Last leg of the road trip, the Oregon Coast. Now, if you haven’t had a chance to yet, check out my two other blog posts in relation to this trip to read more about my Pacific North West road trip and my adventures around North Cascades National Park and Mt. Rainier National Park. After packing up and setting out from Washington, it was time to reach my final stop before heading home. This stop was the Oregon Coast, specifically, Lincoln City. Of course, I had to check out some hiking trails while I was in the area.
Note: None of the links listed in this post are affiliate links. They will simply redirect you to websites I’ve added so you can explore more!
Lincoln City
I had been driving for about four hours and needed to be able to stop and stretch my legs. Thankfully, I had planned on needing to do this and looked up trails to hike in Lincoln City prior to my departure from Washington and back into Oregon. I found The Thumb via The Knoll on AllTrails and stopped to check it out. This hike was about 4 miles round trip. It looked like a good chance to see some great sites over the Pacific Ocean.
The trail head was a bit tricky to find at first, the entrance is located near residential houses so it took me awhile to actually get parked and find the trail head. The trail starts out moderately calm, constant incline but nothing technical. There was a gorgeous section where I felt like I was walking through a natural tunnel. The trees were overhanging on the trail and casting a cooling shadow. I appreciated this since I was already starting to sweat and the hike had just begun. It felt like a fairytale, especially with the mid-morning sun shining through the forest.
The scenery drastically changes from cooling with forest overgrowth to dry and exposed. After crossing through an opening into a meadow I needed to shed some of my layers and pack it away in my backpack. The trail declines significantly before needing to trek back uphill to the lookout and the end point of the trail. Basically a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
The trail leading uphill to the overlook is narrow and really only suitable for one-way travelers. Upon reaching the lookout area, you are greeted with a breathtaking panoramic view of the Oregon Coast that stretches as far as the eye can see. The vantage point allows you to take in the vast expanse of the ocean, with waves gently crashing against the shore below. The lookout area itself is large enough for maybe a maximum of 5 people, comfortably, at a time. Thankfully, I had reached the end of the trail right before noon. There were not many hikers out at that time. I had the chance to take in all of the scenery (and have a snack) before heading back.
The lack of crowds at that time allowed for a peaceful and uninterrupted experience, giving you the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the beauty of the surroundings. The skies were clear. The ocean water was calming. There was just enough wind to keep you cool with the noon sun exposure.
Overall Thoughts
Overall, it was an excellent adventure and a view I would take the time to travel to again, should I ever be in the area. This hike was enough to get the blood circulating again after a 4-hour drive from Washington and a nice stop over to enjoy the ocean. I did not find a lot to do in Lincoln City itself. However, this was a hike I would very much do again.
Thanks for joining me on this adventure, and until next time, Adventure Awaits!
