Cascade Head won its name when sailors spotted the waterfalls cascading from its oceanfront cliffs. The trail down to Harts Cove leads to a viewpoint of one of these dramatic falls. But the path also features an old-growth spruce forest, a flower-filled blufftop meadow, and a rocky shore where sea lions bellow. To protect endangered butterflies and wildflowers on the headland, the road to the trailhead is gated closed January 1 to July 15. The access road also passes the easy, upper trailhead to the more famous Nature Conservancy preserve on Cascade Head. Ambitious hikers can do both in a day.

From the junction with Highway . . .

If you decide to take the Nature Conservancy path . . .

This chapter is an excerpt from 100 Hikes : Oregon Coast