Thunder Rock Cove to Spruce Island Hike

The Oregon Coast Trail runs nearly uninterrupted for the entire length of the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, and there are many choices for those who want to hike a portion of this trail. One great segment is between the Thunder Cove and the Spruce Island parking areas. This segment has some excellent shoreline views, passes by Secret Beach and travels through some marvelous coastal forest along the way.

The trail can be taken in either direction, but when starting at Thunder Cove, be careful to stay to the right at the first fork and watch for the obscure wooden sign post about an eigth of a mile later that marks the right turn to stay on the coastal trail north (see photo). The other possible confusing place is at Secret Beach, where a wide, steep trail leads up to a parking area on Highway 1; the main trail stays along the bluff. There are a few waterfalls along the way, and the portion of the hike out and around Deer Point, near the Spruce Island end of the trail, has particularly stunning ocean scenery. There is a short steep section which descends to Miner Creek, but most of the hike is fairly flat. 

The Natural Bridges overlook is just a quarter of a mile south of Thunder Cove, so it is easy to check that popular viewpoint out while there.