23 min
Overview
Two trails in the Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge access woodland slopes, where deer are often seen, a restored headland prairie, and an overlook of a tidal estuary. Vistas from the viewpoint at the top look down on the Little Nestucca River farmlands and north across Nestucca Spit to Haystack Rock, Cape Kiwanda, and Cape Lookout; from the lower overlook at the end of the Two Rivers Trail, you'll get a view of the confluence of the Little and Big Nestucca Rivers. Visitors may park at the Pacific View Trailhead as long as there are available parking spots and the road is not gated; otherwise, park down at the Nestucca Bay Refuge Trailhead (walking up Christensen Road adds 0.8 miles round-trip to your hike). Please be careful on the road as both hikers and vehicles use it. The lower lot has a small viewing platform which looks over the diked floodplain of Upton Slough and the Little Nestucca River. Flocks of waterfowl forage here in the winter. Two trails lead off from the upper trailhead: the longer loop, the Two Rivers Trail, begins at the north end of the parking area; the much shorter paved, universal access Pacific View Trail switchbacks up to a viewing platform that looks out over the ocean. The Two Rivers Trail begins at an information kiosk to initially follow a gated section of Christensen Road along a forested peninsula. This area was formerly a retreat location for the Society of Jesus, but the land was purchased and added to the refuge in 2013, with the new hiking route officially dedicated in 2018. The trail begins in a meadow where yarrow, California aster, paintbrush, lupine, and goldenrod bloom in the summer. The track enters shady woods of red alder, Sitka spruce, and western hemlock and then offers a brief view of the coastal hills above the Little Nestucca River. At a junction, go left past a bench to burrow through leafy forest on an old road bed. Sword fern, red elderberry, and salmonberry dominate the understory, while Sitka spruce drip with moss. When you reach Christensen Road gai
Trail Stats
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115 m
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Photos
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