View of Indian Beach, Ecola State Park (bobcat)

Waterfall on Canyon Creek near the Indian Beach Trailhead (forestkeeper)

Hikers Camp on the Oregon Coast Trail, Tillamook Head (bobcat)

At the site of the World War II radar station, Tillamook Head (bobcat)

Sitka spruce canopy, Oregon Coast Trail, Tillamook Head (bobcat)

Loop to the viewpoint of the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse (not a GPS track) (bobcat) Courtesy: Caltopo/MapBuilder Topo

• Start point: Indian Beach Trailhead
• End point: Hikers Camp
• Hike type: Loop
• Distance: 3.0 miles
• Elevation gain: 785 feet
• High point: 765 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Seasons: All
• Family Friendly: Yes
• Backpackable: Yes
• Crowded: On summer weekends
• Clatsop Loop Accessibility Information

Hike Description

Take the kids along on this hike through a forest of big trees to visit a World War II radar station and a viewpoint of the Tillamook Rock Light. The short loop takes a road track for the first leg and then descends closer to the cliffs of Indian Point, offering several classic views of the coastline to the south. The loop connects with trail that continues north over Tillamook Head, so you can head off on that route if you want a longer hike (see the Tillamook Head Traverse Hike).

The trail begins behind the restrooms and is well signed. First, however, walk about 50 to 75 yards from the vault toilet, parallel with Canyon Creek, and you can find an opening in the brush to a slight descent leading to a very pretty small waterfall. To begin the loop for the main hike, head straight up on the gravel service road. The footbridge you see on the left will be your return trip.

There are interpretive signs, and there used to be an interpretive pamphlet available for numbered stops along the trail. Although the ascent on the gravel road does not give the spectacular ocean vistas, after you cross Indian Creek, you will get a birds eye view into the canopy of this maturing coastal forest. Most of Tillamook Head was logged 120-150 years ago; however, some giants do remain. Salal, sword fern, and salmonberry form the understory. The road curves right across a creek and then winds up under alders. You'll continue to rise in secondary forest with large stumps remaining from the logging days. Now the road drops past an alder stand and passes the return loop, the Hikers Camp outhouse, and then the log shelters of the camp itself.

Head down the hill on a track for one-eighth of a mile, passing the remains of a concrete World War II observation bunker on your left. The structure was actually part of a U.S. Army Air Corps radar station. The bunker itself was the pedestal for an antenna that was used to scan the skies for invading Japanese aircraft and the forest was cleared to allow an open view to the west. Up to 100 men lived here in a camp constructed of materials other than metal (which would interfere with the sensitive radar), and the station was manned 24 hours a day. Nowadays, you cannot enter the bunker itself, and it serves as a roost site for bats.

Past the old radar station, you'll arrive at a viewpoint that looks out to "Terrible Tilly," or the Tillamook Rock Light, the most expensive lighthouse ever constructed on the west coast of the United States. During construction, the rock was swept by giant waves at times and at one point, the construction crew lost all their tools and food. The light was first lit in January 1881 and was turned off for good in 1957. Later, the building served as a columbarium, a lasting resting place for the ashes of any who would pay. The rock is part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge.

Return past the Hikers Camp, and go right on the hiking trail between two huge stumps and into secondary forest. This side of the loop is part of the Oregon Coast Trail. The path drops and you can see the road track you came up on the first leg of the loop. Keep heading down past larger spruce trees, and then descend a grassy hillside of younger spruce, salal, and sword fern. The trail makes a couple of switchbacks, allowing a view south to Neahkahnie Mountain, and then turns two more switchbacks before you wind down to some clifftop viewpoints. Then the trail veers inland past some large spruce trees and comes to a bench with a lovely view over Indian Beach and on to the Cannon Beach sea stacks, including the arch at Sea Lion Rock. You may see surfers close to Indian Point, and this is a good spot for spotting whale spouts during migration season. Continue down across a footbridge over Indian Creek to the loop junction, whence you'll go right to parking and then make the descent to Indian Beach itself.

Maps

• Maps: Hike Finder
• Ecola State Park (Oregon State Parks)
• Green Trails Maps: Oregon Coast North #356SX
• Sky Island Graphics: Oregon Coast Area Trails
• Adventure Maps: NW Coast Trail Map & Guide

Regulations or Restrictions, etc.

• Ecola State Park has a fee of $5.00 per day.
• Dogs on leash
• Restrooms and picnic tables at the Indian Beach Trailhead
• Vault toilet and covered picnic shelter at Hikers Camp (overnight shelters available only to OCT hikers)

Trip Reports

• Search Trip Reports for Clatsop Loop Hike

• Clatsop Loop Hike (Ecola State Park), 10/6/23
• Ecola State Park 12-13-17
• Ecola State Park 1/2/16

Related Discussions / Q&A

• Search Trail Q&A for Clatsop Loop Hike

Guidebooks that cover this hike

• Urban Hikes Oregon by Adam Sawyer
• I Heart Oregon (& Washington) by Lisa D. Holmes
• Extraordinary Oregon! by Matt Reeder
• PDX Hiking 365 by Matt Reeder
• Best Easy Day Hikes: Oregon Coast by Lizann Dunegan
• Exploring the Oregon Coast Trail by Connie Soper
• 120 Hikes on the Oregon Coast by Bonnie Henderson
• Day Hiking: Oregon Coast by Bonnie Henderson
• Best Short Hikes in Northwest Oregon by Rhonda & George Ostertag
• 100 Hikes: Oregon Coast by William L. Sullivan
• A Walking Guide to Oregon's Ancient Forests by Wendell Wood
• Best Hikes With Kids: Oregon by Bonnie Henderson & Zach Urness
• Canine Oregon by Lizann Dunegan
• Oregon Coast Hikes by Paul M. Williams
• Oregon: The Creaky Knees Guide by Seabury Blair, Jr.
• 100 Classic Hikes in Oregon by Douglas Lorain
• Hiking the Oregon Coast by Lizann Dunegan
• 50 Hikes in Oregon by David L. Anderson
• Oregon Coast Trail: Hiking Inn to Inn by Jack D. Remington
• Hiking Oregon by Lizann Dunegan
• A Hiker's Guide to the Oregon Coast Trail by David E.M. Bucy & Mary C. McCauley
• Oregon State Parks: A Complete Recreation Guide by Jan Bannan

More Links

• Ecola State Park (Oregon State Parks)
• Hiking the Clatsop Loop in Ecola State Park (Anne's Travels)
• Clatsop Loop (Kevin's Hiking Page)
• Clatsop Loop (Hiking Shenandoah)
• Clatsop Loop (Outdoor Project)
• Clatsop Loop Trail (Hiking Project)
• Clatsop Loop Trail from Indian Beach (All Trails)
• Ecola State Park Clatsop Loop Trail (Portland Monthly)
• The Mysterious World War II Bunker Atop Oregon Coast's Tillamook Head (Beach Connection)
• Tillamook Rock Lighthouse (Lighthouse Friends)
• "Terrible Tillie, Where the Departed Rest Not Quite in Peace" (New York Times)
• The Mystery of "Terrible Tilly" (Travel Oregon)

Contributors

• CFM (creator)