Quick Guide to Oswald West State Park
Oswald West State Park covers over 2,000 acres of old-growth rainforest on the Oregon Coast between Cannon Beach and Manzanita. Less than two hours from my home in Portland, it’s one of my favorite day trips. Unlike the big and obvious viewpoints along Highway 101, the best features in Oswald West aren’t visible from the road. A few short hikes will get you to most of them, or, if you’re looking for a challenge, you could spend the day on the trail. In other words, it helps to know where you’re going to make the most of your trip. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Oswald West State Park, including the four main highlights: Short Sand Beach, Cape Falcon, Devils Cauldron, and Neahkahnie Mountain.
Neahkahnie Mountain
Know before you go
It’s free to visit Oswald West State Park. You don’t need a permit for any of the parking lots.
This park has few amenities. The main parking lot near the Short Sand Beach Trail has nice indoor restrooms. Short Sand Beach has restrooms and a picnic area.
Leashed dogs are welcome on the hiking trails.
Oswald West State Park is a great year-round destination. Some hiking trails get very muddy in the winter.
The best trail map for Oswald West State Park I’ve seen is this one from Oregon State Parks.
Oswald West State Park doesn’t have campsites. The nearest camping is Nehalem Bay Campground just south of Manzanita.
Where to go
Oswald West State Park has four main destinations:
Short Sand Beach
Cape Falcon
Devils Cauldron
Neahkahnie Mountain
It’s a place where you could hike all day and not run out of trail. A 13-mile stretch of the Oregon Coast Trail runs through the park, connecting the highlights. Multiple trailheads break it up into manageable day hikes, some as short as half a mile. If you’re not hiking, there isn’t much to do, but look for the Neahkahnie Viewpoint at the south end of the park. It’s an easy and accessible roadside pull-off with a great view overlooking Manzanita.
Short Sand Beach
Short Sand Beach and Cape Falcon
Distance: 1.2 miles out and back
Elevation gain: 100 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-friendly: Yes
ADA access: No
Amenities: Restrooms are at the main parking lot and the beach. Picnic tables are near the beach.
Short Sand Beach
I think of Short Sand Beach as the heart of Oswald West State Park. It may be for no better reason than for being the first place I visited, but I think it’s more than that. The beach is in a tucked-away cove between Cape Falcon and Neahkahnie Mountain. An old-growth forest covers the hills and cliffs surrounding the beach, making it feel remote and private, even on the busiest days. One of the most popular destinations on the Oregon Coast, you won’t find solitude here, but you will find beauty. Look for Blumenthal Falls tumbling into the ocean at the north end of the beach. Low tide reveals tidepools on either end. The cliffs block strong ocean winds on blustery days. It’s a great place to bring a picnic or a surfboard. On the short and easy hike to the beach, you’ll pass some enormous moss-covered Sitka spruce trees. Short Sand Beach can be a standalone destination or part of the hike to Cape Falcon.
Learn more about Short Sand Beach.
Cape Falcon
Cape Falcon Trail
Distance: 5 miles out-and-back
Elevation gain: 200 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Kid-friendly: Better for older kids. The end of Cape Falcon has unfenced drop-offs, which are easy to avoid.
ADA access: No
Amenities: None at the trailhead. Restrooms are nearby at the main Oswald West parking lot.
View from Cape Falcon
Unlike most of the trails in Oswald West State Park, I wouldn’t call the Cape Falcon Trail a good beginner hike. The terrain is rough. Most of the year, it’s a latticework of tree roots over thick mud. The views at the end are breathtaking enough to forgive the knee-high mud splatters. Cape Falcon extends a half mile into the ocean. Standing at the end of the cape, the Pacific surrounds you on three sides. The best views are to the south, where Neahkahnie Mountain rises behind Short Sand Beach. Behind it are Manzanita and the Nehalem spit. Bring snacks. You’ll want to spend some time here. While not easy, the trail to the end of the cape is gorgeous. You’ll squelch through a mossy old-growth forest of Sitka spruce and hemlock. Wildflowers pop up in the undergrowth in the spring. A short detour toward the beginning of the trail makes it easy to stop by Short Sand Beach on the way there or back.
Learn more about the Cape Falcon Trail.
Devils Cauldron
Devils Cauldron
Distance: 0.5+ miles out-and-back
Elevation gain: 200 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-friendly: Mostly, yes. The viewpoint at Devil’s Cauldron has a fence. The trail to the Neahkahnie cliffs ends at unfenced drop-offs.
ADA access: No
Amenities: None
Neahkahnie cliffs
The Elk Flats Trail starts at an almost aggressively underwhelming trailhead and ends at some of the most dramatic and stunning views on the Oregon Coast. After passing so many great viewpoints along Highway 101, it’s easy to drive by the strip of gravel that is the trailhead parking lot without a second glance. This unpromising pull-off is the Elk Flats Trailhead. From here, the trail splits right away. Each direction leads to an incredible viewpoint with minimal hiking. If you do both, it’s about a mile round-trip. The trail to the left leads to an outcropping over the ocean that overlooks the Neahkahnie cliffs. Yarrow, seaside daisies, and tiger lilies bloom in the grass during summer. Proceed with caution since the viewpoint doesn’t have a fence. I’d skip it with small children.
The trail to the right leads to Devils Cauldron, one of the most photogenic places on the Oregon Coast. This viewpoint is family-friendly. A fence runs along towering cliffs above a narrow channel where ocean waves crash. From here, you can turn around or continue on the Elk Flats Trail to Short Sand Beach. The trail gets rougher and more overgrown past Devils Cauldron. It’s not a bad hike, but harder than driving between the destinations and, I’d say, without more payoff in terms of views.
Learn more about the Elk Flats Trail.
Neahkahnie Mountain
Neahkahnie Mountain South Trail
Distance: 3 miles out and back (from the South Trailhead)
Elevation gain: 900 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Kid-friendly: Yes
ADA access: No
Amenities: Port-a-potty at South Trailhead. None at North Trailhead.
View from Neahkahnie Mountain
Two trails lead up Neahkahnie Mountain, one on the north face and one on the south. My bum leg and I prefer the south trail, which is a little shorter and easier, about 3 miles round-trip versus 4 miles on the north trail. The trails end at the same destination, the summit of Neahkahnie Mountain. At 1,600 feet, it’s the highest peak on the northern Oregon Coast. The views at the top are unforgettable in a way that’s difficult to capture with a picture. The best times to tackle this hike are clear days when you can see as far as Cape Meares. There’s something hypnotic and magical about watching the waves roll into shore from high above. The hike to the summit is steadily uphill but never intense. You’ll have shade until the end. Look for some wildflowers along the trail and at the summit in the spring and summer.
The Neahkahnie Mountain North Trailhead is across Highway 101 from the Elk Flats Trailhead. You use the same parking area for both, which makes them easy to combine without moving the car. To reach the Neahkahnie Mountain South Trailhead, head south on Highway 101 and turn left onto Neahkahnie Mountain Road. The trailhead is at the end of the gravel road.
If you’re looking for an ambitious hike in Oswald West State Park, check out the 8-mile Neahkahnie Loop. It’s farther than I can walk, but it looks pretty cool. It connects Short Sand Beach, the Elk Flats Trail, and Neahkahnie Mountain with lots of ocean views along the way.
Enjoy your day at Oswald West State Park!
With love,
Emma
Explore nearby
Find a hidden waterfall and old carriage road at Hug Point.
Head just north of Cape Falcon to visit the less-traveled Cove Beach.
Find the best things to do in Cannon Beach.
