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Trip

Day Hike - Cape Lookout State Park

N.OR coast - cape trail and beach hike, enjoying nature, birding, shore life, old-growth forest, photography

  • Sat, Nov 10, 2018 — Sun, Nov 11, 2018
  • Seattle Hiking Committee
  • Exploring Nature, Day Hiking, Photography
  • Adults
  • Easy/Moderate
  • Moderate
  • Mileage: 10.0 mi

Updated 11/7: 

8:00am Saturday hike to Cape Lookout tip, with option to add South trail hike to Sand Beach:  trailhead parking lot, 2.5 miles south of Cape Lookout campground entrance, via Cape Lookout Road. 

8:00am Sunday hikes at Cape Lookout SP or alternate natural area hikes, location decision by leader/group on Saturday. 

Meet near  campground booth just beyond park entrance for hiking at Cape Lookout state park, or convoy to trailheads for alternate hikes:   1) Cape Lookout State Park campground nature trail and Netarts Spit (trailhead at s. end from site A53) with parking in day use parking lot, or 2) Alternate hikes (leader/group decision on Saturday) for Sitka Sedge and/or Whalen Island state natural areas nearby, south of Cape Lookout SP.

See links in leader notes for directions to the two state natural areas.

Updated 11/7:  Great weather forecast, sunny to partly cloudy, with no precip expected 11/9-12.

Leisurely to moderate pace hikes.

Participants will arrange own accommodations (Friday & Saturday evening advised):  tent/yurt/cabin/RV camping at Cape Lookout SP, or motels nearby in Tillamook.    Leader is tent camping 11/9-11 at Cape Lookout SP.  Please share campsite fee if sharing a site.   Oregon State Park day use vehicle fee for non-campers, within park including trailheads:  $5/day or $30/annual permit.

Cape Lookout Trail and Netarts Spit info:   Cape Lookout Trail, 5 miles round trip.  Netarts Spit (S end) and nature trails:  3-5 miles round trip.  See "Day Hiking Oregon Coast" trail guide for descriptions. 

11/7 update:  Potential modification to planned hikes, due to trail conditions or safety issues (ie high tides, possible rough slippery trail sections).  SAT:  Cape Lookout trail:  main Cape Lookout trail (5mi RT, 930' gain) option to add south trail to Sand Beach (2-3.6mi RT, up to 840' elev loss and gain) due to main trail conditions.  SUN: Alternate trails to Netarts Spit (high tide limits much beach access; views) are state natural area trails nearby and south of Cape Lookout at Sitka Sedge State Natural Area https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Sitka_Sedge_Loop_Hike (Kinnikinnick Woods and Sand Creek Estuary trails, up to 4.5 mi, mostly level with minimal elev change) and Clay Myers State Natural Area at Whalen Island https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Whalen_Island_Loop_Hike (road accessible, 1.5mi island circuit trail).  Whalen Island and Sitka Sedge info/map:  https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/travel/outdoors/2016/12/16/hike-new-state-park-whalen-island/95226972/

Cape Lookout and South Trail descriptions: https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/South_Beach_(Cape_Lookout) 

https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Cape_Lookout_Hike

Cape Lookout Trail brochure:  http://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=main.loadFile&load=_siteFiles%2Fpublications%2FCape_Lookout_Hiking_bro_update_LR085036.pdf

 Park info/campground brochure/driving directions:  http://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=134

Directions/approx drive time (non-rush hour):  Seattle to Cape Lookout via Longview 4-1/4 hrs via I-5/OR-30/OR-26W/Hwy 101; Portland/Vancouver 1-3/4 hrs via I-5/US-26W/OR-6/Hwy 101. 

 Plant guidebook recommended:  Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast (Pojar & Mackinnon).  Year-round vegetation includes sitka spruce, western hemlock, ferns, lichens, mosses, evergreen shrubs.  Mid-spring/early summer wildflower blooms. 

If birding interest, bring bird field guide and binoculars.

Saturday evening option for group dinner, moderate prices - at nearby restaurant in Tillamook area

If you have interest and extra time, visit nearby Cannon Beach (north of Tillamook, via 101) with its iconic Haystack Rock and sweeping coastal views at Ecola State Park for hiking, birding, photography.  For  info, see www.oregonstateparks.org and "Day Hiking Oregon Coast" trail guide.

 

 

Route/Place

Cape Lookout State Park


Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

The Ten Essentials

  1. Navigation
  2. Sun protection
  3. Insulation (extra clothing)
  4. Illumination
  5. First aid supplies
  6. Fire
  7. Repair kit and tools, including knife
  8. Nutrition (extra food)
  9. Hydration (extra water)
  10. Emergency shelter
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