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Cape Sebastian
is located on the Pacific Coast of southern Oregon, USA. It is 720
feet in elevation, rising directly out of the ocean. Access to the
cape is from Hwy. 101 about 8 miles south of Gold Beach, Oregon. There
are two parking lots on the cape, the north & the south. The
North parking lot is much larger and can accommodate larger vehicles--but
warning! the road to the cape, though short, is very steep. It is
not recommended for large RVs or anything with a trailer. The south
lot offers one of the really unique experiences on the coast. Driving
up the road one suddenly pops out on the top of the cape with a complete
view down the coast to the south. |
| You are overlooking
Hunter's Cove and Hunter's Island, and, occasionally when it is actually
a nice day, it seems like you can see all the way to California.
The parking lot only holds 5 vehicles though, so you may not be able to
stop here, if not, follow the road around and return to the north lot
and walk from there. The Oregon coast trail goes through the park
and part so you can hike north from the north lot and south from the south
one. Heading south is one of the great hikes on the Oregon coast.
The trail is mostly in good shape, but there are portions that are steep
and there is poison oak around. The trail descends to the base of
the cape after hitting a couple of viewpoints the first of which looks
north to Gold Beach, with views of HumBug mountain and Cape Blanco beyond
(if it is clear, of course). |
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The trail
is paved to this first viewpoint and the short walk is worth it for everyone,
including someone in a wheel chair. After that the trail becomes
rougher and descends to the base of the cape. At the base is a wave
cut platform forested by beach pine and facing rocks holding back the sea
and nothing else between you and Japan. Very nice. The trail
continues around to Hunters Cove where you can descend a bad part of the
trail to the beach itself and walk to another parking lot right on the
highway a quarter of a mile away. The hike to the base is about 2
miles, all the way to the parking lot at 101 is about 3 miles. |