Cape Lookout hike for Whale Watch Week- Oregon Coast
Details
Whale Watch Week is March 21 to 29. We had some whale sighting success at this location a few years back, but we'll keep our expectations tempered. Let’s see if we can glimpse any of those magnificent marine mammals, as they migrate from Baja California back up north to the Bering Sea! No promises, but maybe we'll get lucky!
*Difficulty: Easy (Moderate for non-hikers), but expect mud
** Hiking distance*: Only 5 miles RT
*** Elevation gain**: 960 feet
** Total time*: We’ll be heading back by the end of lunch hour, unless people want less/ more time for the main event; I’m flexible. Plan on a couple hours of much-needed exercise, but most of our time will be spent on *hopeful* whale watching at the viewpoint
*** Permits**: None. But depending on where you park, there may be a $5/car fee
** Meet at*: Cape Lookout Trailhead at 9 am (or carpool from Sunset Transit Center by 7:30)
*** Driving distance**: 80 miles from Beaverton area (For example: Carpooling from Sunset Transit Center at 7:30 am)
** Dogs*: Possibly, but be aware that we’ll be hiking along a cliff with a dizzying 400 ft. dropoff
The plan:
From the trailhead, we’ll choose the “Cape Trail” option and make our way through an old growth coastal forest. We’ll continue past a crashed Air Force B-17 memorial plaque from WWII, and drop down until we catch a view of Three Arch Rocks. The views get better and better as we continue down to the end of the cape… And hopefully they will include either whales, sea lions, seals, seagulls, pelicans, or all of the above!
After taking a much longer than typical time to enjoy a snack, the wildlife, and the views of the mighty sea below... we’ll make our way back up to the trailhead. I’m cool with either stopping for lunch on the drive home, or calling it a day. Your call.
*Here is further info about Cape Lookout state park: https://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=134
My preferred hiking style is fast, but I won’t be pushing the pace on this one. Though other than stopping at viewpoints, I do expect us to keep moving. It’s not far. We’ll roll through this at a moderate pace, enjoying short breaks as needed for snacks, photos, and viewpoints. There is no such thing as too many photo opps.
*** Bring**: Binoculars (Or bum a pair from someone else who remembers to bring some), sturdy shoes or boots, water, snacks, warm layers, a rain jacket, and a camera. A camp chair for the whale-watching viewpoint isn’t a bad idea, either.
Though it’s highly improbable that we’ll run into any wilderness-type emergencies, in general it is also recommended that hikers always carry the, um, ** “ELEVEN” **Essentials:
- Navigation (map, compass, and an awareness of our route)
- Sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen)
- Insulation (extra clothing)
- Illumination (headlamp/flashlight and extra batteries)
- First-aid supplies
- Fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candles)
- Knife/tools
- Nutrition (extra food)
- Hydration (extra water)
- Emergency whistle and general preparedness in the event that you become separated from our group and/or have to spend the night in the wild.
- WHALE sheeeoot!
PARTICIPATE AT YOUR OWN RISK; Northwest Wilderness Group organizers are volunteers. We come prepared to lead you on a trail or off trail hike but assume no liability for your safety getting to or from the trail-head or on the hike. In case of accident, illness, or other incapacity, hikers must pay for their own medical and/or evacuation expenses, whether or not the hiker has specifically authorized them.