The Hart's Cove trail is the hike that turns Neskowin visitors into repeat Neskowin visitors. It's about five and a half miles round trip through old Sitka spruce and hemlock, ending at a headland meadow above a cove where a waterfall drops into the sea and sea lions bark at nothing in particular. It's also backwards: you go downhill first, so save some legs for the return.
When it's open (this matters)
Hart's Cove sits in the Cascade Head Scenic Research Area and is closed January 1 through July 15 every year to protect Oregon silverspot butterfly habitat and give elk calving season some peace. That means the window is July 16 through December 31. Plan around it. Late summer and early fall are the sweet spot: the meadow is dry, the fog usually burns off, and the road is easy.
Getting there from Neskowin
From The Weekender, head north on Highway 101 about four miles to Forest Road 1861 (signed for Cascade Head). Turn west. The road is gravel, roughly four miles to the trailhead at the end, and a regular car handles it fine when dry. Go slow, watch for potholes after rain. There's a small parking area with a vault toilet and no water. A Northwest Forest Pass or day fee has applied here in the past, so bring your pass or cash to be safe.
The trail, section by section
- The descent. You lose several hundred feet almost immediately on switchbacks through dense, dark spruce. It's soft underfoot and can be muddy even in August.
- Cliff Creek. A footbridge, a mossy gully, and the sound of water. Good spot to breathe.
- The middle forest. Big trees, some of the largest Sitka spruce on the central coast. Rolling, not steep.
- Chitwood Creek. Second bridge. From here you start hearing the ocean and, on the right day, sea lions.
- The meadow. The forest opens onto a sloping grass headland. Walk toward the water carefully. The view south is Hart's Cove itself, with Chitwood Creek falling into it. Don't approach the edge; it's steep and the grass hides the drop.
Round trip is roughly 5.4 miles with around 900 feet of gain, all of it on the way back. Give yourself three hours, more if you sit in the meadow, which you should.
Dogs
Dogs are allowed on the Hart's Cove trail on leash. It's a good dog hike: shade, water at the creeks, no cliffs until the very end. Keep them leashed in the meadow, both for the elk and for the edge. Note that the nearby Nature Conservancy upper Cascade Head trail does not allow dogs, so don't confuse the two. Our Neskowin cabin welcomes pets, and a tired dog after Hart's Cove is a very well-behaved dog on the deck.
What to bring and what to expect
- Layers. It's often cool in the forest and windy on the meadow even when Neskowin is warm.
- Water. None on the trail beyond the creeks.
- Traction. Trail runners or boots with grip; roots and mud are constant.
- Bug spray in late summer for the meadow.
- A tide-independent attitude. Unlike most Neskowin outings, this one doesn't care what the ocean's doing.
Cell service is spotty to none once you leave 101. Download your map first.
Pair it with the rest of the day
Hart's Cove in the morning, then back to Neskowin for a low-tide walk to Proposal Rock or a hot tub soak makes a very good day. If you want more ideas around the cabin, our Neskowin things to do page covers the beach, Pacific City, and the Ghost Forest.
Hart's Cove isn't the flashiest hike on the coast. It's just the one people keep telling us about at checkout.