Oswald State Park is one of the top destinations to go to when you are exploring the Oregon Coast, and Neahkahnie Mountain is suppose to be one of the best hikes there. I couldn’t agree more.
There isn’t too much information on Neahkahnie Mountain so it was difficult for me to find the trail head. Even when I talked with the locals, some of them weren’t sure. It’s a pretty secretive hike for the most part, but there were a good about of people on the trail.
I seen one of the biggest slugs I have ever seen on this trail! Lol, hope that doesn’t deter you.
For my understanding, there is not many places to go surfing on the Oregon coast, but this state park is one of the places to go. It is specifically the Short Sand Beach Trail which is right down the road from the trail head to Neahkahnie Mountain. You can do both destinations in one day to make a day out of the park.
Crawling under a log selfie kind of moment 🙂
Neahkahnie Mountain was difficult for me to find because the trail head is not really marked. I started at the trail head of the Oregon Coast Trail. You will see the sign when driving through the park. The park is not very big. Just a few trailheads, the beach, and of coarse the mountain! You can get this trail map and this includes many hikes on the Oregon Coast. Very helpful if your spending time on the Coast.
I liked this tree
You will see the sign for the coastal trail about half-way through the park, driving in either direction. There is a little spot to pull off. The coast trail makes it’s way down hill to the coast. You can take this way, but you won’t be going up the mountain. In order to go up the mountain, you need to cross the road and the trailhead will start going right up the mountain.
For most of the trail, it is pretty steep and you will take a series of switchbacks to pretty much the top. When you get to the top, or what you think is the top, there is a great view of the ocean. But that is not the top and I believe only the locals know about this.
Hello Ocean!
I only know about this because I was luckily hiking with the two locals I met on the trail. So when you get to this lookout, you will have the ocean in one direction and a steep rock cliff on the other side of you. That’s the top!
It’s not difficult or much higher, and climbing to the top is definitely worth the view. I sat up there and ate my lunch with the locals.
The picture below is what the top looks like. This picture is also available for sale. Just simply click on the picture and it will direct you to where you can customize the photo to how you would like it.
And millipede. Lots of bugs out here.
There are two ways to get up there. I used the coastal trail to get up there, and there is one more way. The other way I could not find so I cant tell you where it is. But I do know that it is longer. At some of the trail heads, there is a map of the park, so you can get your bearings pretty quickly of the park and see both of the trails.
The beach with the surfers, you can also head down there and swim, watch the surfers, whatever. There is a trail that will lead you there. It’s a flat trail but probably a half-mile long.
Short Sand Beach Trail
Definitely worth to check out Oswald State Park. Even driving through it, you get your lookout points along the road. I am a coastal person so I enjoyed it.
Hope you enjoyed and have a great day/night!
Sincerely,
Shelly/Livingonthedirt
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