52 VISITTHEOREGONCOAST.COM Start with a jaunt on the 4.4-mile (7.1-km) Drift Creek Falls Trail just outside Lincoln City and in the Oregon Coast Range foothills. This popular path takes hikers through a forest of Douglas fir, maple and salal before crossing a 240-foot (73-m) suspension bridge and arriving at the base of the 75-foot (23-m) Drift Creek Falls. Enjoy a dose of solitude in autumn, when colorful foliage lines the trail, and in spring — when the waterfall reaches its raging peak. In Lincoln City, Nesika Park hosts a 0.5-mile (0.8-km) trail that heads through a quiet wooded area; its wood-chip path was designed for visitors needing an accessible route. Farther south, roughly 26 miles (42 km) of trails crisscross the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area, whose namesake headland rises 800 feet (245 m) over the Pacific Ocean. Hike past a partially collapsed sea cave, a circular sinkhole, numerous tide pools and other natural features on the mostly flat, 0.8-mile (1.3-km) Captain Cook Trail. The nearby 2-mile (3.2-km) Giant Spruce Trail follows Cape Creek before ending at the base of a towering, 500-yearold Sitka spruce tree. Just north of Florence, a wide, 1-mile (1.6-km) trail climbs roughly 150 feet (240 m) to the iconic Heceta Head Lighthouse. The lighthouse first lit up in 1894, and ground-floor tours are available in the summer and winter. Migrating whales frequently pass the lighthouse in winter and spring. WATER FUN Urban lakes, bustling bays and quiet waterways provide all manner of outdoor opportunities for kayakers, canoers and stand-up paddleboarders across the Central Coast. In Lincoln City, swing by Safari Town Surf for a paddle-craft rental before putting in at East Devil’s Lake State Park. The urban lake’s inland location protects it from wind, and occasional wildlife sightings include snowy plovers, great blue herons and bald eagles. Just south MELANIE GRIFFIN / EUGENE, CASCADES & COAST Heceta Head Lighthouse Lincoln City Glass Center Blow Your Own Float, Fluted Bowl, Paperweight or Heart Local artists walk you through the art of creating with molten glass Lincoln City Glass Center 541-996-2569 4821 SW HWY 101 Lincoln City, Oregon NEWPORT OREGON PRIDE 2026 Join the local LGBTQIA2S+ community and allies for friendship, volunteer opportunities, and social events throughout the year, including our 5 Annual Pride event weekend this Sept. 18-20, 2026! th newportoregonpride.com @newportoregonpride
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