Three Capes Scenic Drive Reviews

We were fortunate to have a sunny day for this spectacular 38 mile drive though we were unable to cover the whole thing due to road damage being repaired. The drive along the coast had beautiful ocean views, opportunities to get out and walk, scenic overlooks, lighthouses, beach visits. Gave us a real feel for the west coast (we are from western NY state,)

We really like the scenic drive. The road is narrow and in some places bumpy.
However that causes you to slow down and enjoy the moment.
We were there the last week of December 2014 It was clear Cold and windy at Cape Lookout.
Here are some pictures I took from there.

Went on a spectacular drive. Stopped at the Country Smoker Outlet for jerky and a 2 foot pepperoni stick my son just had to have. Moved on down to Tillamook Factory for some fresh cheese and ice cream. After that we finished our day with the Pelican Brewery. Great drive and stops along the way. Spectacular day!!

This is one the finest scenic drives in the nation! I am kind of used to this stuff as a western Washington native,but this is a NICE! drive!!!! Going out to Cape Flattery in Washington is one for your once in a lifetime drives, but Three capes is BEAUTIFUL and easy off of 101. Don't pass this up.

We started from the south and did cape kiwanda first then to cape lookout. While at cape lookout we only observed from the pull offs we did not do the hike. Then on to cape meares. The lighthouse was cute. I recommend the first trail the back trail was a bit steep. Then I went and saw the octopus tree. We were unable to go past cape meares as the road was closed. It was a nice drive.

Lots to see on this trip: Munson Falls, Octopus Tree, Lighthouses and gorgeous, gorgeous beach views with lots of wonderful rock formations.

This is the drive to do when you are not in a hurry. It’s wonderful to stop at every lookout point possible to take in the diversity of scenery, see where you’ve been and where you’re going! It’s beautiful, roads have great signing and traffic in September was very light.

Great day trip for visiting with friends and family

The road heads west following along the edge of Tillamook Bay, toward infamous Bayocean. Called "the town that fell into the sea", it was an early 20th C. grand resort town, built on sand, that eventually eroded away. Then the route climbs up to Cape Meares, where there is a lighthouse (recently heavily damaged by vandals), and some paved footpaths along the cliff edge. It by now was sunny and bright, so we walked out to the lighthouse, which helped sooth us after enduring the last 5 miles of this most deplorable rough road.

The northern section of this road is in terrible condition!

We follow the scenic route southbound through the small communities of Oceanside and Netarts, enjoying our glimpses of the sparkling ocean. I'm not sure I'd care to own one of the new houses which are perched right on top of the steep cliffs - this is an earthquake zone after all!

We have a good view of Netarts Bay, then the view disappears as the road continues on east of Cape Lookout SP (we didn't stop), then it turns inland for quite a long stretch.

Hmmm, I had thought there would be many more ocean views . . . ah! we finally pop out of the trees along the edge of the ocean again, but not for long, as we drop down the hill into the new section of Pacific City. My goodness, they're building like mad in this town - everywhere we look there is a new house under construction!

We opt not to stop at the Pelican Pub, as we could see the deck was very crowded. So we continue along through the old part of town, and wind our way back to Hwy 101.

Is it worth the extra drive rather than to stay on Hwy 101? Well, I think I'd have to say "no". Cape Meares was pretty and mildly interesting, although there are other lighthouses along the Oregon coast which are more impressive, and countless other views just as delightful - or even more interesting.

The road spends OVER HALF THE TIME INLAND -- where there is no ocean view. It took us about 1 to 1.5 hours longer than Hwy 101, with only one stop.

Finally, the road condition is really bad! About 40% of the road is in *miserable* condition with potholes, huge cracks, sharp dips, and just extremely rough worn-out pavement. Another 40% or so is in fair to poor condition, with the remaining 20% in good to excellent condition.

If someone will be visiting only this section of the coast, then I'd guess it's worth it. However, if a person will be driving the entire length of the coast, save your time and don't bother. The views are far more spectacular along the southern coast!

White sand beaches, park amenities, and vistas! But one needs to hunt for terrific places to eat unfortunately.

We drove from north to south starting in Astoria. There are no bad views and it's a great drive. Our one goof was not paying better attention to the road closure when you drive from the north to take the loop up to Cape Meares. You can't get there, it's completely blocked. Instead, you have to act like you're driving to Cape Lookout and go up to Cape Meares from the south. Find it though, it's worth it, the view of the lighthouse and the water are wonderful. Drive on to Cape Kiwanda for the sunset and a beer. Perfect day.

It is a curvy road but so worth it for the views. Be sure to have your camera ready.

The locals travel this road to get from place to place; it's prettier than the main drag, not as bad of a road as previous people have stated.

It is definitely worth the time to detour from Hwy 101 and take the 45 min to an hour drive up and down the Three Capes. Mears Lighthouse was one of the most charming, and shortest, lighthouse we have visited. This whole area has many beautiful views along the way.

Take the time to get off 101 and take Three Capes Drive. It is a slower, more intimate view of the Oregon coast. There is a lot to discover on the way from wildlife viewing and hiking to history of a resort and town that disappeared into the ocean. Great camping, wonderful beaches. The road is not in great shape in places so if you are picky about your fancy car or in a hurry, please stay on Hwy 101.

We decided to explore a little and this side trip was wonderful. We saw seals and an elk in addition to beautiful water vistas then suddenly a huge sand dune.
It's well worth the time. The roads not the best but its about the sites after all.

I took the Scenic Rout north to south this time starting at Cape Mears. The lighthouse is a must see and is just a short walk from parking lot. Great views to the north and south. Driving south there are several places to stop for picnicking or sight seeing or hiking. As you are heading up Cape Lookout be sure to stop and check out the view north from where the hang gliders take off. Cape Lookout offers plenty of trails for hiking. Next is Cape Kiwanda. This cape is very different from the other two because it is all sand. This is also a very busy spot and sometimes parking can be a nightmare. The road along the way is rather rough in areas so you will want to take your time. Pacific City, Netarts, and Oceanside have places to eat or stores for snacks.

Excellent drive through rain forest and seeing 3 capes. Cape Meares lighthouse is worth the time to visit and see the views along the Oregon coast.

The first cape (north one) was closed, so we only were able to see the second two, but from what we saw, we were disappointed. We thought this would be like driving Highway One in CA, but it was nothing like that. Very limited views. Just winding through some weeds/trees, rural areas. Would not waste the time on this drive.

Cape Kiwanda, Lookout & Meares, you need time to drive the entire distance and then spend some time at each but its well worth, different types of beauty, with each state park offering something different to each other.

Beautiful scenery along the coastline on a two lane road. Many places to get off and take pictures and/or hike. I did not think the roads were terrible like one reviewer mentioned. Unless they had a major overhaul in the past few months...there were only some minor potholes. Totally worth getting off of the highway!

Nice slow drive along the coast. Road is kind of rough and narrow but well worth it if you are not in a hurry.

Great views of the 3 Capes. Walked down hill to the beach and took photos and drove thru the area. Definitely worth a side trip to see...drive on the coastal roads as much as possible as opposed to only on highway 101.

Though no longer a loop, we still enjoyed the drive from Pacific City as far as Cape Meares and than backtracked. Highlights for us were Pelican Pub, Haystack Rock, Cape Lookout and Cape Meares lighthouse though the latter was shrouded in fog. At the Cape Lookout observatory and gift shop, we were fortunate to see a gray whate feeding in the kelp.

So glad we chose to get off Hwy 101 for a while and do part of this Scenic loop. ( some of it was closed) We ate in Netarts Bay at The Schooner for lunch and also stopped at The Octopus Tree and hiked to the great views at Cape Mears. Absolutely gorgeous drive along the coast and not to be missed!

We started from the south and did Devil's Punchbowl then followed the Three Capes Loop road from south to north. We stopped at Cape Kiawanda, Oceanside (including Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge, Tillamook and Cape Meares State Park. At Cape Meares we enjoyed the lighthouse as well as the Octopus Tree. This whole area is one photo opportunity after another and seeing the sea stacks is awesome! The coastal area rovided a super enjoyable day particularly since the temps in Portland were +95 degrees that day.

40 miles of peaceful, back county well maintained road is a real gem. I photograph old homesteads, barns, outbuildings, etc as a hobby & found several. But the drive has something for just about everyone: spectacular scenery, dunes, ocean views, hiking, small towns, state/county parks, coastal geology, and more. This is shunpiking at its best. The Capes are Kiwanda, Meares, Lookout. Don't rush through.

A backroad look at the coast line. Huge boulders at several beaches. Small towns, scenic views.sea lions, crab fishermen are just a few sites of our fun trip. Part of thr road is closed and you can back track or cut back to Tillamook Creamery!

the road is well maintained and the view is so great from the top to the bottom, easy to access and easy to enjoy dont skip this one

The only downside was at Cape Mears the road to the parking light was closed. It was at least a 1/2 mile walk back into the park.

We really enjoyed this alternative route to 101 and we saw some fantastic sights that would otherwise have been missed. The only pity was that the very last section had the road closed so we had to come back on ourselves a bit to carry on but it was still well worth the detour.

What a beautiful scenic drive this is. You actually make a loop and where ever you drive there are so many breathtaking spots to take pictures from that it is unreal!. We saw seals, we saw these picturesque small houses among huge trees like a Christmas village laid out against a mountain. The beach at the foot of these houses was quiet and a nice stroll to stretch our legs and have a snack :-) The entire drive is just one nice - nicer - nicest, no even more nicer view to gape at. It took us longer than expected as we stopped at way much more stops than we ever thought we would. If you have the time,
and are in the area go and see for yourself!

I rode the Three Capes route by bicycle on the way to Newport and beyond. At 8 or 9 AM on a weekday morning, the route was still and quiet with virtually no traffic. The scenery varies from quiet shoreline to dark, old-growth forests and I saw plenty of waterfowl. Just a wonderful way to spend the morning.

Lots of twists and turns, so don't even think about speeding. Besides, it's supposed to be scenic. Very quite road, and the foliage can get a little dark and intimidating, but then you pop out to some gorgeous views of the ocean

I did the 3 Capes drive while driving from Tillamook to Lincoln City. Each "stop" offered varied and beautiful views, which you can also say about a lot of points on the Oregon coast. It was a beautiful scenic drive since I was heading south anyway, but they weren't my favorite places on the coast, except for Cape Kiwanda that looked like a cute beach town.

The cape meres portion of the drive was well marked, but after that your are mostly on your own, lack of cell service and lack of signs made for a frustrating afternoon.

We are native Oregonians & former coastal residents, and even so, were in awe of this 40 mile side trip. It winds through dunes, forest, headlands, day use and overnight state parks, small town America, hiking. Capes Kiwanda, Lookout, Meares are nearby. Take your time, get out of your vehicle, explore the byways many viewing opportunities: wildlife, ocean, estuary, and much more. A portion of the loop has been closed for years because of road erosion; it's unlikely that will be repaired in the near future.

The Three Capes Scenic Drive features 40 miles of breathtaking vistas and awe-inspiring views. Be sure to stop and see the octopus tree and light house at Cape Meares! Also, don't be afraid to stop along the way for numerous outstanding photo opportunities. When driving north on 101 back toward Tillamook, look alive; the Munson Creek Falls are easy to miss, but NOT to be missed! This goregous area features lush vegitation, crisp clear water rushing along the path, and a comfortable picnic area with a stunning view situated near the base of the falls. The Three Capes Scenic Drive is easily *the* highlight of the region.

This is a very nice ride. I would suggest taking it over 101. The stops are lovely, and don't forget to see the octopus tree! Each stop is only ten to fifteen minutes.

some "scenic routes" have lots of trees and guardrails so you can't really "see" much, but this is a great route along the coast. Perfect drive. Be sure to stop at the lighthouse, overlook, and octopus tree. Great views!!!

Absolutely beautiful. You'll be able to get a lot of beautiful scenery pics. Plenty of pull out areas to view the ocean.

such a lovely drive and well worth the extra time to take this scenic route, whether or not you get out of the car and enjoy the various capes and recreational areas.

Beautiful scenic drive. Very rough road. But overall definite take it. Hwy 101 is absolutely gorgeous any time of year.

Like I said that there just isn't enough time to do all of the Oregon Coast in a day. Maybe in a week. So much beauty it just is staggering. This is another drive that you want to do slowly.

We have taken this drive several times. It is a real scenic drive but the road is very bad. A lot of holes and sometimes quite narrow.

spend 1/2 day seeing the ocrean around Tillamook. be sure to stop and see the Octopus Tree. Also walk up on the top of Cape Kiwanda

We were driving up 101 from the south and decided to take this detour for the cape views. We were very disappointed because we got lost. The road and view points are not well marked and without good cell service, our GPS was worthless. We finally made it to Cape Meares and that was worth it but unless you want to spend a good portion of the day driving this area, just stay on 101 and go to Cape Meares from there.

This is a lovely drive but really not much different than staying on 101. You do have access to Cape Meares and Cape Lookout SP and a few very brief glimpses of the ocean through the trees but if you're looking for a nice ocean view drive for a stretch this isn't it.

A nice alternative to HWY 101 if you have extra time. Beautiful capes to behold and quaint small towns to experience. If I lived in the area, I would take this anytime I needed to escape. Awesome

We thought we would lose a bunch of time going this route but surprisingly we didn't. So glad we went this way though because the road stays along the water & there were several cute towns that would be great places to stay. The 101 here stays pretty far inland. Highly recommend.

Maps in hand we set out for the day, it doesnt take a whole day, but it could. The views are very stunning, we were treated to Grey Whales swimming at Cape Meares. Yes the road closure is inconvenient, but the views and nature made up for it. Sitting on the beach at Cape Kiwanda "truly magnificent"

Nothing not to like on this peaceful drive. Great views of the coast here and there. Some lighthouses and other attractions along the way. Worth your time.

If this review is helpful then please indicate so below.

Beautiful scenery along the way, but the road makes the scenery hard to enjoy. TERRIBLE road conditions!!

The Three Capes Scenic Loop isn't really a loop it's more of an alternative route to US101 and it's definitely worth taking. What for the signs. Be aware that the portion to Cape Meares is an out and back. Each Cape is so different.

Nice trials, wildlife viewing, octopus tree, lighthouse and more. Great place to take visitors or yourself.

When you got nothing but time make sure you do the three capes scenic drive. There are so many hikes and sites to see. You must have time. And a bottle of water.

Worth a trip to see. Cape Lookout is a 2.5 mile hike to the end, one way. Nice hike, but to save time I'd only hike halfway until you could get a good look of the water and coast to the south. The point is neat, but it's more water than shore. And the last half has many tripping hazards... tree roots.

I loved Oceanside, with the walking tunnel to the other beach and Cape Meares the most of the three areas.

Great drive along the coast with interesting lighthouses.

This is a pretty 40 mile drive. Cape Kiwanda, near Pacific City has a beautiful haystack rock, sand dunes, surfers, and a small tidal pool area. We saw some anemones, but no starfish. Cape Lookout State Park has a beautiful 5 mile trail that travels on the cape high above the ocean. It takes in views looking both north and south. Cape Meares State Park has a short trail to a small lighthouse. There are beautiful views of the cliffs with many birds. I wish we had more time.

We love scenic drives - and this one is very pretty. Nice to see the three capes and to enjoy the scenery. We also stopped at the Cape Mears lighthouse while on the drive.

A nice scenic ride that takes you closer to the Pacific Ocean than does Hwy 101. You end up on 101 so just a diversion with some nice scenery. Used it to see Cape Meares Lighthouse and followed it south to where it rejoined 101.

One of the most beautiful drives anywhere!!! Coupled with quirky Pacific City on the south, makes for a magical day!

The 3 Capes Scenic Drive is a must do for any visitor. Whether it's one way or round trip, it's an easy part day drive with spectacular views and interesting sights. The highlights are the Cape Mears Lighthouse and The Octopus Tree.

If nothing else, at least make sure you stop at Cape Meares and hike to the Big Spruce and the Octopus Tree. Big Spruce trail not really marked but worth going in and seeing the giant tree and all the trees in there…it’s the first trailhead when you first pull into Cape Meares scenic area. The Octopus Tree is amazing too. The whole drive is pretty but if limited in time just do the stops on the end…as it took us a couple hours I think to do the whole drive with the stops we made. Also don’t miss Cape Kiwanda…beautiful beach! There is a market across the street from the beach with fudge, Tillamook ice cream and a fresh seafood counter as well as any souveniers you might want. Worth a stop. If you plan to tour the Tillamook cheese factory, do that before you do the drive so you don’t have to backtrack…we made that mistake and missed the cheese factory entirely. But the natural beauty to me is better than touring a cheese factory…just depends on what you’re looking for.

Please share with your readers that Cape Meares Loop Road is closed at MP 1 to MP 2.5 due to a slide.

Each of the three capes offers amazing views of the coast from different perspetives - and are a very efficient way to get a feel for the beauty of the Oregon coast if you don't have a lot of time. We only had one day to drive up the coast before heading back to Portland, and found that we could easily stop at all three Capes and enjoy the views, as well as check out the lighthouse at Cape Meares, and it only took 2-3 hours. The fact that the road is blocked after the Tillamook end isn't really a big deal, it is a pretty short detour to backtrack and continue on the road heading north, and shouldn't deter you from checking out all three. Definitely worth making the stop if you're working your way up the coast.

We tried to drive the whole route but when we were there part of the route was closed, so we had to do a detour. Such a hardship when the scenery is so stunning. Wonderful views from almost every angle. Don't try to rush it just take your time and see what nature has conjoured up and you won't be disappointed.

We found out about this scenic drive because of our Oregon Coastal Access Guidebook and were so glad we took the extra time to do this instead of staying on US 101.

Along this scenic drive is the spectacular Three Arches Rocks and Haystack Rock and the beautiful Cape Meares State Park. Cape Meares State Park contains the famous Octopus Tree, which is a famous sitka tree that branches off into all different directions. It also has a lighthouse along with spectacular coastal cliff views.

This drive is about 40 miles and it took us about three hours along with stops. The drive starts in Cape Kiwanda if you are coming Northbound on US 101 and Tillamook if you are coming Southbound on US 101.

I'm surprised that none of the reviews have mentioned that the loop road has been closed nearer the Tillamook end due to a landslide. Repairs have been delayed due to the lack of County funds and I'm still not sure the road has been reopened so you should check before driving the Loop. When open I highly recommend it!

This is one of best coastal drives in Oregon. Don't miss it!

We thoroughly enjoyed this lovely drive along the North Coast! Each stop offers some hiking or beach walks, as well as views of numerous seabirds, offshore islands, and marine mammals. We enjoyed identifying the birds and wildlife off each of the Capes, as well as spotting sea lions on the Three Arches and in Netarts Bay. There are small stores and food places along the way, and we stopped at the Jacobson Salt works as well. A lovely day at the coast!

We were generally a little disappointed by the tour but the highlight was Cape Meares lighthouse-it was excellent, free tour and great views. Cape Lookout seemed to have some nice camping and hikes but the southern sections seemed to take more time than they were worth. Meares light was great-must see-but consider returning to Tillamook and moving on down to Yakina lighthouse unless you're planning to hike around Cape Lookout. Road north of Meares if closed.

We took this drive today and it was very pretty, if you like a stormy day. Most all businesses were closed for the season, so we didn't stop anywhere.

We took the short route because we didn't know the road ended at Cape Meares. Nonetheless, the views at the Cape were breathtaking!

Itz an amazing drive from Cape KIwanda to Cape Meares light house... Cape kiwanda is an awesome place and will feel good on a sunny day... and coming to cape lookout trail has three different trails we went for a 2.4 mile trail which is awesome... and the view from that cliff of the remaining capes is worth spending ur time... and finaly Cape meares light house woud be best place to see sunset...
Finally worth spending ur time in visiting all these places and definitely nice scenic drive...

The road is a bit rough in spots, yes, and a lot of it is inland, yes, but I thought it was worth it. If u stop at each beach or view, it doesn't matter if u can't see the view the entire tim ur driving. Heck, if I were looking at ocean entire time I would probably crash. I love country drives. Munson creek falls is not on this route as someone previously stated, it is south of tillamook on highway, look for signs which is def a site to see, but not part of this scenic bypass.

It's a scenic drive only if you have a clear sunny day. Cape Meares has its Lighthouse, a cute little one. Cape Lookout is not that spectacular. The cape we liked most was Cape Kiwanda, the last cape of the Three Capes Scenic Drive if you're driving south.

Try this scenic drive off HWY 101! Beatiful views and Cape Meares Lighthouse hike. Cape Lookout State Park for camping. Lunch or dinner at the Pelican Pub in Cape Kiwanda is worth the drive. Some bumpy spots in the road so you should love adventure!

Taking this beautiful scenic route is a lot better than just driving along Hwy 101. Make sure you allow enough time to explore the different parks along the way. I missed calculated how much time was needed and was only able to visit the Cape Lookout area which was great, but I especially wanted to see Cape Meares State Park with its lighthouse. Oh well, maybe next time we vacation on the Oregon Coast I might get to see it.

A nice drive that we did during our 8 day tour of the Oregon Coast. It was beautiful. Don't miss the views and the lighthouse.

This is a must do if driving the Oregon coast. Adds such beautiful scenery to your route, with interesting stops along the way.

Lovely coastal day drive as you'll want to stop at various places along the way, especially Cape Kiwanda and Cape Lookout.

Note you can now only drive as far as the little lighthouse at Cape Mears as road is closed indefinitely, which means you can't drive any longer as a loop.

Also there are limited restaurants and cafes on this route so expect to have to wait for a table in the majority of places, or be prepared by packing a picnic and choosing your spot.

We did this from the south. At the end after Cape Meares Lighthouse the road to Tillamook is closed and you have to double back through Netarts. Definitely stop for a beer at the Pelican Brewpub in Pacific City and hike to Cape Lookout.

We drove this route on a recent trip to the Oregon Coast. While the road is at times a little rough (watch for potholes as you go), the views are incredible.

I really liked Pacific City -- we stopped there briefly on our way north to see their version of Haystack Rock, and grab a coffee. The rock is spectacular -- and the area is much, much less crowded than Cannon Beach. Lots of surfing, beautiful beach scenery, and great tasting coffee at Stimulus Espresso Cafe, right across the street from the Pelican Pub and Brewery.

Another highlight of this drive was our stop at the Cape Meares scenic viewpoint. This was incredible -- from the massive Octopus Tree, to the stunning views on either side -- this is definitely a good place to stop, stretch your legs, and drink in your surroundings.

Though the road was a little rough in places, I wouldn't have wanted to miss the places we visited on this drive. Just take your time & enjoy!

The beauty of the scenery in this area is unrivaled! The ocean and tree dripping with moss..... Ahhhh, I just love it! Cape Kiwanda often has surfers and there is a great little brewery there. The Cape in Pacific City has a tunnel that you can go through at low tide. And Cape Meares has the lighthouse and a great area to walk around.

Gorgeous views of course. We didn't see an indication for this drive by the way. Found it ourselves though.

We spent the whole day driving around the coast and this was the last one on our list. Terrible idea! We were completely tired and it was a long drive along the three capes. There were some lookout points that we stopper at that had gorgeous views. Even the beaches were amazing. Please plan time around it. There are even hikes along the way.

Was driving up 101 from California and decided we had the time to make this side trip. It was worth it. It wasn't crowded and provided a nice area for parking and getting out and walking the short trails. Got some nice pictures too. If you have the extra time i recommend the trip. It only takes an hour at most to walk the trails and enjoy the area. Stay longer if you choose.

While heading south from Portland to Bandon Dunes we took a short detour on the Three Capes loop. Breathtaking. Well worth the time. Stop at as many vistas as you can. But be sure you hit the Lighthouse.

We went north to south and thoroughly enjoyed the drive. There are several waysides where you can pull off for a longer look at some gorgeous scenery. Cape Meares Park is definitely worth the walk to the lighthouse. And dinner at the Pelican Brewery will give you a nice view of Cape Kiwanda if you don't want to walk the dunes yourself.

We drove the Three Capes road in October 2013. It is closed just north of Cape Meares lighthouse (the lighthouse is open), so the entire northern section is closed. It has been closed since January 2013.

Overall, there are probably only about 30% to 40% ocean views along this route. The few ocean viewpoints are spectacular, but there simply are not many of them. There is a nice stopping point along Netarts Bay.

But if you are looking for breathtaking views around every corner - you won't find them on this route. For that you need to drive Highway 101 along the southern Oregon coast south of Port Orford!

We drove from the south to the north. Pacific City is pleasant enough. If you have time, stop at the beach by the pub where there is a great view of "the other" Haystack Rock. Then the road goes inland. You'll see trees, but no ocean views.

The road goes up a hill, and you will get a sweeping view of Tierra del Mar. That is pretty but there are no turnouts to stop to enjoy it. We took a short side trip to Whalen Island and there are some nice views of the estuary from there.

The road again goes inland a bit, and the scenery is small farms, trees, pastures and houses scattered along the road. No ocean views.

Up a hill again and you reach the boundary of Cape Lookout State Park. If you go into the park itself, you will see the ocean and you can walk on the beach. There are hiking trails all through here. The road, though, is in trees until you reach . . .
Anderson's Viewpoint.

Now this view is *spectacular*! The viewpoint is named in honor of Billy Anderson, Tillamook County surveyor. There is a brass plaque and surveyor tripod placed there.

Next, you'll see Netarts Bay. This is another one of the highlights of the route as the road goes right alongside the bay. We stopped at a turnout to enjoy the view and utilize the convenient porta-potty there.

From here, you'll go through tiny Netarts and then into Oceanside. Both are scenic. Oceanside has a nice day use park where we stopped and walked around a bit. The tide was high so we didn't try to go through the tunnel!

Oceanside is very compact and tight. If you are driving an RV of some sort, the day use park is okay for a smallish motorhome or pickup/small trailer, but there is *not* enough room for big rigs!

North of Oceanside, there are some nice views of the ocean, then you're back in the trees, going up the hill to Cape Meares. Once there, if you take the time to walk around, the views are gorgeous. You really can't see the ocean from the road, though.

The road is closed just a few feet north of the Cape Meares access road. So we turned around and drove south back to Netarts, then took Hwy 131 inland to Tillamook.

Is it worth it? Hard to say, but if you're driving all the way south along the coast, it would be a definite *no*, in my opinion. If you are visiting only the north coast, well, perhaps it's worth the couple of hours to drive it.

There is no estimated date as to when the road will be completely open again. The repairs will be extensive and expensive and most certainly will not even be started until late spring of 2014 at the earliest.

This route is best driven from the South to the North. The road signs are clearer in that direction. Starting In the still tiny coastal town of Pacific City. Plenty of hotels for families and B&B's for couples, great spots to eat, Twist wine bar and the brewery. Cape Kiawanda is the first Cape, make sure you climb up to the top.

Next stop in Cape Lookout. The trail at the summit is 2.4 miles out into the ocean. The end is not the exciting part, it's the trail through the rain forest. Make sure you have boots that can get muddy, there is only a few days of the year that the trail is dry, rain forest, remember?

The Schooner in Netarts is another good place to stop. Awesome deck and a bowl of chowder.

Next is Oceanside. Walk out onto the beach and at low tide, there is a tunnel you can walk through the headland.

If you only get out of the car once, Cape Meares is the place. Paved road trail down to the lighthouse which is only 2 stories, but on a 300 foot cliff. When returning, take the trail to the right along the fence line, not the pave road. Both trail are protected from the wind by trees. Visit the octopus tree too.

Follow the road along the route to Tillamook Bay. the route takes a right, but take a left and visit the beach at the town of Cape Meares. Rocky and full of logs and storm debris.

Back to Tillamook, highway 101, Creamery is to the North of town and the Air Museum to the South, both good for rainy days.

Roads along the cape are not great, just drive the speed limit and watch, the right track of your tires is the worst. Bicycles should go from the North to the South as the summer wind is already going that direction.

First of all this is no longer an actual loop due to erosion of a portion of the highway to Cape Meares. There is some backtracking, but not bad. We stopped at the Cape Meares Lighthouse and and walked to the Octopus tree. The view from the lighthouse was lovely and the octopus tree was certainly unique but there are soooo many really magnificent views along the coast that(cape foulweather, cape perpetua) comparatively this just wasn't as good. We didn't have time to do the Cape Lookout Hike, which I think might have been the best of this loop because the drive really wasn't all that great.

This scenic drive is nice. It passes lighthouses and beaches. You can go through the tunnel at a higher tide and still access the beach at Oceanside. The beach here has sand and rock. Agates are easily found. I have a photo of my ancestors mining here circa 1900.

Heading north on 101, the highway leaves the coast around Pacific City as it heads inland to Tillamook. There are many places on the Three Capes Drive that are worth a visit. There are the three Capes: Meares, Lookout, and Kiwanda. Each of these has a nice park area offering beach opportunities and hiking. The small bergs of Oceanside, Netarts, and Pacific City offer chances for shopping and eating.

If you are on highway 101 south of Tillamook or north of Lincoln City, Oregon, then you MUST take the Three Capes Scenic Drive Coming from the south heading north the first cape you will see is Cape Kiwanda, a sand stone cape being pounded into new shapes by the winter surf. It is the town of Pacific City that has all the action on this scenic drive. You can eat, drink, sleep and surf, swin, and even go out with the dory fleet and come back with all the fish you are allowed to catch. You even get to land directly on the beach through the surf. Totally awesome experiences await you in Pacific City.
Further up the road is the little settlement of Tierra del Mar. No services. Just beautiful beaches for beach combing. A little further up the road is the Sand Lake Estuary. One of only 2 virgin estuaries in the entire state of Oregon. And here is nature at its best. Whalen island offers camping and Clay Meyers Natural Area offers hiking opportunities. You can launch your water craft into the waters of the estuary from here. At low tide, the mud flats abound with clams. During the flowing tide try your hand at crabbing for Dungeness. My cabin sits on 4 acres with a front row view of the mouth of the estuary and Cape Lookout. The Sand Lake Off Road Recreational Vehicle Area and Campground is just a bit further up the road. Cape Lookout is great for hiking. Once you get to the end of the cape you can see for miles in both directions along the coast. Way up the road is finally Cape Meares. Check out the lighthouse and the octopus tree. Don't forget to stop in to visit the quaint little beach front communities of Netarts, Oceanside, and Happy Camp. Plan to spend atleast a day exploring this rare gem along the beautiful Oregon coast.