With Coastal Vistas, Wooden Footbridges, And Lush Forests, The Fort To Sea Trail Might Be The Best All-Around Hike In Oregon
By Sarah McCosham|Published June 02, 2022
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
Hiking adventures abound in the Beaver State, with our dramatic and diverse scenery providing the perfect setting for all sorts of adventures. Waterfall hikes, coastal excursions, forest expeditions, and mountain climbs… you can do it all here in Oregon — and more. But in terms of all-around all stars, we found a hike that seems to have everything: coastal vistas, fanciful footbridges, towering trees, historic significance, and lush forests. It’s the Fort to Sea Trail, our pick for the best all-around hike in Oregon.
Not only is the Fort to Sea Trail the best all-around hike in Oregon, it's also a historical adventure for your bucket list.
On this 6.1-mile, point-to-point trail, you'll have the unique opportunity to walk in the footsteps of legendary American explorers Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery, as you connect with a different time -- but the same place -- along the Fort to Sea Trail in Clatsop County, Oregon.
For history buffs, Ft. Clatsop is the replica winter home of the Corps of Discovery who explored western America and famously reached the mouth of the Columbia River in 1805.
History aside, this is an immensely scenic trail that really does have it all in terms of geographical variety. And don't let its length deter you, either: this trail is flat and well-marked, rated "easy," and generally completed in a couple hours.
What will you see along this trail? Well, what won't you see along this trail might be a better question. From rolling countryside with friendly farm animals...
Visual points of interest abound along the Fort to Sea Trail, too. This unruly giant bears a striking resemblance to the Octopus Tree, don't you think?
Of course, much of the hike leads through verdant forest with towering, moss-covered trees that feels like something straight from Middle Earth. This is, of course, the Oregon we know and love.
