Oregon

A Hiking Adventure Along Oregon's Central Coast

Program No. 4896RJ
Hike old-growth forests along the Oregon Coast as you learn about local ecosystems, explore coastal dunes. Choose from two hiking options of varying distances and elevations.

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At a Glance

The Oregon Coast abounds in spectacular scenery and diverse natural habitats, from coastal mountains and temperate rainforests to ocean beaches and historic lighthouses. Led by experienced local interpretive experts, immerse yourself in a variety of ecosystems with day hikes offering longer spirited or shorter relaxed choices. Marvel at old-growth forests of towering Sitka spruce and Douglas fir, walk along a mountain stream with numerous cascading waterfalls and explore the vast Oregon Dunes and the spectacular basalt shoreline of the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area.
Activity Level
Outdoor: Spirited
Each hiking day, choose from two hiking options based on your desired level of challenge, ranging from 3-7 miles on varied terrain. Trail surfaces range from forest paths to sandy beaches. Elevations from 200 feet to 1,100 feet. Daily hikes are held rain or shine but access to certain areas is dependent on current tides.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

What You'll Learn

  • Enjoy hikes through lush coastal rainforests, explore the grounds of the Heceta Head Lighthouse and experience the beauty of the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area.
  • Ride in a dune transporter for stunning views of the vast Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, the largest coastal dune complex in the Western hemisphere.
  • Hike one of the most scenic trails on the Oregon coast, the Sweet Creek Falls Trail, with its thirteen cascading waterfalls.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
John Ford
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, John L. Ford has held many titles. He was part of a touring rock band, spent time as a photojournalist, and worked as a federal ranger at Yaquina Head Lighthouse and as a marine mammal biologist. He is also a first responder with the Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network and a member of the Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators. John has been an instructor with Road Scholar for over 20 years.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of John Ford
John Ford View biography
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, John L. Ford has held many titles. He was part of a touring rock band, spent time as a photojournalist, and worked as a federal ranger at Yaquina Head Lighthouse and as a marine mammal biologist. He is also a first responder with the Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network and a member of the Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators. John has been an instructor with Road Scholar for over 20 years.
Profile Image of T. McCracken
T. McCracken View biography
T. (Theresa) McCracken has been a naturalist, historian and humorist on the Oregon Coast for over 30 years. She's fought forest fires, was once named Forest Service Pacific Northwest Interpreter of the year, hitchhiked up much of Africa, recuperated from elephantiasis at Jane Goodall's Gombe National Park, took a barge 1,500 miles down the Congo, had cartoons published in hundreds of magazines and books, wrote a book titled "Holy Rollers: Murder and Madness in Oregon's Love Cult," and flossed every day of her adult life.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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6 days
5 nights
14 meals
5 B 4 L 5 D
DAY
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Florence, OR
D
The River House Inn

Activity note: Hotel check-in available from 4:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).

Afternoon: Program Registration & Orientation: 5:00 p.m. After you have your room assignment, join us in the hotel meeting room to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This program is staffed with both a Study Leader and a knowledgeable Group Leader who will provide educational content. Hiking field trips will be led by the Group Leader, Study Leader, and local experts. Throughout the program, there will be areas where two hike choices will be provided with different distances, durations, and locations. Participants will select Group A or Group B and will stay with their hike leaders at all times. We will have boxed lunches in the field during hikes – no tables or chairs – and each of us will carry out any trash and all waste from our meals. Be sure to bring your personal, reusable water bottle. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: We will gather for a presentation by our Group Leader and Study Leader on outdoor safety. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

DAY
2
Heceta Head Lighthouse, Ocean Views & Coastal Rainforests
Florence, OR
B,L,D
The River House Inn

Activity note: Getting in/out of vans; driving about 28 miles, approximately 1 hour total riding time. Morning hike: 1.2 miles; paved or gravel surfaces; total elevation gain 75 feet. Afternoon hike: 4 miles, approximately 2 hours; variable terrain including forest trails with occasional tree roots and firm-packed sand; slight elevation gains. Group B: additional 0.6 miles, approximately 1 hour; variable terrain including hard-packed forest trail with occasional tree roots; elevation gain 285 feet.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will gather in the meeting room for a presentation by our Study Leader on Central Oregon Coast geology. We’ll then hop into vans and ride to historic Heceta Head Lighthouse, situated on a cliff 205 feet above the ocean. During our hike, we will learn about the history of the area, including this working lighthouse dating from 1894. We will also observe shore birds and have ocean views to be on the lookout for possible sightings of sea lions and gray whales.

Lunch: In the keeper’s home at Heceta Head Lighthouse, one of the last remaining Lightkeeper’s cottages on the Pacific Coast.

Afternoon: Next, we will divide into two hiking groups. Both groups will hike 4 miles on the Valley Trail, Hobbit Trail, and ocean beach. Group B will hike an additional 0.6 miles (approximately one hour) on the China Creek Loop through lush coastal forests with moss-covered trees. Returning to the hotel, we will have some time to freshen up. We’ll gather in the hotel meeting room before dinner for a review of tomorrow’s hiking choices with our Group Leader and Study Leader.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
3
Cape Perpetua Scenic Area, Giant Spruce & Old Growth Forests
Florence, OR
B,L,D
The River House Inn

Activity note: Getting in/out of vans; driving about 45 miles, approximately 1 hour total riding time. Morning hike: 0.5 miles, approximately 1 hour; hard-packed gravel surface, slight elevation changes. Afternoon Group A: 4 miles, approximately 4 hours; paved asphalt and variable terrain forest trail over roots, rocks, stairs; up to 200 feet elevation gain. Afternoon Group B: 6.5 miles, approximately 4 hours; variable terrain forest trails with roots; elevation gain 1,100 feet.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will board our vans and drive 25 miles north along scenic Oregon Coast Highway 101 to the 803-foot summit of Cape Perpetua. We’ll then walk together for about half a mile along the Whispering Spruce Trail, with incredible views of the coastline and a stop at a historic stone observation shelter built in the early 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). We will then divide into our two hiking groups for the rest of the morning and into the afternoon. Group A will cover about 4 miles total, broken in segments of 2 miles each. In the first segment, we will hike on the Captain Cook, Cape Cove, and Restless Waters trails along the rocky basalt coastline with some stairs. In the second segment, we will hike on the Giant Spruce trail to an impressively large, 500-year old Sitka spruce. It stands more than 185 feet tall and has a circumference of 40 feet. Group B will cover about 6.5 miles over four hours, hiking on the Cook’s Ridge, Gwynn Creek, and Oregon Trail/Pioneer Road loop trail through lush old growth forests.

Lunch: In the field, we will have boxed lunches.

Afternoon: Our Cape Perpetua hiking field trip will continue in two groups. Returning to the hotel, we’ll have some time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: We will gather in the hotel meeting room for a presentation by a local expert on topics relevant to the program.

DAY
4
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, Tahkenitch Dune Trail
Florence, OR
B,L,D
The River House Inn

Activity note: Getting in/out of vans; driving about 40 miles, approximately 1 hour total riding time. Group A: Hiking 4-5 miles, approximately 4 hours; packed forest trail with loose sand, firm sand trail on beach; elevation gain 200 feet. Group B: Hiking 6.2 miles, approximately 4.5 hours; hard-packed forest trail followed by soft/firm sand trails; elevation gain 430 feet. Both groups will have to cross a 1/2 mile steep, uphill section of soft sand on return trip.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Following a 20-mile drive south of Florence, we will divide into our hiking groups. Group A will hike about 4 miles on the Tahkenitch Dune Trail with an elevation gain of 200 feet that will take us into the Oregon dunes and out to a wilderness ocean beach. Group B will hike about 6.2 miles on the Three Mile Lake Tahkenitch Dune loop trail with an elevation gain of 430 feet that will take us to a wilderness ocean beach.

Lunch: In the field, we will have boxed lunches.

Afternoon: We will continue our hiking field trip in two groups. After our field trip, we’ll return to the hotel for the remainder of the afternoon. Take some time to rest at the hotel before dinner explore Old Town Florence.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: Returning to the hotel, we will gather in the meeting room for a presentation by our Study Leader on Oregon marine mammals and the role of the Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network. This volunteer organization’s mission is to “promote the scientific investigation of marine mammal stranding events; provide for the welfare of live stranded animals; disentangle marine mammals from fishery gear and debris; and promote public education.”

DAY
5
Oregon Dunes Ride, Sweet Creek Falls Hike, Wrap-up
Florence, OR
B,L,D
The River House Inn

Activity note: Getting in/out of vans; driving about 70 miles, approximately 2 hours total riding time. Getting on/off a dune vehicle. Dress in layers for dune field trip. Afternoon hiking 3 miles, approximately 2 hours; mostly hard-packed forest trail with elevated catwalks, steps, tree roots, wet spots, some broken rock surfaces; elevation gain 280 feet.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: By van, we will ride south of Florence to the Sand Dunes Frontier. Here, we’ll climb aboard a large, slow-moving dune transport vehicle to explore the stunning dune geology. A local expert will discuss the past, present, and uncertain future of the Oregon Dunes. We’ll see grand vistas with great opportunities for photography. We’ll then drive 25 miles east into the coastal foothills to the Sweet Creek Falls trail, considered one of the best hikes on the Oregon Coast.

Lunch: In the field, we will have boxed lunches.

Afternoon: Next, we will walk up a 1.5-mile trail past thirteen cascading waterfalls to Sweet Creek Falls, then return via the same trail back to the trailhead. The trail surface is mostly hard-packed forest trail with elevated cat-walks, steps, tree roots, wet spots, and some broken rock surfaces with a 280-foot elevation gain. Returning to the hotel, we’ll have some time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

Dinner: At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: Back at the hotel, the Group Leader will lead a wrap-up session as we review highlights of the program. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY
6
Program Concludes
Florence, OR
B

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.

Breakfast: At the hotel. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






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