This scenic area is a must-see when visiting the Yachats area! There's so much to do here. There's…read morea Visitors Center with restrooms, a museum, informational videos and friendly employees to answer questions. They have a large parking lot available for visitors. At the top of the hill is the Cape Perpetua Overlook day use area. It costs $5, and there's plenty of parking and a vault toilet. There's also a map of the trails by the pay station. The views from up there are amazing! The trails are well maintained. Don't forget to check out the cool West Shelter observation point! On the other side of highway 101 is a trail to Devils Churn, Cook's Chasm, and Spouting Horn. All must-sees! The dramatic views change depending on high and low tides. We always make a point to stop here while visiting the area, any time of year. It never disappoints. Highly recommend!

Decided to pull off for a hike this weekend while passing through. We found the trailhead just…read morebeyond the visitors center and decided upon the 1mile discovery loop. There's plenty of parking, including some for rvs. This portion of the trail, which starts at the back of parking lot, is a lollipop loop with well-maintained paths. The journey is a constant slight incline until about halfway through the loop. The forest here is just stunning...so serene especially within the loop itself. Highly recommend!

Many waterfalls and swimming holes along this amazing and shaded trail…read more Love mossy rocks? How about lush ferns? How do you feel about cascading water? Do you enjoy dipping your feet into cold water on a hot summer day? Or how about swimming among giant redwood trees? If any of this sounds appealing you need to visit Sweet Creek Falls. We came in the middle of summer and it was the perfect way to spend an afternoon hiking, meditating, and swimming. There are 11 waterfalls ranging in size and close to 2.5 miles all together of shaded trails to explore, rustic bridges included. This was definitely one of the highlights of our trip to Oregon last summer. Know before you go: Parking lots at each trailhead. Super stinky bathroom located only at Homestead Trailhead. Dog friendly. And most importantly FREE! *Don't be surprised to see topless women swimming. We all have breasts and it's a beautiful thing to be free especially in a place like this. If this bothers you just look away. *Don't use Yelp directions as they'll take you to the wrong place. Use Google instead. I've reported this several times but like nearly everything I report Yelp ignores it. And Happy Earth Day! If you haven't discovered what nature can do for your soul I highly recommend getting away from the daily grind, turning your phone off, and just enjoying what places like this can do for you. It's truly magical.

Awesome trail with multiple waterfalls. Trails were nice and clear of debris and branches. A few…read morespots with bigger rocks, roots, and water. Gorgeous scenery! There are so many photo opportunities. Many different bridges along the trail allow you to walk over the water. There is a part of the trail where you have to walk through a small stream. I wasn't wearing the proper gear and didn't want wet shoes and socks, so we headed back at that point and headed towards the upper parking lot. The upper trail still had snow on the ground, and the parking area was pretty soggy. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our time here. We would love to come back again during a drier season. Highly recommend!

Devils Churn is one of the coolest geological formations I've ever seen…read more As the tide comes in, the waves are concentrated in the basalt chasm (the result of an ancient collapsed lava tube), where they gain speed, ricochet against themselves, creating the "churn" look. It looks like a giant ocean bathtub full of violent butter. The waves splash dozens of feet in the air, filling tide pools on the basalt cliffs, and then cascading back down over the edges in a circular formation of infinite waterfalls. It looks like something you would imagine you would see in Iceland. The churn can be seen from a viewing area close to the parking lot, but it's just a short half mile hike down to the shore. Even though people have been washed out to sea from this site, these people had gone beyond the official trail, into the actual tide pool area above the churn. So, as long as you're on the trail, you're probably safe. I held on to the wooden rail just in case a big wave came, but noticed that the very bottom rung had been washed out. There is enough parking for about twenty cars at the information center, which is staffed by the Forest Service on limited hours/days. Parking is $5 or free with an NPS, Forest Service, or other federal interagency pass. I've actually been here a few times now. Valentine's Day was pretty crowded, and the visitor center was open. I had to leave before high tide, but was mesmerized. So, I ended up coming back during high tide a few days later. At one point, I saw the ocean throw an entire tree onto the ledge-- only to reclaim it a few minutes later. Falling in to the churn would almost certainly result in death. Some of the waves looked like they were going 25mph once they entered the chasm. Plus it's full of huge logs being violently churned around. But just half mile down the trail, there is a calm, serene beach with really pretty rocks. Continuing on, you can actually hike to Thors Well from here. I can't believe I'd never even heard of this place until I stumbled upon it by accident after visiting Thors Well. Personally I actually found the churn more impressive and mesmerizing to watch.

Super easy hike down to devils churn with accessible parking. I would highly recommend checking to…read moresee where the tide is at before going down for your safety. Came here with my friend on our way to Florence .

This is a beautiful short walk that goes from the beach parking lot to the lighthouse. I've gone…read morehere several times and it's always gorgeous, even when it's foggy and raining. There are wild blackberries that grow along the path that you can snack on or take home with you if you go at the right time of the year, which is an added plus! The bathrooms by the beach parking lot are rough. They are not for the faint of heart or faint of nose. You're better off holding it until you can get to downtown Florence and use the public bathrooms there.

The Hobbit Trail would make JRR Tolkien proud. The trailhead is a subtle affair and easily found…read moremainly due to the other cars parked at the trailhead. Parking is available on both sides of the highway, but remember, it's hwy 101 and traffic can be heavy. Because there is so much vehicle traffic as well as hikers coming and going, there are enough eyes there to make you feel okay about leaving your car there locked up. The trail itself starts out fairly smooth with gentle ups and downs, but get a bit more aggressive as you continue. A walking stick of some sort really comes in handy on a few of the steps and turns. As you progress towards the coast the forest starts to get thicker and darker like Mirkwood. The rays of diffuse sunlight scattered by drifting mists definitely lends a mystical element to the surroundings. Some of the trees are so twisted and gnarled that you might almost expect Treebeard or another Ent to come pacing past you. We did come across a gnome that was cleverly hidden by someone. After about a mile the trail reaches the end where the last section gets a bit steeper with plenty of roots to avoid. This is a very well used trail and there are a lot of very friendly hikers going both directions. The trail then opens onto a very large beautiful flat sandy beach with a cliff wall to your immediate south and a long flat sandy beach to the north. We found our first sandfall! A waterfall but it was sand, not water. Sand from the hillside above the cliffs was just pouring and cascading over the rocky edge. I posted a brief video of one with this review. All in all it was a good hike for a guy with a bum knee, anything worse than that should probably not try the whole trail. Mainly because a couple places had steps in and around roots that were probably around 1 to 2 foot steps. If you do push on to the bottom, the beach is worth it. Lots of very friendly smiling people and an awful lot of very well behaved dogs. I think the magic in this is that it was all so clean. The hike back out was easier than I had anticipated but there is no ADA assistance.

1 mile loop trail, almost 100% shade covered with slight incline and declines. Ground is dirt with…read morea weaving of tree roots to provide your steps. One can hear the birds singing and also the ocean softly roaring. Some boardwalk bridge areas. Lots of side street parking. Good signage. Lots of benches to rest at. No restrooms or water fountains. Located near the bridge. Bring bug spray when it's buggy season.

We really enjoyed this trail!…read more This short loop is about 1 mile, with a couple of other connecting trails along the way. We chose to start the loop to the left, and it seemed average for the length of the initial straight-stretch. But as soon as the trail turned and headed up it became so much more entertaining. The path winds through and around gorgeous old trees and provides fabulous root-art on which to walk. It's a fun trail with great shade...twists and turns, ups and downs. The footing is definitely uneven much of the way, so you've got to watch where you're going, but that just adds to the enjoyment for me. There's a decent amount of pull-off parking right at the trailhead. I didn't really have high expectations as we just happened upon the trail. But I was very pleasantly surprised...happy accident!

It's best to get the hike in two hours before it's dark. In order to see the bridge and the…read morewaterfall. It's about an 1.5 hour hike . Also, it's a suspension bridge ; that means it sways back-and-forth as you're walking on it.

Quick and easy hike with a suspension bridge and waterfall…read more Definitely recommend if you're in the area!

I'll be up front. I love Oregon. I love how beautiful it is here. I love the slower pace of life. I…read morelove the food. I love that people here have manners. Actual manners! Sh*t, I haven't experienced anything like this since living in New England (shoutout to NH, VT, and ME). But I digress. Dealing with folks takes a toll on me so I knew I wanted to grab a couple close friends and find a serene spot in a forest somewhere to recharge my batteries. Oregon delivered as usual. Alsea Falls Recreation Site (AFRS) is a picturesque area located 30 minutes southwest of Corvallis and boasts gorgeous forests of red cedars, maples, and Douglas firs as well as two waterfalls. I thought hiking trails here were pleasant. They offer plenty of shade and aren't very strenuous. Alsea Falls is located rather close to the day use parking lot, but there is a 1.4 mile trail leading to Green Peak Falls if you walk across the wooden bridge. The trail is poorly marked so you may lose it when you end up at McBee Park campground. Stick to the right and you will find two trails. Take the right official trail with the trail post. The left trail is shorter but there are stinging nettles along the way. Green Peak is the larger of the two falls and it is possible to climb to the top via the adjacent trail (right side), but it is steep so be careful. O T H E R I N F O -Day use parking is $3. Fill out an envelope. Drop off the envelope with payment in the receptacle across from the outhouse. Keep the stub in your vehicle. -Amenities within the campground include drinking water and vault toilets. Several campsites can accommodate large RVs or trailers; up to 32 feet long. -Dogs are allowed on a leash so bring the family pup along! -Salmon and steelhead fishing during the winter months. -The park is clean. Keep it that way and pack your trash until you find a rubbish bin. -Pack a camera. Take plenty of photos. Collect memories instead of things.

We came upon Starker Forestry Tour trail online when checking along the 20 for short trails we…read moremight want to check out as passing through. It's super easy to find from the 20, just a few minutes down a paved and gravel road with good signage. There's a small parking area at an intersection of roads where the tour begins. As a tree hugger I generally cringe, plug my ears, or turn away from anything involving the removal of even one tall beauty. But I will admit, after taking the informative trail I respected the education and information provided by the tour. The trail starts at a large covered pavilion with long benches and utilizes signposts along the short loop to help both kids and adults learn about the industry, as well as the natural inner workings of the forest. Special focus is given to beauty #15 and it's individual purpose, as well as how the environment around it has changed through the years. The path is well-maintained, fairly flat and easy, with an even gravel surface. Seemingly in the middle of nowhere, the Starker Forestry Tour has a beautiful setting and offers a simplistic way to learn a bit more about the gorgeous Oregon forests.

From the owner: At Starker Forests, we grow and harvest trees while working to protect the environment. We allow…read morepublic access for hiking, hunting and mountain biking. All visitors to Starker Forests must obtain a free recreation permit.

This was a nice stop to get out and stretch while driving in this coastal area. There are restrooms…read moreand free parking at both locations. The visitor's center was just closing when we arrived, but they did have some placards with pertinent information on the back deck with a gorgeous view of the bog. The other area below the visitor's center, where the short boardwalk and dock are located, has a picnic area available. There's an area where you can walk through the marsh to view the wildlife. We visited in early May so it was a bit muddy out there. It would have been fine if we brought our boots. Next time. We did hear many different birds out there, but only saw a few. Overall a nice stop while in the area, but not sure we would go out of our way to stop here again.

I read positive reviews and the brochure ("Bring your binoculars...this soft-packed, moderately…read moredifficult loop skirts the fringes of the upland forests and meadows") online prior to going, expecting a pleasant hike on a maintained trail. This was not that. The Beaver Creek Loop trail was a horrifying viewless bushwacking slog over overgrown blackberry, poison oak, and tall grass (check yourself for ticks). Very clear that trail hasn't been brushed in a LONG time. The trail doesn't even deserve to be called a trail. Also there's a downed tree across the trail with pretty much no way except to duck under into a thicket of poison oak while carrying a small child. Really horrible. Do better Oregon, this was really not OK. AVOID THIS PLACE.