Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain Trail - North Trailhead — Attraction in Seaside

Killer hike with some excellent views of the ocean, and the town of Manzanita below you. Apparently there are two ways to reach Mt. Neahkianie, and this is a review of the N. Side. Which you access from the same pullout used for Elk Flats trailhead off of hwy 101. As soon as you cross the hwy you immediately start uphill along a fairly steep trail with quite a few switch backs along the way. Part of the trail appears to have fallen so just watch your steep when on the trail. The climb is fairly steep but you have some great views of the ocean to your left. After a bit you make your way into the woods, and the trail gets a bit tricky as there are a lot off tree roots all underfoot. Please be careful as wet roots are very slick and there is a good chance of slipping. On top of that the trail is not exactly flat, its more sloped at a angle so you might consider hiking poles or a walking stick, both items I didn't even think to bring with me. The trail continues uphill for a while through some beautiful woods, the sounds of the road no longer in your ears, with the woods all around you. The higher you go the more you begin to hear the birds around you. After a while you come to a open area that is suitable for a sack lunch or a good place to catch your breath. But the trail keeps beckoning you on, so my dogs and I kept going. The switch backs seem to lessen towards the top until you again reach a clearing, with a rock cliff on one side. A narrow trail underneath your feet and a long drop to the other side. We were almost to the top and continued on, we headed back into the wooda and I started to think I missed a turn towards the top when my dogs decided to help me out and show me the way. Continuing along a rocky path that you need carwfully choose your footing on we made it to the top. It is rocky and not to wide or long. But it gives you a great view of the town below and you can see the ocean as well. Its a good place to take in the view, and get ready for the tricky hike back down. Again please carefully choose your steps as I got tossed 4 times from the slick roots. Its a great hike and I saw no garbage at all along the trail until my dogs and I made it back to the parking area below. Take your time and allow yourself plenty of time as this one can be a dousy. Be...

This was a gorgeous hike on March 14th, 2018! I went up the north side which was a wonderful uphill trek that got my legs burning really good but didn’t exhaust me. You hit views pretty quickly going up either side, however having started our hike we (my dog and I) ran into a LOT of mist and fog that kept views from the stop a mystery. The fog itself was incredibly gorgeous though and I don’t think I would trade it for anything. At 9am I only saw one other hiker and it wasn’t until we got to the south end of the trail that we ran into a bunch more. Coming for the south end gets you to the top lookout much quicker so I believe it is more popular. I however found the north side to be the most magnificent! Pretty much all the photos I’m sharing here are from the north end. My iPhone health app said that I did 7 miles and climbed 120 flights of stairs....

Pretty steep trail almost all the way, with elevation gain of 1,450 feet. It’s 5 miles if out and back. Although it is possible to continue on through the southern part, it’s unclear how to get back as it’s not a loop. It’s easy to miss the very top (view point) as it is kind of on the side of the trail and requires a bit of climbing (ground and then a pile of rocks). Beginning of the trail has a lot of flowers and also provides a beautiful view of Cape Falcon before you enter woodland. The view is rewarding, but space is small and a bit awkward because of the rocks (tricky to have a small picnic, better to have some energy bars...