Hug Point to Arch Cape Hike

Overview

A varied shoreline landscape is accessed by this short hike: volcanic stacks and cliffs, mudstone headlands of the Astoria Formation, the daunting basalt headland at Arch Cape, shallow caves, and also the old low tide vehicle route carved around Hug Point itself. Note that there are several headlands to walk around. Some can only be safely negotiated at low tide. Wear beach sandals as you will almost certainly get your feet wet. From the Hug Point parking area, walk down the paved trail to the enclosed beach. Go right (north) first. The sandstone headland of Austin Point, cloaked with Sitka spruce, shore pine, and salal, looms above. Walk around Austin Point to the next enclosed beach. Here there are caves carved in the sandstone and Falls Creek splashes over a rim onto the sand. There’s another headland to be negotiated before reaching an even smaller cove and Hug Point itself with its sea cave. Here you can see the old road route that was carved around the point. Walk up here if the tide is low to get a view north to the headlands and stacks of Silver Point, Lion Rock, Jockey Cap, and Haystack Rock. Return to the beach below the parking area and hike south. Round Point Meriwether and find another secluded beach. Highway 101 runs close by above the vegetated slope. Head around barnacled rocks at the next point, which may necessitate some wading, and see the expanse of Arch Cape Beach before you. The upper section of the northern half of this beach is cobbled, which makes for slower walking when the tide is in. The homes and cottages of the community of Arch Cape line the low bluff. Cross Austin and Shark Creeks and reach the end of the beach at the steep, dark cliffs of Arch Cape and its attendant stack. Arch Cape Creek flows into the Pacific Ocean here. Offshore, Castle Rock is always in sight. In summer, watch for flights of pelicans. Views inland along the way will take in various outer Coast Range summits, including Onion Peak. At the very lowest point of the tide, you may be able to continue finding

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Photos

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