Winter on the beach: My favorite coast hikes

The winter is a great time to visit the coast and get a hike in. The costal mountains in the Northwest receive the most amount of rainfall in the region, but usually only a dusting in snow. Some things to expect to see on the trails this time of year is a lot of mud, elk and deer plus, a great assortment of mushrooms. Wear good waterproof shoes and look out for mountain bikers on trails in the Tillamook and watch for whales on bluff trails like Cape Lookout. I included round trip milages to make planning easier, enjoy!

Easy

1. Cape Kiwanda-1 mile

2. Cape Lookout-4.8 miles

Moderate

1. Wilson River Trail to Bridge Creek Fall-7.8 miles

2. Gales Creek Loop-7.2 miles

3. Saddle Mountain-5.2 miles

More difficult

1. Tillamook Head-7.6 miles

2. Kings Mountain-5 miles