Each year more than 10,000 visitors hike Cascade Head Preserve to enjoy the views, wildflowers and wildlife.
What to See: Animals
The Oregon silverspot butterfly, federally listed as a threatened species, is known to only five other locations in the world. The butterfly depends on a single plant species, the early blue violet (which grows coastal grassland openings), to serve as food for its larvae. Elk, deer, coyote, snowshoe hare and the Pacific giant salamander frequent the preserve, while bald eagle, great horned owl, northern harrier, red-tail hawk and the occasional peregrine falcon soar in hunting forays over the grassy slopes.
What to See: Plants
Formed by the uplift of underwater volcanic basalt flows, the headland is unusual for the extent of its prairies dominated by native species: red fescue, wild rye, Pacific reedgrass, coastal paintbrush, goldenrod, blue violet and streambank lupine. Rare wildflowers include hairy checkermallow and the Cascade Head catchfly, with 99% of the catchfly's world population found only here.
There are two trails on Cascade Head. To reach the lower trail (a more vigorous hike to the top of the headland):
- Head north on US 101 from Lincoln City.
- Just north of the Salmon River, turn west on Three Rocks Road.
- At 2 miles, take the left fork and park in Knight Park.
- The trailhead begins there. It crosses through private and U.S. Forest Service property and over a narrow winding road, so please use caution and respect private property.
