( Coastal Living ) -- Visitors love driving Oregon 's coast , but it 's a shame not to get out and hike the stunning landscape , too . Here are several trails to get you started . Explore forested headlands , tour tide pools or stroll the beach barefoot on some of the Pacific Northwest 's best coastal trails . Ecola State Park area , near Cannon Beach . Novice explorers can trek along the Pacific on Clatsop Loop Trail , a two-mile historical interpretive route in Ecola State Park that leads travelers in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark . More seasoned hikers might want to drive the extra miles to Tillamook State Forest for the Kings Mountain Trail , known for panoramic views and wildflower meadows . But be warned : Hikers must endure a 2,546-foot elevation gain in two and a half miles to enjoy the stunning mountain scenes . Devil 's Punch Bowl , near Depoe Bay . Formed by the collapsed roof of two sea caves , this `` punch bowl '' features dramatic water displays that are definitely worth the hike . An easy walk down Beverly Beach and a cliff-climbing staircase leads to the nature-carved basin . Spend the day exploring extensive tide pools , then amble back over to the bowl to witness the wildly churning waves that accompany high tide . The area also promises whale watching and birding . Seaside accommodations are within walking distance at The Inn at Otter Crest . Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and environs , near North Bend . Wind-sculpted dunes , a sparkling blue freshwater lake , and a historic lighthouse all await visitors here . Set aside a day for roaming the path at William M. Tugman State Park , which circles Eel Lake and its many inlets , and expect a few wildlife encounters along the way . The nearby Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area contains the largest coastal sand piles in North America and offers an array of arduous hiking opportunities . Travelers looking for a more laid-back excursion , however , can make their way to Umpqua Lighthouse State Park for relaxing walks and a glimpse of the 65-foot tower known for its distinctive red-and-white flash . CoastalLiving.com : Oregon 's Perpetual Appeal . Columbia River Bar and Fort Stevens State Park , near Astoria . The Columbia River Bar has always been a navigational nightmare for sailors , and a hike beside the `` Graveyard of the Pacific '' will show you why . Pass by the shipwrecked remains of Peter Iredale , one of 2,000 ships that have sunk in this area , on your way to the viewing platform overlooking the jetty . For another slice of history , take a walking tour of Fort Stevens , or enjoy a scenic two-mile jaunt around the fort 's Coffenbury Lake . Humbug Mountain State Park , near Port Orford . Rising 1,756 feet over the Pacific , the forested peak of Humbug Mountain provides visitors with switchback trails and magnificent coastal vistas . Family-friendly paths , such as the paved Old Highway 101 Trail , wind through old-growth Douglas fir , Oregon myrtle , and Western red cedar and yield striking seaside views . Enter to win a monthly Room Makeover Giveaway from MyHomeIdeas.com . Copyright © Coastal Living , 2009 .
Devil 's Punch Bowl , near Depoe Bay , features dramatic water displays . Comment: Humbug Mountain , near Port Oxford , rises 1,756 feet over the Pacific .