44 VISITTHEOREGONCOAST.COM pioneer history, Native American heritage, and information on flora and fauna. Vistas are revealed around nearly every turn on the Three Capes Scenic Route, a 40-mile (64.4-km) drive that loops from Tillamook through several coastal communities, fully open again after parts were closed for repair for over a decade. Highlights include Cape Kiwanda, with breathtaking dunes; Cape Lookout, a popular site for beachcombing; and Cape Meares, where the shortest lighthouse on the Coast is perched on a bluff 217 feet (66.1 m) above the sea. Take a walk nearby to the Octopus Heritage Tree, whose unusual shape is said to have been formed long ago by Tillamook tribes. From Cape Meares, head south to Oceanside, a cozy hillside hideaway with the ambiance of a quaint European village. It’s a good spot to admire the offshore Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge. The town’s aptly named Tunnel Beach is accessible via a tunnel through Maxwell Point or by walking around the point during a very low tide. Awe-inspiring views continue as the drive meanders past Netarts Bay, where you can go crabbing and fishing, or sample a range of locally harvested salt at Jacobsen Salt Company. Stretch your legs at Cape Lookout Trailhead with 8 miles (12.9 km) of trails with whale- watching vantage points. Or continue on to the Sitka Sedge State Natural Area, just north of Pacific City, which offers 4 miles (6.4 km) of scenic hiking trails for families. Hikers should be mindful of this area as critical habitat for threatened snowy plovers, so watch for closures during certain seasons. Tillamook Forest Center CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: COURTESY OF VISIT TILLAMOOK COAST; ERIC DAVIS; COURTESY OF OREGON STATE PARKS Madeline’s Vintage Marketplace in Tillamook Sitka Sedge State Natural Area
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