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Run through meadows above waves crashing against the cliffs and then descend into old growth forest at Short Sand Beach.


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Map Key

1.2

Miles

2.0

KM

81%

Runnable

401' 122 m

High

56' 17 m

Low

139' 42 m

Up

484' 148 m

Down

10%

Avg Grade (6°)

45%

Max Grade (24°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Views

Need to Know

No restrooms at the trailhead, but there are restrooms near the end of the trail.

Runner Notes

Narrow track, overgrown with salal, muddy and slippery.

Description

The trail begins at Elk Flats and winds through wide coastal meadows with views of the ocean and waves crashing against the cliffs. This area is beautiful and has a wide variety of wildflowers in the spring and summer.

There are several trails that branch off, one to the south for an overlook of the cliffs, and one to the west to see the Devil's Cauldron. Follow the trail north as it climbs into some second growth Douglas fir and delves deep under the canopy. The rest of the trail is shadowed and cool on a summer day, surrounded by green moss, lichens, and ferns. There are a few steep sections but it's largely an easy slope.

From here the trail follows the contour of the cliffs before diving down steeply into the old growth forest near Short Sands Beach. Often muddy, this part of the trail dives down with several switchbacks and connects to the South Beach Access Trail to reach Short Sand Beach or the Sitka Spruce Trail to reach the main parking area at Oswald West State Park.

Flora & Fauna

Salal, Douglas fir, western hemlock, western red cedar, sitka spruce, swordfern.

Contacts

Land Manager: Oregon State Parks

Shared By:

Samantha Goodwin

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 1 vote

#13794

Overall
  4.0 from 1 vote
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Trail Rankings

#454

in Oregon

#13,794

Overall
22 Views Last Month
2,074 Since Jan 27, 2021
Intermediate Intermediate

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Photos

Nice bridge on the Sitka spruce trail
Dec 1, 2019 near Cannon…, OR
A wide grassy meadow overlooks the ocean.
Jan 27, 2021 near Cannon…, OR
A trail winds through a douglas fir forest with swordfern on the sides.
Jan 27, 2021 near Cannon…, OR
A trailhead sign marks a trail that goes down into a meadow.
Jan 27, 2021 near Cannon…, OR
A trailhead sign next to a muddy track that goes uphill through tall salal and brush.
Jan 27, 2021 near Cannon…, OR

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