Ecola Point to Indian Beach Hike

Overview

The section of the Oregon Coast Trail between Indian Beach and Ecola Point was washed out in 2017, and a new, somewhat longer route takes the trail farther inland. There are views at the beginning and end of this hike on the remaining sections of the old trail, but most of the trail takes you up above a thickly forested bowl in old-growth Sitka spruce forest that transitions to secondary forest. The reward at the end of the hike is a stroll along Indian Beach, tucked into a shallow cove between Indian Point and Bald Point, and views to ”Terrible Tilly”, a decommissioned lighthouse that sits atop its own lonely rock off of Tillamook Head. Note that the new trail, designed by Ptarmigan Ptrails and opened in 2020, is not difficult but it is extremely muddy and has some elevation gain, so come prepared with good footwear! Before you take the Oregon Coast Trail north, you can walk out to the west end of the parking area. An opening in the trees to the right offers a view tp the arch and intriguing pinnacle at Sea Lion Rock offshore. Pick up a trail that leads down to a viewpoint of ”Terrible Tilly” and numerous sea stacks. Walk up a paved trail to get views south from Ecola Point to Crescent Beach, Chapman Point, Cannon Beach, Haystack Rock, and Cape Falcon. Then return to the north side of the parking area to find the Oregon Coast Trail. The path, paved at first, leads down to a footbridge over swampy Crescent Creek, which flows lazily under an alder canopy. Then you’ll switchback up into a Sitka spruce/sword fern forest, passing a big spruce and taking a set of box steps up to two more switchbacks. You reach a viewpoint at a dropoff, where you can see north to Indian Point and ”Terrible Tilly”. From here, you’ll rise to pass the old decommissioned trail, and hike under spruce and hemlock through a salal understory. The trail drops a little to offer views to the parking area and Ecola Point. Then the path winds up through several muddy dips and switchbacks past a massive spruce tree. Two more switchbacks take

Trail Stats

Photos

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400px-EcolaPointIndianBeachMap

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160px-Big_spruce%2C_OCT%2C_Ecola_State_Park

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250px-Canyon_Creek%2C_Indian_Beach%2C_Ecola_State_Park

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250px-View_to_Sea_Lion_Rock_from_the_OCT%2C_Ecola_State_Park

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400px-Indian_Point_from_the_OCT%2C_Ecola_State_Park

TKO put tools to trail here.png

TKO put tools to trail here.png

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