Lincoln Beach Hike

Overview

A six-mile expanse of strand extends south from the tip of Salishan Spit, which encloses Siletz Bay (see the Salishan Spit Hike), to the rocky promontory of Fishing Rock, part of Fishing Rock State Recreation Site. This hike takes in the southernmost 2 ½ miles of Lincoln Beach, a pleasant stroll that gets more interesting as you hike around the lava promontory of Fishing Rock, where you have a good chance of spotting seals, sea lions, and various seabirds. Fishing Rock itself is an island and part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge and Oregon Islands Wilderness. From the north end of the parking area at Gleneden Beach, find the paved trail that leads through a shore pine shaded gully to the beach. You’ll turn south and follow the sandy expanse of Lincoln Beach for 2.2 miles before ascending to the Fishing Rock headland. At low tides in the winter, a drowned forest may reveal itself at the wash line. During the last great subduction earthquake in January 1700, most of the north coast dropped several feet, submerging coastal woodlands. Now just the stumps remain to remind us that another great earthquake is about due. As you hike, look back to Cascade Head jutting out on the northern horizon, while to the south the nearest headland is that of Fishing Rock, your destination for this hike. A low sandstone bluff, characterized by colorful layers of succeeding deposits backs the beach. Very soon, however, you’ll pass a public access road to the beach (no vehicles actually permitted on the beach) and then note the riprap against the bluff to protect the homes here. There’s another public access point just before you cross Schoolhouse Creek. Next is a pedestrian access stairway off of El Mar Avenue. Continue walking south to cross another creek. In this section, use of riprap is less frequent, and the bluff is topped by thickets of shore pine and Sitka spruce. You’ll pass several more access points from Lincoln Avenue as riprap again lines the back of the beach. Note that there is very little parking avail

Trail Stats

Photos

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