Oregon North Coast Range Map
Per the Oregon Conservation Strategy: Oregon’s Coast Range is known for its dramatic scenery. It is also extremely diverse, with habitats ranging from open sandy dunes to lush forests and from tidepools to headwater streams. The Coast Range ecoregion includes the entire reach of the Oregon coastline and extends east through coastal forests to the border of the Willamette Valley and Klamath Mountains ecoregions.
In general, the topography is characterized by steep mountain slopes and sharp ridges. Elevation varies from the ocean shoreline to Marys Peak, which is about 4,100 feet high; however, main ridge summits are approximately 1,400-2,500 feet. The Coast Range ecoregion is bordered by the Nearshore ecoregion on the ocean shores and intersects it in Oregon’s estuaries.
The Coast Range’s climate is influenced by cool, moist air from the ocean, and is the wettest and mildest in the state. The ecoregion’s mild, moist climate creates conditions for highly productive temperate rainforests, which are important ecologically and for local economies. Most of the ecoregion is dominated by coniferous forests. Large forest fires are very infrequent but are severe when they occur. For example, the Tillamook Burn, which is actually a series of wildfires that occurred from 1939-1951, burned approximately 350,000 acres. The Coast Range includes the highest density of streams found in the state, and deciduous riparian vegetation is distinct from surrounding coniferous forests. Along the coastal strip, habitats are influenced by the marine environment and include beaches, estuaries, and headlands.
I recommend you read more of this article for a full description of the coast range.
In this document, I will focus on the area of the Oregon Coast Range from Astoria on the North Coast to Florence on the central coast. Much of the land is US Forest Service to include the Siuslaw National Forest, State forests to include Clatsop State Forest and Tillamook State Forest, BLM and private lands. I have done very little hiking south of Florence, which tells me I need to plan a trip down there soon.
Douglas-fir, Western Hemlock, Sitka spruce, Western redcedar, Shore Pine, and Coast Redwood are the dominant conifers on the coast. Read more at Trail Scholar. Shore Pine is also common. Of course, you will find varieties of maple, oak, alder, dogwood and more.
Animals we have run across include the mighty slug, gulls, pelicans and other sea birds, whales, sharks (dead on the beach), crabs (Dungeness in particular), salmon, harmless snakes, elk, deer, cougars (yes, we have had a close, but not dangerous encounter with a cougar – that was cool), coyotes, hawks, eagles, puffins and all kinds of other birds and animals. There are also bears in the area, but we have not encountered one, although we have run across bear scat a couple of times.
The Oregon coast range really is diverse, and you should visit at least once. Hopefully, these trails, adventures and pointers will get you started.
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Walking through the big trees on Kentucky Falls Trail
Here is my 4-stars and above AllTrails link for the area described in this document.
Google Search for good Oregon Coast Range hikes. And check out Oregon Hikers for a very good list of hikes.
There are all kinds of good places to eat on the Oregon Coast – far too many to list them all here. Here are just a few of our very favorite, and oft-frequented food stops.
As I said, there are tons more but, in a pinch, the above list is generally our go-to.
General
Indigenous Peoples
Hiking
Visiting
Food
Animals
Plants
Written: 6/24/2023