Three Capes Scenic Drive

Hi! I have been poring over the Oregon forum, and have had many of my questions answered. This is a great forum, by the way. You all are very helpful! Now for my questions! In July we will be staying a night in Manzanita, and will be driving along the coast the next day. For sure we want to do the 3 capes scenic drive, with some time allowed for stopping and enjoying the scenery. I%26#39;m wondering if it would be worth it to continue on down the coast to Drift Creek Falls (I just got a copy of the Oregon Trip planner in the mail today, and it makes the suspension bridge look quite interesting!) or if that would make our day too long--we have to go back to my daughter%26#39;s home in Oregon City that evening. Also, any restaurant suggestions around the 3 capes area, or further down the coast if we go to Drift Creek Falls. Any help would be greatly appreciated, especially since I have no idea how long to allow for any of this drive.

Three Capes Scenic Drive

Might be interested in a little trip report I did last year on the Three Capes drive:

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Three Capes Scenic Drive

The name of it is escaping me at the moment (it%26#39;s late, sorry ;-)) but there%26#39;s a decent pub in Pacific City at the south end of the Three Capes Loop. You can%26#39;t miss it, it%26#39;s right on the beach there. Hopefully someone else will chime in with the name...

Pelican Pub and Brewery :-)

Hmmm, Half-Brit, your post from last year makes me wonder if we should even rethink our plan to do the 3 capes scenic drive. Maybe not worth it? I just want to see some impressive coastline scenery. Being from Nebraska I absolutely long to see the ocean : )

Any other recommendations? Is Oswald West State Park worth some extra time? Oh, and how about going down to Drift Creek Falls near Lincoln City like I asked in my original post, worth it? Too much time?

Oswald West State Park is a secluded cove down a trail through a wooded forest. It%26#39;s popular, so get there early! I%26#39;d choose it--also Hug Point, just a little south of Cannon Beach and Tolovana, is a terrific beach walk which we do every year. There are natural caves carved into the sandstone, and a secluded sandy beach. There%26#39;s even a trail to a pretty glen with a small waterfall. There are many rock formations out in the ocean. It needs to be visited at low tide, before the tide turns and starts to come in. Daytime tides are usually low in the day.

Pelican, yes that%26#39;s it, thanks ;-)!!

Just to give a another perspective, I drive the Three Capes loop every time I drive that part of the coast--I like it, obviously ;-). But I%26#39;m a big ';get off the highway whenever possible'; person and I love driving on backroads so that%26#39;s part of it for me. It doesn%26#39;t add a whole lot of time and I like stopping at the lighthouse and if you have the time, the Cape Lookout trail is worthwhile.

The Three Capes (Meares, Lookout, Kiwanda) WILL add time to your drive as you have to drive about 10 miles west of hwy 101 on the north end to access it, and there are narrow, curvy sections that slow travel. BUT, why even bother taking a side-trip to the coast if you can%26#39;t take the time to enjoy it!!

Drive the Three Capes Scenic tour and stop at every possible opportunity to take in the beauty of the area. If possible, time your travels to have lunch at the Pelican Brewery, on the beach in Pacific City (spendy, but good food and great views). Once back at hwy 101, heaad back north a few miles through Tillamook dairy country to the tiny town of Hebo, where you can access hwy 22 which ultimately will land you in Salem, just an hour or so from Oregon City!

BTW, the ONLY reason I did not suggest Drift Creek is that it is so far out of the way for what you are trying to accomplish, it just doesn%26#39;t make sense. If you were continuing to a southern destination, then I%26#39;d say GO FOR IT!

I really enjoy the Three Capes scenic route. So many great places to stop and check out, and some nice hiking. It is definitely very different from NE:) And another vote for the Pelican Pub. While you are there, the big dune next to it is great to walk up and check out the back side.

Where will you have been before Manzanita? Unless it%26#39;s Ecola State Park, or Cape Disappointment State Park (in WA), you won%26#39;t have seen scenery like what you%26#39;ll see along Three Capes.

Cape Meares State Park is especially worth a stop, with a lighthouse and jaw-dropping views that can be enjoyed in much less time than you%26#39;d have to commit to see Drift Creek Falls. If you%26#39;re will to do some hiking, choose either Cape Lookout or Cascade Head for that. The view from Cascade Head south might be the best on the coast.