Cascade Head
A meadow headland north of Lincoln City and a UNESCO biosphere reserve. From the summit, you can overlook the Salmon River estuary and the Pacific coastline.
Cascade Head was added to UNESCO’s list of biosphere reserves in 1976. The top of the headland is a rare coastal meadow, covered in wildflowers in spring and summer. It is also home to the endangered Oregon silverspot butterfly. The most popular trail is managed by The Nature Conservancy. The round trip from the trailhead to the upper viewpoint is about 5 to 7 km, with roughly 350 meters of elevation gain. From the top, you can overlook the Salmon River winding into the sea and the entire coastline. It is often windy and foggy, so bring a windbreaker. Dogs are not allowed. The trailhead is about 10 km north of Lincoln City, near the Salmon River. Parking is limited, so arrive early on weekends.
Opening hours
Open daytime (some sections closed seasonally)
Nearby sights
- Roads End State Recreation Site
- Neskowin Ghost Forest & Proposal Rock
- Devils Lake
- D River State Recreation Site
- Lincoln City Glass Floats & Glass Center
- Siletz Bay
- Drift Creek Falls Trail
- Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint