Neahkahnie Mountain

This was my first hike in a long, long time and I needed to get some practice in since I was going to also hike Humbug Mountain and Mount Shasta later on.
You will definitely be huffing and puffing and sweating a lot particularly in the first 30 minutes of the hike, which is super steep, if you take the trail off of Highway 101. I would say the beginning of the hike is not that pleasant, you’re just going through bush and brambles. Once you start hitting the tree line, it gets a little more interesting, you start seeing the giant pine trees which the Pacific Northwest is so famous for. The trail itself can be rocky in places and in some spots amounts to no more than boulders and tree roots which you need to clamber over.
To get to the very top, you’re actually hiking two separate hills, you’ll get near the top of the first, then suddenly go down a it, but it is only a pass to the next hill, from there it’s about another 30 minutes until you really hit the top and then you will be rewarded with one of the most amazing views there is. All of Nehalem Bay, Manzanita, Nehalem and Wheeler, the beaches, the ocean and the surrounding mountains laid out in front of you.
Native American’s consider Neahkahnie Mountain an especially holy and auspicious place, a place «where the good Spirit lives». Despite all the grunt work in getting there, once you get to the top, you’ll understand why.

I never knew that this hike existed until this past week. I’m definitely going to do it again! Unfortunately when I went at the peak it was rainy and
I couldn’t see the gorgeous view I heard about… the hike itself though was lovely. After we hiked down to the beach, which was also lovely. I definitely want to go back and do this hike again.

Drove past this peak on Highway 101 and thought, I would like to climb it. Guess a few thousand other have felt the same. So much so that it is now a park. I heard it was a long hike (easier) from the north or short (more difficult) from the south. Switchbacks make it doable. I did the south trail from trail head to summit in less than 30 minutes. If you are in the area, the hike and views are well worth it on a good day. I had the good fortune of a spectacular one. Happy trails!
Tips: good shoes, some mud on trails even on dry days. Use the trail for the final summit. Trail comes from the east, south east. I did not see it, so I just climbed the rock face from the south. It was only 20 or 30 feet but still a little exhilarating. Foot and hand holds spaced well for easy climb.

Hike it. Do it. It’s so short and satisfying. Just do it. Drive to Neahkahnie Mountain, put on some shoes and hike to the top and don’t fall. Take some pictures. Tag yourself and put it up on Facebook. People will think you’re an outdoors person.