Accessible Trails in Tillmook County Oregon

Cape Meares State Park

Directions:

Cape Meares is 9 miles west of Tillamook on the north end of the Three Capes Scenic Loop. [Map]

Features:

A paved, wheelchair-accessible trail, provides easy access to the Cape Meares lighthouse and surrounding views to the north and south.

Another short, accessible trail from the south side of the parking lot goes a couple hundred feet to the Octopus Tree, a giant Sitka Spruce. Full of historic lore, the tree is in a candelabra shape and about 60 feet in circumference. 

Other:

I can not say enough about the beauty of this area. It is one of our favorite destinations. Cape Lookout State Park has accessible facilities and camping spots and a short 1/4 mile interpretive trail (not listed as ADA accessible). For slow walkers, it has easy beach access. Be sure to drive to Oceanside and have breakfast or brunch at Roseanna's Cafe overlooking the ocean and Maxwell point. While there, we watched a pod of orcas trying to get the seals basking in the rocks off shore. The Three Capes Scenic Loop is spectacular.

Nearby,Tillamook is creating an accessible estuary trail, the Hoguarton Natural Interpretive trail. In late 2007 it is still in the planning stage.

Hebo Lake Loop Trail

Directions:

From Highway 101 south of Tillamook, travel south on Hwy 22 for ¼ mile. At Forest Service Road 14, travel east 4.5 miles to the entrance of the Hebo Lake Campground..

Features:

A paved, 1/2 mile barrier-free trail traverses around Hebo Lake. There are four barrier-free fishing platforms located on the lake; two are accessible from the paved road.  See Suislaw National Forest website.

Other:

There is a fee for day use and camping. Hebo Lake supports a put-and-take trout fishery. Legal size rainbow trout are stocked in the spring (mid-March to mid-June). Occasionally some larger holdover trout are caught in early spring.

Pacific City, six miles south of Hebo via U.S. 101, offers restaurants, grocery stores and a family-oriented brew pub.

Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Directions:

Nestucca Bay Refuge is located south of Pacific City just off Highway 101.

Features:

Keep an eye on this one. This project is coming soon in 2008!! The Cannery Hill Overlook in Nestucca Bay Refuge will include the construction of two small parking lots and a paved, wheelchair -accessible trail that leads to an elevated viewing deck, the installation of a single vault restroom at one of the parking lots, and the resurfacing of the access road from Highway 101 up to the Overlook trail. The paved trail and viewing deck atop Cannery Hill will afford visitors a sweeping view of the Pacific Ocean, Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge (Haystack Rock at Pacific City), Nestucca Bay Refuge, the Coast Range, and the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway, also known as U.S. Highway 101. See their website.