A Guide to Hiking Cascade Head Trail Near Lincoln City
Are you interested in hiking the Cascade Head Trail in Lincoln City, Oregon?
You have come to the right place. We have spent months exploring the Oregon Coast, and every time we go, we continue to find amazing hidden gems any time of year. We hiked this trail during our last visit to Oregon.
This article explains everything you need to know about hiking the Cascade Head Trail along the beautiful Pacific Ocean.
The Cascade Head Trail offers a breathtaking view and experience near Lincoln City, Oregon. Known for its stunning coastal views, lush meadows, and diverse wildlife, this trail is a must-visit for nature enthusiasts and hikers alike.
Whether you’re seeking a peaceful walk through nature or a challenging outdoor adventure, Cascade Head Trail provides a remarkable experience. You are going to enjoy this Oregon Coast trail and Cascade Head Preserve.
How to Find Cascade Trail Head
🗺 Cascade Head Trail Directions: To reach the South Trailhead of Cascade Head Trail, drive north from Lincoln City on Highway 101. Turn onto Three Rocks Road. You will follow 3 Rocks Road until Knight County Park, which is on the corner of Savage Road and 3 Rocks Road.
❌ IMPORTANT NOTE! The upper trailhead route is currently closed. The trailhead at Knight Park is currently the only viable route.
The Cascade Head Trail parking is located at Knight Park in Lincoln City, Oregon. If you are searching Cascade Trail Head on Google Maps, it can be confusing, so we always find the parking lot by heading to Knight Park.
We have never seen the small parking lot get super full, so don’t stress too much about parking. The park has vault toilets, which are the only toilets available along the trail. However, when we were there, the bathrooms were very dirty, so you may want to try the bathroom before you head to the trail.
Upper Nature Conservancy Trail Closure
In the past, you could hike a different trail called the Upper Nature Conservancy Trail. This was the Cascade Head upper trail. This upper trail was an easy trail that took you to the upper viewpoint, and it was only 1 mile long and about 160 feet of elevation gain.
However, this trail has been closed for a while now because of a landslide, and there has not been any indication of the trail reopening anytime soon. Because of this, the only option is to use the more vigorous hike and the lower trailhead when hiking the Cascade Head Trail.
Cascade Head Trail Details
Cascade Head Trail Difficulty
This is a moderate to challenging hike, with some steep sections. Our three kids, with the youngest being four at the time, did the hike. The youngest didn’t hike to the upper viewpoint but probably could have with a little more encouragement.
Our twins, who were seven at the time of the hike, didn’t have a problem making it to the upper viewpoint.
Distance and Type
The hike for the Lower Cascade Head Trail is an out-and-back trail. From the Knights Park to the upper viewpoint, it is just over 4 miles long round trip and 1200 feet of elevation gain.
If you stop at the lower viewpoint, you save yourself about 1 mile in the distance, and a lot of elevation gain since the hike from the lower viewpoint to the upper viewpoint is a pretty steep accent.
🕑 Average Time to Complete: It should take you around 2.5 to 3.5 hours. When we have our kids, it takes us about 3.5 hours.
Hike Experience and Description
The trail offers a mix of dense forest paths and open meadows with panoramic ocean views of the Oregon Coast. We enjoy the great flowers, birds, and landscape. As we hiked the trail, our girls would play games about fairies because parts of the trail looked like fairies might live there.
If you are unsure if you can make the whole trail, the lower viewpoint is really beautiful and well worth the hike. The difference between the upper view and the lower view is not significant, so you are not missing much in terms of the view if you do not go all the way to the upper viewpoint.
Harts Cove Trail Detour
Once you are towards the end of the Cascade Head Trail, you will see a series of switchbacks that go down to what is called the Harts Cove Trail. This is currently the only way to access the Harts Cove Trail.
The other option is currently closed. You should also remember that the Harts Cove Trail is not open all year. It is closed from January 1 through July 15 because of the sensitive marine protected areas.
This trail is not well known, and Hart’s Cove travels into the Cascade Head Marine Reserve, where you will see some waterfalls at the end.
Cascade Head Trail Weather
The weather at Cascade Head can be unpredictable, with foggy mornings and sunny afternoons. Summer offers the most stable weather, while winter brings rain and wind. It’s crucial to check the weather forecast and prepare for changing conditions.
We recommend that you dress in layers. We hiked in sweatshirts in the beginning, and as we hiked, we took them off. As we got to the lower viewpoint, the trees disappeared, and the breeze really started to pick up, so we put our sweatshirts and jackets back on.
The wind continued as some of us hiked to the upper viewpoint.
Even during the summer months, you will want to make sure you have some sort of sweatshirt or windbreaker.
Tips for Hiking Cascade Head Trail
We have a few tips that might come in useful if you want to hike the Cascade Head Trail in Lincoln City, Oregon.
✔ Make sure you bring layers when hiking. The hike might be a little warm, but once you get out of the trees and from the lower lookout to the upper lookout, there can be a significant breeze off the ocean. This can be chilly.
✔ Use the bathroom before you get to Knight Park. The bathrooms there can be really dirty at times.
✔ Make sure you lock your car and keep valuables out of sight.
✔ The views from the upper lookout and the lower lookout are similar. If you are on the fence because you are tired or have kids, don’t feel bad skipping the upper lookout.
✔ Do not bring your dog. Dogs are not allowed. It is a fragile area for some wildlife and plants.
✔ Follow the signs and don’t walk in the road. The beginning of the trail from Knight Park follows the road.
What to Bring to Hike Cascade Head Trail
You should not need anything too crazy when hiking the Cascade Head Trail in Oregon. Below are some of our favorite hiking essentials that we always have with us.
Nalgene Water Bottle
We love our Nalgene water bottles. They are cheap, durable, lightweight, and clip easily to a bag if desired.
The only downside is they are not insulated. Insulated water bottles do add weight, and because of this, they are usually smaller.
We will take our ice-filled insulated water bottles in the car to have cold water when we get back, or if the hike is not super long, we will take them with us. However, the weather on the Oregon Coast is very mild, so having ice-cold water is not as important as if you were hiking in Southern Utah.
Sling Backpack
We don’t ever go anywhere without a backpack. It does not matter if we are hiking or not. We keep a backpack with us that we keep essentials in.
They are great for keeping water, food, snacks, first aid, clothing layers, flashlights, or other important items.
Snacks
We love to have a few snacks with us when we are hiking or traveling in general. My personal favorites are Jerky and canned fish, like these Bumble Bee tuna snacks. Our kids love fruit snacks and granola bars.
First Aid Kit
A basic first aid kit can be nice to have, especially if you have little kids. Kids can fall, and then magically, a band-aid will quickly reduce tears to happy hiking kids. It is also a good idea to have a glow stick or two.
We took some trails a little later than we should have, so we ended up getting back to the car in the dark, and a glow stick would have been extremely helpful to have in our first aid kit.
Nearby Adventures to Cascade Head Trail
Lincoln City is such a fun city on the Oregon Coast to visit and a place we love spending time in. If you’re looking for some other fun things to do in the area, here are some ideas to get you started-
- Lincoln City Glass Center
- Devils Punchbowl
- Regatta Park
- Hike God’s Thumb
- Lincoln City Outlets
- Go Crabbing
If you are interested in a complete list of awesome things to do in Lincoln City, Oregon, then you need to check out these 21 things to do in Lincoln City and our Lincoln City restaurant guide. They will give you a complete rundown of the best things you will want to see while you are there.
If you are willing to explore the Oregon Coast a little, the city of Newport is about 35 minutes south of Lincoln City. There are so many fun things to do in Newport, including a fun aquarium if you’re visiting with kids and some great lighthouses. You’ll also pass right by the Devil’s Punchbowl on your drive.
Where to Stay Near Cascade Head Trail
If you are going to be camping on the Oregon Coast, then you should check out the Lincoln City KOA. We have stayed here, and it is a great spot. The people who run the place are super nice, and even though we showed up super late in our huge 5th wheel, they made sure we got in and situated really fast.
Holiday Inn Express
When we stay at hotels, the Holiday Inn Express has always been a good and economical option for us. They have a nice one in Lincoln City, so if you are looking for a reasonable price place to stay and that gives you a good quality room each time, this is a good option.
Ashley Inn and Suites
The Ashley Inn is another good option. It is so nice to end your day chilling in the hot tub. There are not many things that are better than relaxing in the warm hot tub after exploring Lincoln City all day.
FAQ: Cascade Head Trail
The trail offers year-round access, but parts may close for maintenance or environmental reasons.
It is approximately 4 miles round trip, so it will take about two to three hours. If you do not hike to the upper lookout, the hike is a little shorter and easier since there is a significant incline to get to the upper lookout.
The Cascade Head is not currently closed. The Upper Nature Conservancy Trail, however, is closed. The trail was closed due to a mudslide. This trail would make it so you only had to hike 1 mile and 160 feet of elevation gain to get to the top of Cascade Head.
You can still hike the Cascade Head Trail starting at Knight Park, but the hike is considerably longer at about 4 miles and 1200 feet of elevation gain.
No, dogs are not allowed on the Cascade Head Trail. This is to protect the sensitive wildlife habitat. Do not bring your dog to this trail. The trail passes private property, and in this part of the Siuslaw National Forest, there are rare plants, wildflowers, the Oregon silverspot butterfly, and other threatened species that can be harmed by dogs and other pets.
Cascade Head rises to about 1,200 feet above sea level.
Yes, the Cascade Head trail is open. However, the only route that is available is a 4-mile hike from Knights Park.
Conclusion: Cascade Head Trail
We hope you enjoy your hike. This is a great trail of old-growth Sitka Spruce that is super cool. The views are beautiful for the entire hike.
While you are hiking, make sure you keep your eye open for animals. We saw a Bald Eagle and beautiful butterflies, but the area offers much more if you are lucky.
