Cape Arago Loop Trail at Shore Acres State Park, Oregon

Cape Arago Loop Trail at Shore Acres State park

Shore Acres State Park, near Coos Bay, Oregon, is a former estate and beautiful park. The park features extensive gardens that visitors can enjoy, amazing ocean views, and a few hiking trails. One of those trails is the Cape Arago Loop Trail. An easier trail with unmatched views, the Cape Arago Loop trail at Shore Acres will be great for most skill levels looking to appreciate some ocean views, lighthouse views and even some woods and wildlife.

Getting Started

Shore Acres State Park is located about 25 minutes southwest of Coos Bay along the Cape Arago Highway. It is an old estate and the circular drive leads to parking and also to the gardens. The Cape Arago Hike can be found near the large, fully enclosed observation building that sits near the parking of the circular drive.

Make sure to take a moment to enjoy the views of the ocean from the observation building and surrounding paved walk nearby. I was lucky enough to see a whale take a breath and arch through the ocean from this very spot. One of my coolest moments!

The start of the trail is just to the north of the sidewalk where the paved area meets the dirt path. The trail is very easy to find and follow as it makes its way around the cliffside and wooded area’s in the park.

The Ocean Views and Sealife

The first mile of the hike was my favorite. It hugged the cliffside and allowed for amazing ocean views for a majority of the trail. The isn’t really much elevation or challenging sections of the this trail so it is easy to just enjoy the views.

One of the most exciting parts of this hike for me was the abundant wildlife in the nearby ocean. The rocks that were just a little ways into the ocean were covered with seals sunning themselves and enjoying the warm sun. There were also a ton of pelican and other seabirds on the rocks and in the water, easily visible from the high cliff trail.

It is about a full mile of these views of the ocean and wildlife and I will be honest, I took my top and did a lot of stopping and taking it all in. Living in Colorado, we don’t get many seals or ocean views so this was simply stunning for me! At about the mile point, the trail will head to the east, following a cove and entering a little more tree cover.

Lighthouse

This turn doesn’t diminish the views at all. The trail follows the outline of a small cove and that leads out to some protected islands. The cove is stunning, with some calmer water that had nice visibility into some of the rocks beneath the surface.

About a tenth of a mile along the cove is a nice viewpoint of a lighthouse that sits on the land across the cove. I honestly think this might be my first lighthouse and I thought it was really cool! (I did find a bunch more as my trip went on!)

To continue the loop, I then turned back to the south to head deeper into the wooded area and away from the water. This was a full, yet not overgrown, area of the woods and a really nice path that leads back to the trailhead. This trail is also part of the Oregon Coast Trail and extends further for those looking to through hike, but for me, the quick nature walk full of amazing views was just perfect.

The Views

Most of my hikes in Colorado are majestic when it comes to mountains, but we don’t get a ton of oceans included. So, as a landlocked hiker, the views on the Cape Arago Loop Trail at Shore Acres was spectacular.

There was so much life and energy from the water. The sleeping seals, and their occasional grunt made for another special moment that I am won’t forget anytime soon.

But mostly, for me, it was the endless ocean under the blue sky that seemed to stretch on forever. Combined with the rocky ledges of the hike, the water made me feel like I was at the end of the world and ready to explore even more! It was one of the most scenic hikes I have ever done and I can’t wait to get back to the Southern Oregon Coast.

Video of the Cape Arago Loop trail at Shore Acres State Park

I have put this time-lapse video together of the Cape Falcon hike so other hikers can get a feel of what the hike is like. If you enjoy this video make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel. It is free to subscribe and you will get the latest outdoor content.

Distance and Elevation

If you don’t have the AllTrails app you might want to check it out, I really love mine. It records your progress and is a great way to search for hikes that are nearby and gives you difficulty measurements. According to AllTrails today’s hike was around 1.69 miles and had a total elevation gain of about 82 feet including undulations. That put the high point at around 92 feet. I was also moving for a total 39 minutes.

I am a Pro member of AllTrails and love it. If you are interested in the platform, please consider using my affiliate link for AllTrails. It gives me a small commission with no extra cost to you.

Effort

The Cape Arago Loop at Shore Acres State Park is relatively easy hike that should be good for most skill levels. There isn’t much elevation to worry about and the trail is mostly flat and easy to follow. There are sections that are close to the edge so anyone with children or mobility concerns should take precautions. For those who don’t want the full hike but still the views, the section at the parking lot is a paved walk with amazing ocean views. I am going to set this one as an easy hike.

Terrain

Shore Acres State Park is well used and the trials are well defined and easy to follow. Half of this hike is exposed and traverses near the edge of the cliff with amazing views. The other half of the trail is under a thicker tree canopy. There are a couple areas with narrow trails through the trees but nothing that is challenging.

Finding Shore Acres State Park

Shore Acres State Park is located at 89526 Cape Arago Highway in Coos Bay, Oregon. There is plenty of parking around the circular drive and some restrooms are available at the park. The park is part of the Oregon State Park System and a pass is required. Passes can be purchased at a kiosk near the entrance for $10 or an annual pass may be used.

Wrapping up the Cape Arago hike at Shore Acres State Park

This was the first hike of a quick Labor Day weekend trip I took to Coos Bay. I had never been to this part of Oregon and wasn’t sure what to expect. The Cape Arago Hike at Shore Acres blew my mind with the beauty and wildlife abundance. I couldn’t believe I saw my first whale and so many seals!

The hike itself is more of a nature walk than a challenging hike but it is worth every step. If you aren’t looking for a full hike, but still want to see some of the amazing views, check out the gardens and observation building to see some of the natural wonders of Southern Oregon!

I have added this hike and all of my hikes to the interactive map page you can find here. If you have any suggestions for hikes or comments feel free to email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com or you can follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Happy Hiking!

Gallery of the Cape Arago loop at Shore Acres State Park

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