Hiking Cape Lookout on the Oregon Coast

Looking for more fun adventures near Cape Lookout on the Oregon Coast?
Camp near Tillamook on the Kilchis River, enjoy a beautiful hike at Sitka Sedge, or explore the rocks at Winema Beach.

WE HIKED IT

August, 2025, just over 3 hours

CURRENT INFO

Information about the Cape Lookout Trail is available on both the OregonHikers website and the AllTrails website. This hike is also included in the excellent book Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon by Zach Urness and Bonnie Henderson.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Parking is free at the Cape Lookout Trailhead.
• Vault toilets and garbage bins are available at the trailhead.
• Pets on leash are welcome.
• Hiking boots with good traction and trekking poles are highly recommended. I can’t emphasize this enough; there is a lot of mud on the Cape Lookout Trail. Come prepared!
• There are steep drop-offs along a few sections of the trail, and few guard rails. Use care when hiking with children and always stay on the trail.
• A couple of additional trails can be accessed from the Cape Lookout Trailhead. These include the Cape Lookout South Trail, which leads down to the beach, and the Cape Lookout North Trail, which is part of the long distance Oregon Coast Trail. The North Trail was closed during our visit in August of 2025, and it’s uncertain how long this closure will last.
• Always follow Leave No Trace principles.

HIGHLIGHTS

The Cape Lookout Trail is an Oregon Coast classic. On a sunny day, the Pacific Ocean looks almost tropical, with turquoise waters lapping at the rocks below. But even when clouds roll in, this stretch of coastline is stunning, alternating between forest trails thick with sitka spruce and sword ferns and wide open ocean views. No matter the weather, the beauty of the Oregon Coast shines through.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

“Is this real?” were the first words spoken by my nine-year-old upon stepping out of the car at the Cape Lookout Trailhead. Only minutes before we were driving down a sunny highway, and now a foggy forest towered over us. Yes, it’s real, and it’s wonderful.

For older kids, the hike to Cape Lookout can be a lot of fun, but it’s not without its challenges. The trail drops off steeply at times, which may frighten some children if they have a fear of heights. It may frighten some parents of young children as well, who will definitely want to keep their little ones close at hand.

And then there’s the mud. Some kids will love it, others may hate it. Regardless, good footwear is essential, and it will get dirty. My older son and I occasionally found our boots sinking a few inches into the muck even as we tried out best to avoid it, and my younger son took a tumble at one point. His knees and hands bore the brunt of it. This was in August, so it just goes to show that you should expect mud at any time of year.

But if cliffside trails and mud slicks are no biggie, then go for it! For those who come prepared, Cape Lookout is a grand adventure on the Oregon Coast.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

There is always more to explore on the Oregon Coast! Just south of Cape Lookout, the Sitka Sedge State Natural Area is a great destination for an easy hike through coastal forest leading to a gorgeous beach. Not far from Sitka Sedge, Winema Beach near Pacific City is also fun to explore. Head further south to hike to God’s Thumb, another fantastic viewpoint, or go inland to experience one of the Oregon Coast’s best waterfalls at Drift Creek Falls.

Of course, Cape Lookout isn’t far from one of the most popular spots on the Oregon Coast, the Tillamook Creamery. The current incarnation of the famed cheesemaker is a massive tourist mecca, but the ice cream is undeniably delicious. For a totally different experience without the crowds, check out the tiny Nestucca Bay Creamery in Cloverdale, which sells ice cream cones of a different sort.

There are many campgrounds along the coast, and one we enjoy is the Kilchis River Campground near Tillamook. The Kilchis River is also home to a great swimming hole. Head further inland for more swimming holes along the Wilson River, or to hike to Wilson Falls. To the north, Short Sand Beach is a popular destination that also offers a variety of hiking trails.

With a heat wave enveloping the Willamette Valley, we were in need of a cool escape. As luck would have it, temperatures on the Coast were predicted to be nearly 30 degrees lower. All we had to do was pick a place and drive.

The place we chose was Cape Lookout, a favorite hiking destination near Tillamook. The last time I hiked this trail was well over a decade ago, and I was eager to revisit with my parents, brother, and sister-in-law, while introducing it to my kids for the first time.

The fog hit as we pulled into the trailhead parking lot. Clearly (or perhaps not so clearly), the views would be a little obscured today. Regardless, the hike was off to a great start as we headed down the trail through the verdant coastal forest.

I love the coastal forests of Oregon. Rugged spruce and hemlock stand sentinel over the coastline, like gentle giants watching the tides come and go. Sometimes, you’ll spot a mighty trunk supporting the growth of several immense trees. The nooks and crevices create the perfect roosting place for vibrant colonies of ferns.

Of course, people don’t just hike the Cape Lookout Trail for the forest. The ocean views are the big draw, and it wasn’t long before we glimpsed the blue water of the Pacific through the trees.

There’s also a little human history to be found along the trail. Cape Lookout was the site of a military plane crash in 1943, when a low-flying plane crashed while flying in heavy fog. Only one of the ten crew members survived. For decades, pieces of the wreck could be seen near the trail, but the remains disappeared over time as scavengers took parts as souvenirs. By now, any last pieces are well hidden in the brush.

We passed the memorial plaque dedicated to those lost in the crash, and continued down the trail. Prior to our hike, I had read a trail report warning of mud. So far, however, we’d seen little of it, and I wasn’t too concerned. That, however, was about to change.

The trail gradually morphed from dry to somewhat squishy. Again, nothing unusual. Then, we rounded a corner and were suddenly faced with a gauntlet of deep puddles. The trail had eroded away, exposing massive tree roots which in turn created irregular pools for water to gather. We stepped gingerly around the puddles, trying not to slip on the slick roots.

In some places, puddles hadn’t yet formed, but the exposed roots were still a hazard. Even when the trail was root-free, a slick layer of mud lined the path. It was often deceptively deeper than it appeared, and I occasionally found my foot sinking a few inches after stepping onto a spot I mistakenly thought was secure. The mud and puddles and roots went on and on… and on.

Most of us had hiked the Cape Lookout Trail more than once in the past, and had never encountered such extreme mud. Perhaps the trail was muddier than usual, but it was also clear that the popularity of this hike was having a highly erosive effect. If ever a trail was in need or a little tender loving restoration, not to mention some solid boardwalks, the Cape Lookout Trail is it.

Finally, the mud cleared as the trail opened up to more ocean views. I was thankful for a dry path, as we were hiking at the edge of the cliff now, and I didn’t fancy a tumble into the sea. There is no railing or fence along most of the route until the final approach to the viewpoint. My sister-in-law and younger son were there waiting for us, and it was obvious that my son had taken a tumble in the mud. Our golden retriever, Buddy, had also shifted from golden to chocolate brown from the belly down.

We spent some time at the end of the trail enjoying a snack and the view, taking turns sitting on the lone bench that marks the viewpoint. After making it through the mud, my mother decided to stay behind to rest, so we met up with her on the return trip. It was also on the return trip that we discovered huckleberries! Somehow, we missed them on the way out. Perhaps our minds were still stuck in the mud at that point.

Despite the unexpected challenges, we all enjoyed the hike. It gave us a break from the heat, delivered misty ocean views, and even offered up a few tasty berries. What more could you ask of the Oregon Coast? I just hope the Cape Lookout Trail gets some much needed care in the near future so that hikers can continue to enjoy this beautiful place. It truly is an Oregon Coast classic.