Three Rocks Road

Three Rocks Road leads to several local wonders.

The first is access to the Salmon River at Knight County Park if you are water craft ready.

There you can launch and park, allowing for a river tour of the estuary as well as stellar fishing and access to a deserted beach.

The second is the Nature Conservancy Trail which leads to amazing meadow vista overlooking the ocean, and spit. A mild hike worth the effort.

The third gem is the Sitka Center for the Arts and Ecology. A world class education center for the study of the arts and sciences. Learn more below.

Three Rocks Road from Highway 18.

Boat Ramp

Nature Conservancy Trail

WHAT TO SEE: ANIMALS

The Oregon silverspot butterfly, federally listed as a threatened species, is known to only four other locations in the world. The butterfly depends on a single plant species, the early blue violet (which grows in 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.

Each year more than 15,000 visitors hike Cascade Head Preserve to enjoy the views, wildflowers and wildlife.

Please observe the following guidelines while hiking:

Stay on the trail. Don’t collect plants, insects or other species or disturb soil, rocks, artifacts or scientific research markers.
No dogs. Preserves harbor ground-nesting birds and other wildlife that are extremely sensitive to disturbance.
No bicycles or motorized vehicles. Native plants and research sites are easily trampled.
No hunting, camping or campfires.
For groups of 10 or more, please contact us before visiting a preserve (a volunteer naturalist guide may be available).
Please bring a bag and carry out any trash you find.
Please report to us any problems you observe (e.g., camping, plant removal, hunting, off-road vehicle damage, etc).
DIRECTIONS

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.

The upper trail (a more level 1-mile hike to the upper viewpoint) is closed by the U.S. Forest Service from January 1 to July 15. To reach it:

Drive 2.4 miles north of the Salmon River, almost to the summit of Cascade Head.
Turn left on Cascade Head Road (USFS Road 1861).
Continue approximately 3.5 miles, bearing left when the road forks. (There is a U.S. Forest Service trail to Harts Cove at the end of this road.)
The upper trailhead is marked by a small parking lot and sign. At the upper viewpoint, the trail drops steeply 500 feet to connect with the lower trail.