By Eileen Garvin
FORT TO SEA TRAIL
This 6.5-mile (10.5-kilometer) trail near Astoria follows in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery as they navigated forest, fields and sand dunes to the Pacific Ocean.
NEAHKAHNIE MOUNTAIN
Hike 1,100 feet over 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) to the top of Neahkahnie Mountain near Manzanita. Cape Falcon (5.2 miles / 8.4 kilometers) and Short Sands Beach (1 mile / 1.6 kilometers) can be accessed nearby.
CAPE LOOKOUT TRAIL
This 5-mile (8-kilometer) round-trip trail near Netarts leads out to a narrow finger of land with dramatic views of the Coast, springtime wildflowers, and giant spruce, cedar and hemlock.
CASCADE HEAD NATURE CONSERVANCY TRAIL
This preserve near Lincoln City offers hikes on upper and lower trails with great opportunities for viewing wildlife and rare wildflowers.
CAPE PERPETUA
Climbing 600 feet above the coastline near Yachats, the 1.5-mile (2.4-kilometer) St. Perpetua Trail at Cape Perpetua offers a panoramic view of the Central Coast.
CARL G. WASHBURNE MEMORIAL STATE PARK
Close to Florence, this park includes the quaint, half-mile (0.8-kilometer) Hobbit Trail, which winds through thick stands of trees and shrubs to reach the beach, as well as the 6-mile (9.7-kilometer) trail to Heceta Head Lighthouse.
TAHKENITCH CREEK TRAIL
Hike out into the Oregon Dunes along this 4.8-mile (7.7-kilometer) moderate trail near Reedsport. The trail follows the creek and crosses the dunes to reach the ocean, so plan for some route finding.
GOLDEN AND SILVER FALLS STATE
NATURAL AREA
Just east of Coos Bay, this recreation area includes hikes to both waterfalls through scenic wooded canyons.
SAMUEL H. BOARDMAN STATE SCENIC CORRIDOR
Near Brookings, this 12-mile (19-kilometer) forested park stretches along a rugged coastline. Walk among 300-year-old Sitka spruce trees, gaze at the amazing Arch Rock and Natural Bridges, and hike 27 miles (43 kilometers) of the Oregon Coast Trail.
OREGON REDWOODS TRAIL
This easy 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) trail near Brookings takes you through Oregon’s unique section of old-growth redwood forest.