.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, there’s no shortage of places to explore on the Oregon Coast! Only a few minutes’ drive from The Knoll Trailhead, check out the beach at Road’s End State Recreation Site. Just north of God’s Thumb, Knight Park provides access to the Salmon River Estuary, a fantastic place to kayak. Other great trails in this area include the Lower Cascade Head Trail and Drift Creek Falls.

Further north, the short loop hike at the Sitka Sedge State Natural Area is a wonderful option, with views of the Sand Lake Estuary, coastal forest, and a gorgeous secluded beach. Winema Beach is another fantastic beach to explore near Pacific City.

With my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary coming up, it was time to do something together as a family to celebrate. So, we took a hike! And what a hike it was…

God’s Thumb had been on my radar for a while, and it checked all the boxes: it wasn’t too far away (from my parents’ home, that is), was long enough to feel like a real hike, but not too long, and promised a grand view.

We arrived at The Villages Trailhead for The Knoll Loop Trail shortly after noon on a Saturday. After parking along the road, I was glad to discover we were only a short distance from the trailhead. At this trailhead, there are two options to begin the hike. One is clearly marked with a map just beyond the cul-de-sac at the end of the road. The other is less obvious, and is located on the left side of the road shortly before you reach the cul-de-sac. We wanted to follow a clockwise loop, so chose the latter.

The trail is gentle at first, a stroll on a wide gravel path through the woods. As the trail gradually began to rise, we came to an unlocked gate. Past the gate, signage by the road identified this as another trailside parking area. Turning right, we continued uphill on the road, still surrounded by greenery.

Before long we reached another roadside parking spot. Houses lined the opposite side of the road, and signs warned visitors not to park directly in front of them. At the end of the road, the trail skirted around another gate before continuing into the woods. We were on a true trail now, albeit a wide, well-maintained one.

The trail continued to climb steadily, but the most extreme section was still to come. Soon after leaving the road behind, we discovered a narrow, steep trail branching off to the left. No signs marked this primitive path, so I checked the trail map on my phone to better gauge our location. Sure enough, it was the turnoff for The Knoll.

Naturally, we didn’t want to miss the first viewpoint of our hike, so turned left and prepared for a challenging climb. Fortunately, after the first 20 feet or so, the pitch of the trail lessens and we found it wasn’t difficult to follow. As the trail left the forest, it opened up to a lovely view south toward Lincoln City and Devils Lake.

The big, grassy meadow atop The Knoll was the perfect spot for a lunch break, so we sat down to enjoy the view while we munched our sandwiches. Apparently we arrived at just the right time, because soon the clouds rolled in and completely obscured even the merest glimpse of the Pacific. I wondered what the view would be like from God’s Thumb, but knowing the Oregon Coast, anything was possible.

Rather than returning to the main trail the way we came, we continued north from The Knoll. This path is wide and pleasant, without the steep pitch of the earlier route. If you prefer to skip the steep section, walk a little further up the main trail until you find another trail junction on the left. Turn left, and in just a tenth of a mile you’ll arrive at The Knoll via a much gentler path.

Back on the main trail, the elevation gain slowed. We walked through lovely stretches of coastal forest before reaching another unmarked intersection. This one was impossible to miss, and although there was no sign pointing the way to God’s Thumb, I knew the lefthand trail led to our ultimate destination. We followed it downhill through the forest, then across a coastal meadow under clear blue skies. The weather had definitely turned in our favor.

The trail dipped into the forest once more. Despite the dry summer, the path here was muddy. Slick exposed roots snaked across the trail, and in a few spots low branches caused us to duck. In one area, leafy thimbleberry bushes bobbed merrily, stretching toward their sister berry bushes on the opposite side. It was a good reminder of how much work it takes to maintain a clear trail in such a lush environment.

After this final stretch through the forest, we again came to an open meadow. The deep blue Pacific Ocean called us onward, where God’s Thumb jutted up from the rocky shore below, marking our final destination.

For those who choose not to climb out onto God’s Thumb, this area makes a fine turnaround point. Before you go, take a break to enjoy the view of the glorious Pacific. My mom chose to wait here, while the rest of us steeled ourselves for trek to God’s Thumb.

All in all, it wasn’t bad, although it required careful footwork. Erosion has taken its toll, the loose dirt impacted by every footstep and gust of wind. It was dry during our visit, but in the rainy season expect a nearly impassable, mud-slicked trail.

We were lucky to visit on a calm day. With bluebird skies overhead, it was perfect weather for hiking the Oregon Coast. God’s Thumb is a popular place to hang out, but we still found a spot to sit and soak in the panorama of sea, sky, and coastal headlands.

Once we had our fill, we hiked gingerly down the rough trail, then met up on the bluff for a snack break before heading back through the meadow toward The Knoll Loop Trail.

When we arrived at the intersection with The Knoll Loop Trail, we turned left. This first section was steep and muddy. Despite how little rain the region had seen, the dense forest protects this damp environment from drying out completely. Fortunately, there were only a few steep sections on the return trip. Most of the trail followed a gentle grade.

Our group fragmented into pairs as we hiked back. Eventually, we all met up at the trailhead, happy and satisfied after a beautiful hike. Happy anniversary, mom and dad! Thanks for sharing your love of the outdoors with me, and here’s to many more adventures still to come.