We have previously covered much of the extensive trail system in the coastal village of Yachats: the 804 Trail, the Ya'Xaik Trail, and the St. Perpetua Trail. There is, however, a linking path between the 804 and Ya'Xaik trails in the north and St. Perpetua to the south: a 3.5-mile climb up the north face of Cape Perpetua known as the Amanda Trail. This rugged route along the coast was the only alternative to taking a boat in the days before 1912 or so, when the first path was blasted around the cape.
To find the trail, take Highway 101 to Yachats and turn onto Yachats Ocean Road just south of the bridge. To your right you will find access to the Yachats River as well as a lovely, sheltered beach. Drive a bit further for close-up views of waves crashing against the rocky coastline. There is plenty of parking all along this short road; plan ahead and you can look forward to a post-hike picnic beside the water.
Once parked, continue along the road on foot. Just before you reach Highway 101 again you will see a footpath on your right. Follow it alongside the highway until the path dead ends, then (carefully) cross 101 and pick it up again on the other side. This trail is also part of the Oregon Coast Trail System, so you may see it marked as such from time to time.
You will begin by hiking on a small ridge between two creeks. As you leave Highway 101 behind, even the roar of the ocean dulls. Gradually, the trail drops into Cape Creek's little canyon; the whisper of the creek and the songs of the birds are pretty much all you will hear. History sleuths will notice that much of the trail is on an old roadbed; in fact, sharp eyes will spot abandoned side roads here and there. Before the construction of Highway 101, a primitive route went over the Cape and followed Cape Creek, similar to the route Amands'a Trail follows. The stone shelter at the top of the Cape was used as a lookout during World War II and there has been logging in this area in the past, so many disused roads are probably hidden beneath the lush greenery on this steep headland.
Many hikers pause as they pass Amanda's statue on their way back to their comfortable automobiles parked alongside Highway 101. She stands patiently in her little clearing, a reminder to us all that if we become convinced that any person has less value than we have, we become less human ourselves.
Crossing Cape Creek |
Monkey Flower |
Salal growing out of an old, logged stump |
Salal |
View from the top |
Stone shelter |
View of Yachats near top |
Pacific Iris and Solomon's seal |
Switchback |
Epiphytic fern |
Trail through an old road cut |
Old side road |
Bleeding Hearts |
False Lilly of the Valley and ostrich ferns |
Amanda welcomes you! |
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