Oregon Coast Trail
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The Oregon Coast Trail is a nearly 400 mile long hiking trail along the coast of Oregon.
Contents
Overview
Length: ~400 miles, depending on route
Standard direction(s) of travel: Southbound
Season: Summer
Trail Association: Trailkeepers of Oregon
Permits and Regulations
No permits required. Snowy Plover seasonal nesting protections restrict dunes areas of some beaches. These do not block the route, but hikers need to stay on the wet sand.
Maps
Online Maps
Oregon State Parks OCT maps (some sections out of date)
Printed Maps
Information Resources
Websites
Content from the old Hiking the Oregon Coast Trail site has migrated to Trailkeepers of Oregon OCT site
Apps
Route is available in Farout app
Guidebooks
Hiking the Oregon Coast Trail: 400 miles from the Columbia River to California, by Bonnie Henderson, 2021
Other
Sections
- Section 1: Columbia River to Garibaldi
- Section 2: Garibaldi to Siletz Bay at Lincoln City
- Section 3: Siletz Bay at Lincoln City to Florence
- Section 4: Florence to Port Orford
- Section 5: Port Orford to the California border
Water
City water is available in towns and beach access sites along the trail. Filtering water is not recommended due to agricultural runoff in the coastal streams. Only a few stretches, for example the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, require any significant water carry.
Weather and Seasonality
The OCT stays at relatively modest elevations (<1,000 feet/300 meters above sea level) for virtually its entire length, and the extremely maritime climate means that the coast itself never gets too hot or too cold. Nevertheless, the OCT is predominantly a summer trail.
June through September are typically the driest, warmest months. April, May, and October often bring rain and strong winds from the south. November through March are the stormiest, wettest months on the Oregon Coast, and falling trees from high winter winds can make forest hiking hazardous.
The main limiting factor is river levels. The southern half of the OCT (south of Florence) has many rivers that can be safely waded only between about mid-June and late October, when coastal rivers historically are at their lowest level (and even then, they may be wadeable only at low tide). Rivers too high to wade on the north coast can be crossed on bridges.
Most hikers opt for a southbound hike. The OCT is a very windy trail, and the prevailing winds come from the north. It's far more pleasant to let sand sting the back of one's calves (walking southbound), than to take it right in the face (walking northbound).
Resupply Locations
Resupply available nearly every day at coastal towns. Gear replacement available in larger towns, and even in small towns bait and tackle shops often have clothing and camping supplies.
Geographic Features
Administrative Territories
Online Communities
Oregon Coast Trail Facebook group
References
