CAPE PERPETUA SCENIC AREA HIKING TRAILS

1. Captain Cook Trail (to tidepools) 0.8 mile round trip from the Visitor Center, past an old Civilian Conservation Corps camp, through wind 

sculpted vegetation, around Indian shell middens and down to the tidepools. At high tide the Spouting Horn can be observed from Cook’s 

Chasm. 

 r Easy 2Accessibility: moderate to di cult. Start at Cook’s Chasm

 2. Cape Cove Trail (to beach) 0.3 mile. A er coming through the tunnel from the Visitor Center on the Captain Cook Trail, turn right and go 

over the bridge into the parking lot—follow the roadside trail north to the Cape Cove Trailhead.  is trail will connect you with the Trail of the 

Restless Waters and Devils Churn.

 r Easy

 3. Trail of the Restless Waters (to Devil’s Churn) Paved 0.4 mile loop from Devil’s Churn Day Use. A wild place to see the winter surf as it 

explodes onto the terraces of volcanic rock. Don’t get too close to the edge; each wave hits the rocks di erently and you don’t want to get soaked.

 rEasy 2Accessibility: moderate to most di cult. Wheelchair accessible to lower overlook

 4. Giant Spruce Trail 2 miles round trip from the Visitor Center to a more than 500 year-old Sitka spruce tree.  e trail parallels Cape Creek and 

goes through a forest that has many of the characteristics of an old-growth forest; lush ferns, nurse logs, and big trees.

 r Easy 

 5. St. Perpetua Trail (to Cape Perpetua Day Use) 2.8 miles round trip from the Visitor Center across  rst bridge into the campground, just to the 

le of the campground bulletin board, and switchback up about 700 feet to the “Best View on the Oregon Coast”. 

 r Di cult, but worth it!

 6. Whispering Spruce Trail A .2 mile loop from the Cape Perpetua Day Use parking lot. Hike there via the St. Perpetua Trail or drive the two mile 

road to the top. Great ocean views from the West Shelter (built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s) and the stone parapet. 

 rEasy 2Accessibility: moderate to di cult due to steep grade.

 7. Oregon Coast Trail (ocean views) 2.6 miles round trip from the Visitor Center (start on the Captain Cook Trail).  is trail overlooks the rocky 

shoreline and ties into the Gwynn Creek and Cummins Creek Loop Trails.

 r Moderate

 8. Cook’s Ridge & Gwynn Creek Loop Trail (old-growth forest) 6 mile loop trail includes four di erent trails: 

Discovery Loop, Cook’s Ridge, Gwynn Creek and Oregon Coast Trails. Some ocean views and great old-growth forest experience. Trails begin 

in the Visitor Center’s uppermost parking lot. 

 r Moderate to di cult

 9. Discovery Loop Trail (a forest in transition) 1.4 miles round trip from the Visitor Center’s uppermost parking lot. Learn about what is going on 

with this section of forest from four interpretive signs. 

r Moderate

 10. Cummins Creek Loop Trail (old-growth forest) 8.5 to 9 mile loop from the Visitor Center with some ocean views, great old-growth and open 

meadows. Trail may also be accessed from Forest Service Road 1050 or Forest Service Road 55. 

 r Moderate to di cult pSection open to mountain bikes (see map)

 11. Amanda’s Trail (to Yachats Ocean Road) 2.9 mile (one way) historic trail begins at the junction of the Whispering Spruce trail and descends 

steeply through lush coastal woodland. 

r Moderate to di cult

 12. Cummins Ridge Trail (wilderness) 6.2 mile (one way) hike passes through dense Sitka spruce and Douglas- r stands. Trail receives light use 

and o ers opportunities for solitude and quiet. It can also be accessed from the top via Forest Service road 5594. 

r Moderate 

Cape Perpetua

Scenic Area

where the forest 

meets the sea

United States 

Department of 

Agriculture

Siuslaw National Forest

CAPE PERPETUA SCENIC AREA

Towering 800 feet over the protected Marine Garden 

shoreline, the Cape Perpetua Headland is the highest 

viewpoint accessible by car on the Oregon Coast. On 

clear days, views extend 37 miles out to sea, and along 

70 miles of coastline. Cape Perpetua Scenic Area, 

encompassing 2,700 acres of coastal habitat, was set aside 

for unique ecological characteristics found where the 

temperate spruce rainforest transitions to the sea.

Early explorer Captain James Cook  rst observed the 

headland in 1778 and named it a er Saint Perpetua. 

In 1933 President Franklin D. Roosevelt formed the 

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and Cape Perpetua 

became a base camp for young men to learn skills. 

Many of the campgrounds, trails, and plantings you see 

are the work of the CCC.

 e Scenic Area o ers 26 miles of trail, featuring oldgrowth forests, Indian shell middens, the Devil’s Churn, 

tidepools and stunning views. Visitor Center sta 

and exhibits will guide you to the cultural and natural 

history of the area.

Cape Perpetua Visitor Center is open seven days a week 

most of the year, with reduced hours in the winter. 

Friendly and knowledgeable sta are available to 

answer questions and help plan your visit. Interpretive 

programs and guided walks are available in the summer 

or by prior arrangement.

Siuslaw National Forest

Cape Perpetua Scenic Area

 ree miles south of Yachats on 

Highway 101

541-547-3289

www.fs.usda.gov/siuslaw

www.facebook.com/SiuslawNF

https://twitter.com/siuslawNF

For marine reserves information contact the Oregon 

Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) at 

541-867-4741 or http://oregonmarinereserves.com

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender 
7

11

5

8

9

10

1050

6

To Florence

1

101

3

5553

55

2

8

8

10

4

1051

55

12

.7 m i

3. mi

Spouting 

Horn 

Cook’s Chasm

Tidepools

Cape Cove 

Beach 

Devil’s 

Churn

Cape 

Perpetua

1.4 mi

2.9 mi

Visitor 

Center

Day Use Area 

Devil’s Churn 

Info Center

Giant 

Spruce

To Yachats

Neptune 

State

 Park

PACIFIC 

OCEAN

Cummins Creek

Gwynn Creek

1.1 mi

.2 mi 

loop

Thor’s Well

.4 mi 

loop

CAPE PERPETUA SCENIC AREA TRAILS

Inset Map

Cape Creek

.4 mi

loop

1 mi

2.6 mi

Little Cummins Creek

.9 mi

.3 mi

.3 mi

Viewpoint

.1 mi

Marine Reserve

North Marine 

Protected Area

 US Highway

 Forest Service Road 

 Visitor Center

 West Shelter

 Picnic Area

 Open to Bicycles

 Trail

 

 Campground

 Parking

 Trail Number (see

 descriptions)

 Handicapped

 Accessible 

 Restrooms

 Trailhead

Cape Perpetua Trails

101

1050

1

55

101

.3

mi

.2 mi

1.4 mi

1.4 mi

1.9 mi

1.7 mi

.4 mi

6.2 mi on e way

CAPE PERPETUA SCENIC AREA TRAILS

5 5553

55

Spouting Horn 

Cook’s Chasm

Tidepools

Cape Cove 

Beach 

North 

Marine 

Protected 

Area

Cape 

Perpetua

1.2 mi

Visitor 

Center

Devil’s Churn 

Info Center

Neptune 

PACIFIC 

OCEAN

Gwynn Creek

.2 mi 

loop

Thor’s Well

.4 mi 

loop

Cape Creek .8 mi

101

Your day use fees help maintain the trail system. Thank you for leaving the owers and tidepool animals for 

others to enjoy and for keeping your pet on a leash. Map not to scale; please see reverse side for mileage.

Day Use 

Area 

CAPE PERPETUA VISITOR CENTER INSET

3

6

11

2

1

8

7

8

9

4

.3

mi

.3 mi

.3

mi

.4 mi

To 

Yachats

Giant 

Spruce

.4 mi

loop

.2 mi

2.9 mi

.2 mi

Marine 

Reserve

CAPE PERPETUA VISITOR CENTER INSET