The OCT in 28 days

This is it; the start of the OCT on  wide, long Clatsop Beach (the widest beach on the OCT, but not the longest)

Maybe you really don’t want to hike 20-mile days on the Oregon Coast Trail (see last post). Maybe it’s not supposed to be such a grind. Maybe you don’t plan to do the whole thing anyway. And you’re willing—nay, eager—to stay in a motel now and then. Try this 28-day itinerary that’s something like 10-15 miles/day (I think). It requires some lodging other than camping. Here I include only legal campsites (scofflaws have more options, though not necessarily better options). I leave it to you to figure actual daily mileage (with help from my Day Hiking: Oregon Coast).

NEXT UP: Gonna take a shot at a 10-miles-a-day itinerary, which will lean toward inn-to-inn and cab rides to avoid road stretches. Slackpacking, I believe it's called. Yum.

D1. McMennamin’s Sand Trap

D2. Backpacker’s camp on Tillamook Head

D3. An inn in Arch Cape (there are two)

D4. Nehalem Bay State Park

D5. Barview County Park or primitive camping at the end of Bayocean Spit

D6. Cape Lookout State Park

D7. Webb County Park at Cape Kiwanda

Detour out to the end of Cape Lookout for this view. 

D8. Devil’s Lake State Park (or a motel in Lincoln City)

D9. Motel in Depoe Bay

D10. South Beach State Park

D11. Beachside State Park or motel in Waldport

D12. Cape Perpetua Scenic Area campground

D13. Washburne State Park

D14. Harbor Vista County Park

Bunches of seals lounging at the mouth of the Siltcoos

D15. On the beach near Siuslaw River or inland 1 mile to Carter Lake CG

D16. End of Umpqua Spit

D17. Bluebill Campground

D18. Sunset Bay State Park

D19. On the beach near 7 Devils State Recreation Site

D20. Bullards Beach State Park or motel in Bandon

D21. Bivouac at New River site or go all the way to Boice Cope County Park at Floras Lake

Heading back out on the OCT after a night at Boice Cope County Park

D22. Cape Blanco State Park

D23. Humbug Mountain State Park

D24. Camp on beach north of Gold Beach, or motel in Gold Beach (and get a ride on the road portions of this day's route)

D25. On the beach north of Myers Creek? At Crook Point?

D26. Whaleshead Beach Resort

D27. Harris Beach State Park

D28. Finish it off!