Cape Mountain Loop Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Dry Lake Trailhead
- End point: Cape Mountain
- Hike type: Loop with spur
- Distance: 3.5 miles
- Elevation gain: 515 feet
- High point: 1469 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Seasons: All year
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: No
Contents |
Hike Description
A network of horse trails was constructed in the 1990s on the Siuslaw National Forest’s Cape Mountain. Of course, hikers and mountain bikers are welcome to use these trails as well and, most of the time, you are unlikely to encounter any other users. Originally Cape Mountain was a patchwork of forest and meadows that were annually burned by area Indians. After scorching wildfires at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, the Cape Mountain summit became a grassy bald that offered views in all directions. A lookout was constructed in 1932, but the forest has grown up since then to shield all vistas except out to the Pacific Ocean. However, there are older trees along some of the trails, which are easily graded and offer a number of loop options.
The Princess Tasha Trail begins to the left of the restroom and passes between the two horse camps at the trailhead. Bear left in a slope forest of conifers and alders, and hike through an understory of salmonberry and salal. Switchback below a large hemlock, and reach a junction with a map sign. Head up to the right on a deer fern lined trail, and switchback up three times. You’ll notice some old burn snags in the woods. There’s one more switchback that reaches the four-way Princess Tasha-Lookout Loop-Cape Mountain Trail Junction.
Take the leftmost trail, which gradually traverses a slope of elderberry and red huckleberry. From a view of the ocean near Sea Lion Point, you’ll enter a regenerating clearcut and reach a junction with an interpretive sign detailing a 1915 fire. Turn left here, and switchback into the grassy summit meadow with a scattering of Scots broom. At the summit of Cape Mountain, now rimmed by a conifer forest on three sides, there’s a wood fence marking the site of the lookout. Photo panels show the 1930s views from three sides. The four anchor bolts remain, but the lookout operated for less than 20 years and was removed in 1951. A sign nearby details the homesteading challenges in this part of the Coast Range.
Return to the junction with the Princess Tasha Trail, and go left on the Lookout Loop. Three long switchbacks take you down the slope into a dense young forest above Berry Creek that has been logged. The trail rises to the Lookout Loop-Wapati Trail Junction, where you’ll make a sharp left. The route passes over a crest and drops to traverse a salal/sword fern slope into a ferny draw. A large spring gushes below. Cross a grassy logging track and, 20 yards later, reach the T-junction with the Nelson Ridge Trail.
Turn left, and find that the trail actually runs right next to the grassy track. Make a right away from the track when you arrive at the junction with the Cape Mountain Trail. You’ll make a fairly level traverse under Douglas-firs almost 100 years old. The trail drops gently and passes along the shore of Dry Lake (which is never really dry) to reach the trailhead.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
- Cape Mountain Trails (USFS)
- Green Trails Maps: Oregon Coast Central #456SX
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Siuslaw National Forest
- Pacific Northwest Recreation Map Series: Oregon Central Coast
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- Restrooms, interpretive signs
- Information kiosk, horse camp, picnic tables
- Do NOT leave valuables in vehicle
- Share trails with bikes and horses
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Cape Mountain Loop Hike
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Cape Mountain Loop Hike
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- These guidebooks offer different loops in the same area:
- 100 Hikes: Oregon Coast by William L. Sullivan
- 120 Hikes on the Oregon Coast by Bonnie Henderson
- 75 Hikes in Oregon’s Coast Range and Siskiyous by Rhonda & George Ostertag
- Oregon Coast Camping & Hiking by Tom Stienstra & Sean Patrick Hill
- Oregon Hiking by Sean Patrick Hill
- Pacific Northwest Hiking by Scott Leonard & Sean Patrick Hill
More Links
- Cape Mountain Trails #1329 (USFS)
- Cape Mountain (Cascade Ramblings)
- Cape Mountain (Oregon Adventures)
- Discover Cape Mountain (The World)
- Cape Mountain Trails (NW Horse Trails)
- Cape Mountain (Forest Lookouts)
Contributors
- bobcat (creator)