Planning the Oregon Coast Trail Thru-Hike

 

Getting Started

We’re attempting the Oregon Coast Trail (OCT) thru-hike this summer with a tentative start date of June 15. For last summer’s Colorado Trail thru-hike, we planned every camp stop and resupply where friends met us with pre-packed food boxes and rides into nearby towns. For the OCT this summer we’re winging it. Unlike the rigorous and remote Colorado Trail winding through the Colorado Rockies, the OCT looks to be more of a blend, an urban/wilderness hike combining beach, trail, and road walking.

The Oregon Coast Trail stretches the entire length of the state of Oregon--a total of 425 miles. The OCT starts at the mouth of the Columbia River at the Washington/Oregon border hugging the coastline until its end at the Oregon/California border. The OCT passes nearby or through little beach towns allowing us to carry a few days’ supply of food at a time instead of a week’s supply which means lighter pack weights for us. Along the route campgrounds, state parks, and open beach camping are available and there are many water resupply areas.

planning

So we’ve checked our guide book and spread out the maps for close inspection. Our plan is to start walking, to take our time to see the sights, to buy food on an as-needed basis, and to camp when we get tired or as the tides dictate. We will mail, via general delivery, a few boxes of Shug’s food ahead to post offices in strategic places. Oh, Oregon, we can’t wait to tread your shores.