Cape Falcon Trailhead, Arch Cape OR

This is a great trail with vistas of the ocean amidst the PNW trees and wildlife. It overlooks Short Sand Beach. It can be muddy in the Spring so be ready.

Great hike! I implore you to not do this hike unless you are wearing sturdy hiking boots. It’s muddy and there are tons of roots. The hike itself isn’t too bad until you get to the last half mile where it’s almost straight uphill and switchbacks. Worth the hike for the views. Give yourself 2.5 - 3 hours to hike this because you’ll want to stop and admire the beauty around you.

The trail is a bit of a drive if you are staying in portland (2 hour drive to the coast). However, it's a nice hike if you get there in the morning. Majority of the hike is shaded (through the forest) so do dress warm if it's a bit chilly. Beginning of the hike is bumpy b/c you are walking over and around roots of many many old trees. You need to watch where you step. It evens out later in the hike. Half way into the hike, you are taken to a camp site where you could sit on a bench and enjoy the coastline. However, if you want, you can keep going to the end of the cape falcon hike (it can be combined with a longer hike as well). The end is basically an opening for a lookout of the coast line. It's very beautiful on a sunny day. However, if you are planning on sitting there and enjoying a snack, be mindful of really big ants/fire ants. We noticed them 5 min into our hanging out (luckily we were standing not sitting).
There's plenty of parking if you arrive early but it does fill up. You can likely park at the parking lot across the street as well which is much bigger and has a bathroom. Lot of people park there to go down to the water.

Beautiful trail, it is a bit muddy in some places. Dog friendly and overall fantastic hike.

Didn't get to the beach but did the hike to Cape Falcon Point. Lovely hiking and ample parking (for oversize vehicles, you can continue north past the paved parking area for a very short ways and easily park in the unpaved lot on the east side).

Wonderful hiking trail with spectacular views through the coastal rainforest to the ocean. Trail is somewhat challenging but very much worth the effort and the memories of the scenery will last a lifetime.

Amazing hike to the point. It is a very good challenging trail. If your not in good shape take your time onbthe trail but totally worth the view.

A bit muddy the first week of July, but fine in tennies or my sturdy Keens and very much worth it, even with clouds!

One of the most beautiful places on earth in my opinion. If you catch it on a sunny day, it is a sight you won't ever forget. Beautiful little hike down to the cove and many wonderful things to discover at the beach

So, I would reccomend waiting until the weather dries up a bit. It's a muddy mess atm (imagine deep mud soup in good stretches), but it's a peninsula hike.so it makes sense that after some good rain it's a mud dash.

Dropoffs and the level of mud are worth mentioning (May 1st visit). Poles and hiking boots/shoes recommended. The rocky areas are coated in everyone's mud that has been tracked through, making it like a slip and slide in a lot of areas. Don't try rush through like I did without poles.

Trail has decent beach peek-a-boo spots midway through and a nice viewpoint area to explore (offering the 3 different angles of coastline for photo ops). Lots of little nooks for private seating viewpoints where you can take in a sunset or picnic with a companion.

Full restrooms are right down the road from this trail and can be easily accessed by a short trail directly across HWY 101 from this parking lot.

Not much for wildflowers but a lush and rewarding experience. That being said.right now, it is a true obstacle course and during a lot of the stretches of the trail you are looking down at your footing more than the views around you.

It's a beautiful hike! Every trail in Oswald West State Park link to each other. Cape Falcon can be hiked from Short Sand parking, Short Sand beach can be accessed by Cape Falcon Trailhead. Indirectly, both can also be accessed from Elk Flats Trailhead. To avoid causing an accident on US 101, PLEASE access parking lots appropriately and courteously. No RV's at Cape Falcon Trailhead. Use the big Short Sand parking lot.

Very muddy when I went this time but it is still an incredible trail with incredible views all along the way and at the end.

A short steady drop and then return climb easy for all levels. Paved almost entirely and easily navigable by wheelchair or motorized cart. Plenty of places to stop and rest along the way if needed. Restrooms and water at both the top of the trailhead and the beach at the bottom. It's the Disney version of hiking good for all ages and capabilities. Beautiful scenery all the way down and back, and a gorgeous protected cove at the bottom with waves sufficiently strong that surfers were surfing it when we arrived. Picnic tables and benches make for a delightful view for lunch at the bottom. We loved it!

Lovely coastal hike, can be really muddy in the wet season. Unfortunately tends to be more and more busy during nice weather, so go mid-week.

Insanely beautiful hike. Not hard at all but gets super muddy after any sort of rain. Recommend bringing some boots. Fantastic views throughout the entire trail

Very beautiful hike through supremely green lush forest leading to magnificent exposed cliff side views of the coast. Pleasantly flat the entire way, and not very challenging - although the trail is (at least yesterday when I was there) incredibly muddy and made up of many gnarled tree roots. Good boots are a must for traversing four miles of literal sinking mud and puddles.

This was an incredible hike, not strenuous but very muddy as others have said. Not a big deal as long as you have good shoes. Some absolutely incredible views at the end and the forest along the way was beautiful. Bathrooms just up the road from the trailhead.

Great hike through the amazing trail of massive red cedars and hemlock trees. It only takes about 20 minutes to the beach with wonderful scenery of waterfalls, wife beaches and fern lined cliffs.

We did the 4.6 mile hike, it's pretty. It wasn't muddy but there were several slicker than snot spots; it was pretty misty (no views, could have contributed to the slip and slide sections). Take hiking poles or take your time.