CAPE PERPETUA HIKING TRAILS

By Betty Langdon

INTRODUCTION

Cape Perpetua has some of the best-maintained hiking trails on the Central Oregon Coast. One can walk less than a mile or hike up to ten miles. One can go the edge of the Pacific Ocean and look down into intertidal pools at low tide, into Devil's Churn at high tide, or hike to the highest point on the Oregon Coast and look down at the spectacular coastline. Different hiking trails pass through various habitats such as managed forests, wildernesses, old growth forests, ocean views, meadows and reclaimed roads.

Cape Perpetua has something for anyone who is interested in viewing Oregon's natural beauty to do, including wheelchair accessibility to an ocean overlook on the Trail of Restless Waters.

Trailhead directional signs are easy to find and understand, but the proper clothing and equipment and right state of mind are essential for a rewarding experience.

Visitors should study the Cape Perpetua web site before starting out and decide which trail they wish to tackle. If the trail could be designated a walk, such as the Whispering Pines which is less than a mile, or even the Big Spruce Trail's two mile loop, tennis shoes are adequate. Hikes on trails such as Gwynn's Creek, Cummings Creek, or Cook's Ridge require sturdier equipment and clothing.

Our hiking party all with backpacks, boots, bottled water and insect repellant once passed a couple walking on the Oregon Coast Trail toward Gwynn's Creek Trailhead. The man had on a sleeveless shirt, snow-white shorts and thongs on his feet. The woman had a tiny white pocketbook swinging from her shoulder and white thong sandals on her feet. We asked if they were aware that once they started up Gwynn's Creek Trail they'd have to hike over six miles before they arrived back at the Visitors' Center. They quickly backtracked the mile to the Center.

Most hiking books rate trails by degree of difficulty: easy, moderate or strenuous. If you're twenty and accustomed to jogging four or five miles a day, a trail designated strenuous would be easy. If you're over sixty and regularly walk several miles weekly, a trail designated moderate might be strenuous. If you're over fifty and lead a sedentary life, stick to the walks and forget the hikes, unless you work your way up from walks to hikes over a period of time.

Many trails are loops and when you get to the end of one loop, you're halfway through the hike, so turning back at that point is not an option—you're committed, so do your research. There's nothing worse than starting out on what one thinks is a three-mile hike only to find out that's just the first loop, and the hike is actually six miles.

To prevent feet from sliding forward and banging into the front of boots while descending, sturdy hiking boots with plenty of toe room that lace snugly across the instep are a must. This precaution will avoid bruised toenails that eventually turn black and fall out, a common hiker problem. Plenty of water, not juice, lunch, insect repellant and all of the first aid implements one can find are essential. A space blanket is not as paranoid as it sounds.

Two more caveats: walk alone if you wish, but never hike alone and never eat anything growing in the forest unless you're absolutely sure you know what it is and how you personally will react to it.

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