Oregon Coast Trail - North Cape Blanco Beach Loop

June 18, 2016

Cape Blanco SP is one of our favorite Oregon State Parks and on our recent camping trip, we took full advantage of the many trails at or near the park.

Time for some great camping!!!

On our first full day, our daughter Maggie joined us as we hiked a loop trail that consisited of the Oregon Coast Trail and the North Beach of Cape Blanco.  Two years ago we hiked this same loop, so we decided to hike the loop in the opposite direction this time - clockwise.

Time for some great hiking too!!!

We began by hiking the Oregon Coast Trail out of the campground area towards the lighthouse.  The trail winds it's way through a dark and sheltered forest before emerging into the sunshine and through the very dense growing brush.  Here too, we got a taste of the wind which is always present at Cape Blanco.  We were also treated to a vast array of wildflowers in bloom while viewing the lighthouse in the distance.

Oregon Coast Trail with the lighthouse in the distance

Some of the dense brush along the Oregon Coast Trail

Meadow Chickweed

After crossing the lighthouse road we descended down to the North Beach.  This beach would be our trail for the next mile or so.  It was a beautiful hike with the blue sky, large driftwood logs, and of course a few Sea Stacks thrown in for good measure.

View along the North Beach

Carol and Maggie on the North Beach

One of the Sea Stacks along the North Beach

Before reaching the Sixes river, we headed back inland and took another short trail through a vast grassy area.

View of our inland trail from North Beach.  Sixes River is visible to the left.

Our plan was to hike this trail over to a day use site next to the Sixes river for a break and views of the river.  When we last hiked this trail, this area was filled with sheep who literally ran from us and Katie.  However, those sheep evidently sold their land to a group of very large cows.  Those very large cows just happened to be laying down right along the trail, as if trying to dare any hiker to pass.  Glenn ventured out twice towards them and both times one of the cows stood up, looked straight at Glenn, and did not budge from it's position. This may have been the mama of the one young calf in the group.  Glenn also at this point forgot to take any pictures of this cow standoff.  So not wanting to make the local 6 o'clock news, we played it safe & turned off our current trail and headed back towards the woods along the Oregon Coast Trail again without going to the day use site along the Sixes river.

Our last leg of the Oregon Coast Trail had a few steep climbs and at times lead us through some very dark woods.  It also provided us with more beautiful views of the North Beach area and Lighthouse from the bluffs until we reached the Lighthouse road and headed back to our camp.

A view of the North Beach from the bluffs along the OCT

OCT through the woods back towards the lighthouse

Panoramic view of North Beach.  We hiked the beach from left to right.

Yup, even Katie enjoyed the views of North Beach

Be sure to check out the Oregon State Parks website for more information about Cape Blanco SP.
We also included some pictures below from our hike along the South Beach area at Cape Blanco the previous day.

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol (and Maggie too)

View of South Beach from the Bluffs.  Whaleshead rock in the distance.

View of South Beach from the access road

South Beach Sea Stack

Family Photo.  Can you guess who is who?