Stats, trail tips and important information regarding this trail are located at the bottom of the blog post. Unless explicitly noted, all pictures in this blog are owned by me and should otherwise not be used without expressed written consent.

Cape Falcon was not my first hiking choice on this relatively wet day in December – that choice belonged to Neahkahnie Mountain. But being situationally aware, I knew the views at Neahkahnie Mountain would be zero to none. So what’s a man to do? Well, find another cool hike nearby! And that cool hike was Cape Falcon.

Just because this was a last-minute add doesn’t mean it wasn’t worthy. As you can see, I added it to my bucket list. Where are the best places to hike on a cloudy, wet day? Waterfalls, ocean hikes, river hikes – of course you need to always pay attention to the water level for safety (at least, with rivers). This turned out to be a wonderful little hike. As you can see, the trailhead is quite easy to find…

The parking lot is relatively small but paved. The trail is marked well but, like a lot of hikes in Oregon, keeps it basic. I love this approach because some places really overdo it, making the hike seem like a theme park. Most of the trail is very wooded and this cozy, windy path gives you a good example of how the hike looks…

But also, if you go on a wet day you should be prepared for some mud and slippery conditions…

Quite a bit of the hike is this cozy, wooded pathway. It’s serene and relaxing, not too difficult. You eventually get to a creek crossing and, a short time later, you see where the creek goes…

Creek views? Check. Beach views? Check. Ocean views? Check. Mountain views? Although you can’t see it in the pic- check! Speaking of those mountain views…

Pretty sure this is Neahkahnie Mountain. It appears so on the map, but do not quote me. 😎 If you’re a local and know, please correct me (comment below). I hiked Neahkahnie Mountain a few years later. Anyway, see how the trees and shrubs frame up the mountain? I dig it.

What a beautiful mountain, even in the overcast conditions. And the proverbial Joe self-pic is loading…

As you start to get close to the cape tip, the trail narrows in places with dense brush around you…

And woah! Watch your feet! There are some relatively significant drop-offs at the cape’s tip. From my recollection, those drop-offs are no deeper than 40-50 feet but being that it’s jagged rock combined with crashing waves? Yeah, just be careful…

And then the views begin to show back up as you get towards the less-woodsy Cape Falcon tip…

Check dat out! Call me weird, but I love how the patches of fog layer over the trees at the base of the mountain. At the very tip of the cape, I began to get a closeup view of the angry Pacific Ocean. The sloshing waves always intrigue me…

And here is the very tip of Cape Falcon looking out at the Pacific Ocean…

Although I’ve yet to travel to the UK, the tip of Cape Falcon reminds me of some of the trails in that area of the world. I was all alone on this hike and sat down at the edge to read a book. It was awesome.

Another crashing wave picture just because I’m oddly amused…

And as I was walking back I had to snag another photo of Neahkahnie Mountain. Beau-tee-ful. God, such a beautiful world we live in, huh?

Total Distance: 4.77 miles
Calories Burned: 644
Trail Type: Out-and-back
Trail Features: Lush greenery, creek, ocean views, mountain views
Best Time to Hike: Summer?
Difficulty Rating: 6/10
Trailhead Coordinates: 45.7629701, -123.9560399
Trail Tips:

• Weather Conditions: This hike can get muddy during wet seasons (and days). I’d recommend wearing boots and those you don’t mind getting muddy.
• Steep Cliffs: The drop-offs at the tip of Cape Falcon are not super deep, but they’re enough to be a huge problem if you fall. Be careful as you get close to the tip!