Cape Mountain Road

Cape Mountain Road leads to a panoramic view of the north end of Oregon's Dune Coast, from a meadow high on 1488 foot Cape Mountain.  There is a horse camp, and 17 miles of horse trails in the Cape Mountain Trails network.  The road continues, connecting with the maze of National Forest Service roads through Oregon's Coast Range.

Cape Mountain Road is what the sign at the highway says; some maps show it as Herman Peak Road.  It's a narrow paved road that leaves the east side of US101 near milepost 182? north of Florence, Oregon.  It’s easy to mistake it for a driveway and whiz past it on the highway.  Watch for a brown sign indicating Oregon Coast Horse Trails.  Watch for horses on or near the road.

Cape Mountain Road climbs a forested ridge, sprouts gravel, and about three miles in passes Dry Lake Horse Camp.  Stop here for the view meadow walk.  Park near the entrance, and the trailhead.  The campground features a pit toilet, but no water or trash service.

A (mile-ish?) trail leads generally westward through the forest to a meadow with a nice view of the northern portion of Oregon’s Dune Coast.  It's worth the detour from the highway for this perspective.  Your view sweeps from the cape to the north across the stretch of dunes north of Florence, to the Siuslaw River and the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area to the south.