Adventures with Holly & Bryan

Our video of the Cascade Head trail highlights

As Bryan and my brother Alex made their way across the wildflower-speckled meadow, the sweeping backdrop of the ocean and forested foothills rising behind them, it looked like we could be setting out from the Shire on some kind of epic quest. In reality, we were enjoying the Cascade Head trail, one of the best Lincoln City hikes.

It was a perfect July day. Puffy clouds made their way across the blue sky as we climbed, sweating, up into the high meadows. I paused, looking out at the distant headland of God’s Thumb below and remembering a taciturn February day with very different weather. We’d slipped our way up the muddy trail through hail showers to the epic view from God’s Thumb.

The Oregon coast is one of my favorite places any time of year. It changes with the seasons, but it’s always a world of huge trees, waves churning against dramatic cliffs, open headlands, and a wide, moody sky.

In today’s post, I’ll share 5 tips for hiking the Cascade Head trail so you can experience this coastal wonderland yourself.

Cascade Head is owned by the Nature Conservancy, which has put in a lot of effort to preserve the Cascade Head trail and the headland ecosystem. Cascade Head is home to a rare butterfly species and two rare wildflowers. One of these wildflowers, the Cascade Head catchfly, pretty much only grows at Cascade Head.

The Cascade Head trail passes through two very different landscapes. At the beginning, it travels through an old-growth forest with huge spruce trees and ferns straight out of Jurassic Park. At the end, it opens onto headland prairie with expansive views of the ocean and the rolling forests of the Coast Range.

From the high meadows, a mostly deserted beach and the windswept headland of God’s Thumb stand out against the ocean backdrop. Roosevelt elk sometimes graze in the meadows. We spotted an elk on our hike, but it was a long way off. Pack binoculars!

1 – Use the Best Trailhead for the Cascade Head Trail

There are 3 trailheads for the Cascade Head hike, but two of them close for about half the year to protect sensitive species. For year-round access, use the lower Cascade Head Trail at Knight County Park (Cascade Head Trail – South Trailhead on Google Maps). The Knight County Park trailhead has a bathroom and substantial parking. No fees or parking passes are needed. The Cascade Head trail is a popular coastal hike, but we easily found parking in the late morning on a summer Sunday.

The trailhead is a two-hour drive from Portland. We made it a day trip last time, but if you have time for a weekend trip, I’d recommend staying a night or two in Lincoln City. From hunting for glass floats on the beach to tide pooling to hiking up God’s Thumb, there are plenty of awesome things to do in Lincoln City…made more magical by enjoying a post-hike pumpkin juice at Lincoln City’s Harry Potter-inspired cafe, the Cheeky Cauldron.

2 – Take a Cascade Head Trail Map

At the beginning of the hike, the Cascade Head trail starts out on private property and crosses the road a couple times before entering the main spruce forest. The hiking route is signed, and it’s likely there will be other people around, but it’s a little confusing without a map. I’d recommend downloading the trail map from AllTrails or finding a different map before you go.

3 – Cascade Head Trail Difficulty

The Cascade Head trail isn’t long, but it’s steep in places. It’s 4-5 miles out and back, depending on how far you go. The climb begins almost immediately, while the trail is still in the forest. Long flights of wooden steps are set into the trail. These steep forest stretches alternate with gradual sections. Once the trail enters the high meadows, it’s a continual upward climb. Of course, it’s all downhill on the way back!

The views are worth the climb, but it’s something to keep in mind to make sure everyone in your group is comfortable with the difficulty level.

4 – What to Bring (and not Bring) on the Cascade Head Trail

Since Cascade Head is owned by the Nature Conservancy, dogs aren’t allowed.

The meadows on the headland are wide open, with a lot of sun exposure, so I’d recommend packing sunscreen, lots of water, and snacks. Binoculars would also be great so you can look for elk and other wildlife from the meadows. We forgot ours at home, so the elk looked like a blurry dot.

5 – Hike Just Past the Trail Endpoint on AllTrails for a Shaded Snack Spot

The recommended trail route on AllTrails ends suddenly in the high meadows, but the trail itself continues. This can seem confusing, but it’s because the Cascade Head ocean views are the destination for hikes from multiple trailheads. The trail beyond the marked turnaround point leads to a different trailhead.

Just past the turnaround point, the trail re-enters the forest. This is a good shaded place to rest and re-hydrate on a warm day.

Bonus Tip: Wild Salmonberries

When we last hiked the Cascade Head trail in mid-July, the salmonberries were ripe. Salmonberries are one of my favorite edible wild berries. They’re bright orange or red when ripe, mildly flavored, and juicy. A great snack while hiking!

For more on salmonberries and other wild berries, check out our guide to edible berries of the Pacific Northwest.

Thanks for joining us at Cascade Head! Happy hiking.