Hart’s Cove Trail, Oregon Coast: Breathtaking hike near Lincoln City, OR

You’ve never seen the Oregon Coast like this. The stunning Hart’s Cove Trail ends in an unforgettable view—one you have to see to believe.

This out-and-back trail takes you through old growth forest to a wide-open meadow and incredible vistas of the Pacific Ocean and Chitwood Falls.

Hart’s Cove, and this hike, takes you through the UNESCO-designated Cascade Head Biosphere Reserve. This protected area includes habitat for elk, black bear, bald eagles and sea lions, as well as the endangered spotted owl, marbled murrelet, Oregon silverspot butterfly and Coho salmon.

I’m hoping this post and photos give you a little taste of Hart’s Cove, Oregon. I can’t wait for you to experience it for yourself.

Starting out on the trail

Hart’s Cove trail (#1303) starts out in dense woods, dominated by Sitka Spruce and Western Hemlock. This first part of the trail can be dim and even foggy, even if the day is clear just a few miles away.

The first half-mile of this hike switchbacks down the steep and forested hillside. (Remember that this is an out-and-back trail so you’ll have to hike up those switchbacks at the end, too!) The trail can be narrow with very steep drop-offs so watch your footing.

These steep trails are why I don’t recommend this hike for young children.

Cross a sweet little bridge over Cliff Creek: This landmark signals that you’re entering an older part of the forest. The trail also gets less strenuous from this point. As you continue on, listen for sea lions barking.

About 1.5 miles from the trailhead, you’ll reach a wooden bench that overlooks the cove. Even though you’re looking through branches, this is your first real glimpse of the Pacific Ocean. If you’re anything like me, it’ll give you a boost of excitement to reach the prairie at Hart’s Cove!

Final leg of Hart’s Cove Trail

The forest in the last mile of the trail becomes more sparse. Watch to your left for glimpses of Hart’s Cove and the Pacific Ocean.

You may need to scramble over a fallen log or two. Most of the obstacles have been sawed through, so you end up walking through a “doorway” made from massive tree trunks—some even 5 feet across!

About ¾ mile from the Hart’s Cove vista, you’ll need to cross a stream. As of the time of writing this post, the bridge was washed out. The creek is pretty narrow and shallow, so it’s not too hard to cross without getting your feet wet.

Once you cross, you’re about 20 minutes away from the meadow that looks out onto the Pacific Ocean.

Chitwood Falls and Hart’s Cove

When you emerge from the trees, your view opens up to take in the expansive Pacific Ocean. The vibrant blues are just stunning.

A meadow of native grasses stretches to the edge of the cliffs on Cascade Head. This field is habitat to rare plants and animals; in summer, you might see wildflowers, too.

Follow the path down toward the cliff. (When I recently hiked here, this stretch of the trail was actually the most slippery section, so be careful!) You’ll see spurs branching off to the east and west for different vantage points.

Each view is gorgeous. You’ll look down into Hart’s Cove, where waves crash onto the rocks. Some days, the water here is a brilliant turquoise color.

Look inside the U of the cove to spot Chitwood Falls, which plunges into the Pacific Ocean. It’s quite far away from the headland so you may want to bring binoculars to get a better view.

Safety note: Please, please be incredibly careful as you explore. There are no fences on the headland, so if you go too far while trying to get a better view or the perfect shot, you could slip. There’s nothing to stop you from going over the cliff. Yikes!

To return to the trailhead, just head back the way you came. Make sure to safeguard a little energy in your tank for the steep uphill switchbacks at the very end!

When to hike Hart’s Cove, Oregon

Hart’s Cove is closed from January 1 through July 15 to keep important habitat undisturbed. That leaves nearly 6 months to enjoy this amazing hike near Lincoln City, Oregon!

So when should you go? The totally unsatisfying answer: There’s something to love about this Oregon Coast hike all of the time. But here I share what makes each season special.

Hiking Hart’s Cove in the summer

Look for wildflowers in the meadow, including lupine, cow parsnip and yarrow. The prairie grasses grow uninterrupted for the first half of the year, since there are no hikers allowed to keep them shorter! (That’s a good thing, since many of the native grasses and flowers here provide important habitat and food for threatened species.)

So if you hike Hart’s Cove in July or August, expect to walk through tall, dense grasses. I recommend wearing long pants or leggings, even if it’s hot.

Hiking Hart’s Cove in the fall

The forest on Cascade Head is primarily evergreen—you’ll see spruce, hemlock and of course oodles of ferns—so you won’t see dramatic fall colors here. Still, autumn can be a wonderful time to do this hike near Lincoln City.

Fall in Oregon can bring surprisingly clear and warm days. That’s a good combination with the post-summer, lighter traffic on Hart’s Cove Trail. In the fall, you might also spot fishing boats in and around the cove.

Hiking Hart’s Cove in the winter

Anyone who has spent any time on the Oregon Coast knows that this area gets a lot of rain in the winter. I don’t recommend hiking Hart’s Cove in the rain. The rain not only makes the trail slippery; you may not even see the cove and Chitwood Falls through the clouds and mist.

That said, this popular hike is much less trafficked during the winter. When I hiked here on a recent December day, I saw maybe a half-dozen people.

Note that in the winter, the sun sets here as early as 4:30 pm. Make sure you leave yourself enough time to hike while the sun is still up.

Getting there

The road to Hart’s Cove Trail is not well marked, and cell service is spotty. So instead of relying on an app to get you there, grab the printer-friendly directions at the bottom of this post.

In sum: From Highway 101, look for Forest Service Road 1861, an unmarked road on the west side of the highway between mileposts 101 and 102. Look for a wide gravel area and a metal gate. If you see that then you’re in the right spot!

If you miss the road going north, you’ll find a gravel shoulder about a ¼ mile up Highway 101 where you can safely turn around.

Then follow the gravel road for four miles. It’s fairly well maintained with only minimal potholes and washboarding. About halfway to the trailhead, the road splits but keep to the left. (There’s a small sign that directs you that way but you have to squint to see it.)

It’ll take you 10-15 minutes to drive the gravel road to the parking lot at Hart’s Cove Trailhead.

This beautiful Oregon Coast hike is 11 miles north of Lincoln City and about 5 miles south of Neskowin, OR.

Are you excited to hike Hart’s Cove Trail? Find a nearby hotel to start planning your trip! (affiliate link)

Booking.com

Must-know details to hike to Chitwood Falls and Hart’s Cove

First and foremost: This hike is closed from January 1 through July 15. The closure protects sensitive species such as rare butterflies, brown pelicans and bald eagles.

Dogs are allowed on-leash.

This hike does not have beach access.

Hart’s Cove Trail is often muddy. Wear sturdy shoes and bring hiking poles if you’re able. They really help steady you going over slippery ground! (I use adjustable hiking poles like these ones affiliate link)

As with every outdoor activity in the Pacific Northwest, dress in layers. When I recently did this Oregon Coast hike, I started out in a fleece, vest, hat and gloves. By the time I arrived at the meadow, I was hot in my t-shirt!

Hart’s Cove Trail is narrow in many parts. It’s impossible to maintain a 6-foot distance when passing others. Please wear a mask or gaiter properly when near anyone else. Do your best to leave as much space as you can between yourself and other hikers. (I prefer wearing a gaiter when hiking because it’s easier to pull up and down rather than mess with ear straps. I like these gaiters—they can even double as headbands! affiliate link)

There is no restroom at this trailhead.

You will likely have no cell or data service on this hike.

So what do you say? Are you now itching to visit this Oregon Coast hike and see the stunning Chitwood Falls? Is the Hart’s Cove Trail now on your Oregon bucket list? Let me know in the comments!

Finally, don’t forget that I’m sharing detailed directions below. These directions are printer-friendly—important since you won’t have service once you drive up the forest road!