We recently shared an exciting update about the Oregon Coast Trail – a through-hiking trail system that runs the entire length of Oregon’s 363-mile coastline.
In February 2024, the Oregon Coast Visitors Association handed leadership of the future of the trail over to the Oregon Coast Trail (OCT) Foundation, which happened in tandem with the publishing of the Oregon Coast Trail Action Plan, a multi-agency collaboration funded by a Federal Land Access Program (FLAP) grant.
The vision for the completion of the trail is long term, and partners all over the coast are working to address the gaps. Some of those gaps involve trail work, while others require the infrastructure and logistics of boat shuttles. In the meantime, plenty of visitors are hiking the parts of the trail that are currently walkable, which is a testament to the exciting future of this route as a through-trail.
As the summer season comes to a close, we’re excited to share the latest news trail updates:
This summer trail saw a lot of hiking activity – at least 53 people completed the trail!
The Oregon Coast Visitors Association partnered with the Crissey Field State Park Visitor Center to be the official home of the “I completed the Oregon Coast Trail” certificates, badges and hats, so that trail finishers could have something to commemorate their accomplishments. These are also now available in the OCVA store.
On the North Coast, the Salmonberry Trail Foundation has been leading group hikes to offer a vision for the future of the trail that could connect the valley to the coast. A large portion of the current gaps in this trail intersect with gaps on the Oregon Coast Trail, making it a great opportunity to combine efforts. Also on the North Coast, the Tillamook Coast Visitors Association (TCVA) has formed the TCVA Trails Coalition working group, whose efforts are aimed at addressing trail projects in the Tillamook Bay Area.
Dan Haag (Director of Trails, Outdoor Recreation, and Accessibility at TCVA) shared that “There are places where the Salmonberry Trail and Oregon Coast Trail cross paths in the Bay City area, so these are a great shared priority for the Salmonberry Trail Foundation and our newly formed Trails Coalition.”
TCVA is also updating the Tillamook Bay Heritage Route Project – a vital piece of the North Coast trails network that weaves together the diverse history and cultural heritage of this unique region of the Oregon Coast.
On the South Coast, South Coast Tours (SCT) is expanding its shuttle service, which is a huge help to hikers as they come across gaps in the trail. The SCT Averill is offering $25 boat shuttles from Bullards Beach Campground to Old Town Bandon – perfect for Oregon Coast Trail hikers nearing the end of their journey.
Over the summer, there have also been a few stories of hikers who reached out to the Oregon Coast Visitors Association when they were struggling to cross the Umpqua River, facing il-weather, and other logistical challenges. In every case, hikers received help and were able to get back on trail – and we learned a lot in the process about the needs of OCT hikers and how to prioritize future resources.
The future of this through-trail is exciting, and we’re grateful for all the partners working to make this long-term vision a reality!
Get Involved
Interested in getting involved with the future of the Oregon Coast Trail?
- Join a Trailkeers of Oregon (TKO) event! TKO hosts trail parties and overnight backpacking trips all year. This is a great opportunity to volunteer and spend time outside with a community of people who care about Oregon’s trails.
- Join a Salmonberry Trail group hike or work party to learn more about the vision for this piece of the OCT.
- Advocate for the Trail! Write to your local representatives, encouraging them to support trail development and maintenance efforts, and to fund public lands and trails in Oregon.