Neahkahnie Mountain Hike

The Neahkahnie Mountain Hike is one of the highest points on the west coast. The panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean are worth the effort to hike the moderate trail to the top. Make sure to add Neahkahnie Mountain trail to your hiking list for a fun-filled adventure day!

The weather in the Pacific Northwest has been unexpectedly beautiful this last week with temps reaching the low 80’s. Kieran and I took full advantage and drove to the coast for another amazeballs adventure day! We hiked Neahkahnie Mountain which is one of the highest points on the west coast.

Kieran and I have officially turned into pretentious asswipes.  We find ourselves having conversations like, Should we hike on the mountain, near majestic waterfalls, or on the coast? What’s that? The mountain trails are too icy? Boo, I guess we’ll hike on the coast. These are the types of problems we Portlanders have to deal with on a weekly basis. Yes, I know. I kinda want to punch me in the face too #portlandproblems

I would have preferred to hike on Mt. Hood but the trails I researched required snowshoes. Neither Kieran or I felt like snowshoeing after enduring a wet and soggy winter and spring. We wanted to bask in the sun which steered our decision towards hiking near the ocean. Especially since the forecast at the coast was clear skies. It’s normally overcast at the coast so striking while the sun iron is hot was crucial.

The weather didn’t disappoint as we pulled into the North Neahkahnie Mountain trail parking lot. In fact, we peeled off layers of clothing almost immediately after ascending the trail! We figured the coast would produce a chilly wind, so we dressed accordingly, but we quickly learned we overdressed. No matter! We stuffed the extra layers into our packs and continue trudging along.

The Neahkahnie Mountain hike wasn’t as arduous as Dog Mountain but it still posed challenges due to the trail’s natural obstacles like exposed tree roots, rocks, and mud. We couldn’t walk 5 feet without potentially tripping over or slipping on something. I’m blind in my left eye which means my depth perception can be wonky. I hiked slowly, due to my eyesight, but your average hiker could probably travel the terrain with ease. Our eyes (or in my case, eye) were focused on the trail but we’d stop frequently to soak in the scenery.

Even though the elevation gain of Neahkahnie Mountain is no joke, looming over 2K feet, it was more gradual making it less painful than Dog Mountain. Dog Mountain’s elevation gain was relentless and unforgiving while Neahkahnie Mountain’s is less grueling. But don’t get me wrong, this hike is rated as moderate for a good reason. This hike means business. Hiking 6.3 miles with an elevation gain of 2,122 feet, over rocky and muddy terrain is strenuous.

Check out our video below:

Neahkahnie Mountain Hike Specs:
Numerous trails lead to the mountain and some are longer than others. We hiked the North Neahkahnie Mountain trail.

Pros: Panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean
Cons: Crowded. See trail condition
Parking Pass: None
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Total Distance: 6.3 miles
Hike Type: Out & Back
Elevation Gain: 2,122 ft
Trail Condition: It’s covered with exposed tree roots and rocks which can be tricky to navigate if you’re a beginner. Muddy in the winter and spring
Family Friendly: No – we only saw 2 small children on this hike
Backpackable: No
Crowded: Yes
Dogs allowed: Yes

Gear List:
Daypack/backpack
Camelbacks which hold 3L of water
Trekking Poles
First aid kit
Map of area
*Emergency supplies: lighter, utility knife, back up cell phone, rope, duck tape, emergency poncho, headlamp, back up batteries

Clothing and Food List:
Top: Layers of non-cotton clothing: a t-shirt and a thin long sleeve shirt topped with my windbreaker. I carried an extra sweatshirt in my pack.
Bottom: Noncotton workout pants topped with a thin pair of waterproof pants
Hiking boots
Wool socks (I layer a thin pair of ankle high socks over wool socks. That way, when I walk, the socks rub against each other instead of causing friction against my skin)
Baseball cap with a knit hat on top
Gloves which I kept in my pack.
I keep an extra t-shirt and an extra pair of shoes in the car in the event my hiking boots got muddy.
**Food: apples, tangerines, sandwiches, 2 kinds of trail mix, and food for Homie.

*Even on easy hikes we always carry emergency supplies so we’re safe, not sorry.

**We try and bring 2 days of food with us in case we get caught in a situation that keeps us on the trail longer than expected (getting lost, avalanche, fire, bad weather ect)

The panoramic views at the top of the Neahkahnie Mountain Hike will stop you dead in your tracks. The ocean is far enough away it almost doesn’t look real! Regardless, the view is mesmerizing. It puts into perspective how vast and expansive the Pacific Ocean is. The view quite literally makes you feel like you’re on top of the world and at the same time demonstrates how insufficient we truly are in the grand scheme of things.

The top of Neahkahnie Mountain is rocky but you’ll find several nooks and crannies within the rock formation where you can plop down and enjoy the view. Unfortunately, Homie was uneasy because she couldn’t comfortably lie down. We enjoyed the view but didn’t stay long because poor Homie was whining and her back legs were shaking. We ventured back down the trail and found a flat section where we could all sit down and eat lunch.

Like most hikes we’ve tackled, coming back down the mountain is harder than expected. We couldn’t simply walk on the trail. We constantly had to maneuver around the rocks, mud and exposed trees roots. I continually slipped on muddy rocks making it difficult to stay upright. My hiking poles helped ensure I kept sure-footed on the uneasy path. But holy freaking moly, exerting that much energy on a repeated basis wore my body out.

Kieran and I regularly check in with each other on the trail in order to keep safe. Safety is our number one priority during a hike. We routinely stop to drink water and hydrate. Our clothes are either piled on and peeled off as temperatures fluctuate. We rest whenever one or both of us feel fatigued. Kieran is my knight in hiking armor because he’s always there to lend a hand if I’m struggling with my footing. All in all, we work together as a team which results in us both having a safe and amazing time.

We drove the 2 hours back to Portland and face planted into beer… you know… the usual. There is nothing like the reward of an ice cold IPA after a long 5-hour hike. Its bitter yet refreshing hops washed over our lips as we reminisced about the beauty our eyeballs (or in my case, eyeball) absorbed. You experience euphoria after a hike and our euphoria was in full swing. Throughout the rest of the day, Kieran and I beamed and made googly eyes at each other. We stole the occasional kiss while professing our love to one another. Yes, I know. I kinda want to punch me in the face too #sicklyinlovecoupleproblems

We are not sure where our next adventure day will lead us but you best believe we’re excited to find out.

Alright dear readers, that’s a wrap on the Neahkahnie Mountain Hike post. If you live in or plan to visit the PNW, be sure to add this hike to your adventure list. This hike makes you work but believe me, the epic views are worth it. Once again I’m not entirely sure what I’m sharing next week but I promise to make it as entertaining as possible.

Thank you for being apart of the Shock Munch community, I appreciate you!

Sincerely,
Christina

Do you like this post? You DO?!! Thank you, that’s freaking awesome! Are there any hikes you want me and Kieran to tackle? Please let me know by leaving a comment below! If you like our recipes, hiking adventures, and projects you can follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and/or Instagram!

You can also visit my YouTube channel! If you like the video please give it a thumbs up and subscribe for more content!

Want to add this hike to your adventure list? Pin it for later!