Towering above the coastline, Neahkahnie Mountain offers one of the most breathtaking views on the Oregon Coast. This is the shortest route to the summit via the South Trailhead.

distance: 3 miles (round trip)
elevation gain: 840 ft.
difficulty: moderate – due to short rock scramble section
drive time from Portland: 1.5 hours
parking pass: none

Gaia GPS app route

The views from Neahkahnie Mountain (1,680 ft.) are some of the best in the north Oregon coast. The mountain is located on the coastline just north of the town of Manzanita and Nehalem Bay. With two trailheads, it is possible to do this as a one-way hike, but it would require either a car shuttle or a 1.5 mile walk along busy 101 highway. For this hike, we opted for a shorter version beginning at the south trailhead. All of this hike is part of the Oregon Coast Trail, a long-distance trail that runs the entire length of the Oregon Coast.

I love the look of coastal forests, largely because of the presence of Sitka spruce. These towering trees thrive within about 20 miles of the ocean, thanks to their natural resistance to salt spray and their preference for the damp, misty conditions of the coast. They’re easy to spot with their dense, moss-draped branches and bark that resembles a square, camo-like pattern.

There were so many Oregon iris blooming on this day, especially on the lower sections of the trail.

As we neared the top, we headed through a foggy section that was much colder than the rest of the trail.

The trail heads to the left here and can be slick when the rocks are wet. Just past this is a short section where the trail washed out and is a bit challenging to cross but do-able.

Heading up the rocky spine to the summit is a bit challenging but not too difficult.

At the rocky summit, take in the views looking directly down at Manzanita and Nehalem Bay, with Cape Lookout in the far distance.

Small rock gardens at the top were beginning to bloom.

After our hike, we drove the North Trailhead and took the Elk Flats trail to a viewpoint at the base of Neahkahnie Mountain. This hike heads downhill through overgrown meadows and ends at the viewpoint just above the ocean.