Trail Guide to the God’s Thumb Hike on the Oregon Coast

About the God’s Thumb Hike

Here’s what you need to know before you hit the trail!

God’s Thumb Hike Stats

Distance: 4.7 mile loop
Elevation Gain: 1,102 feet
Difficulty: moderate

Leave No Trace on the God’s Thumb Trail

Anytime you’re outdoors, whether you’re a beginner hiker or an experienced adventurer, it’s essential that you practice Leave No Trace (LNT). LNT is a set of seven principles that help us understand our impact on the outdoors – because while we usually have good intentions, the environment is more fragile than we think, and one snap-second decision can cause damage to the environment that will take the earth years, even decades to repair.

Leave No Trace means enjoying the outdoors without disrupting nature, as much as it’s possible to do so. Here are the 7 principles of LNT, and how they apply when you hike the God’s Thumb trail!

• Plan ahead and prepare – read this guide, make sure you know have the right gear, and be prepared for mud and rain.
• Travel and camp on durable surfaces – stay on the trail to avoid trampling grasses and plants!
• Dispose of waste properly – don’t leave trash, or anything else, behind. Pack it out!
• Leave what you find – I know it can be tempting to take a cool rock or leaf, but leave these things where they belong! Animals often use these, and if everyone takes one, the trail won’t be as pretty.
• Minimize campfire impacts – no campfires are allowed on the trail.
• Respect wildlife – avoid feeding or approaching birds or any other animals you might see.
• Be considerate of other visitors – yield to uphill hikers, and be respectful – no speakers or loud music.

The Best Time to Hike the God’s Thumb Trail

The most popular time to hike this trail is in the summer, but I think the best time to hike it is spring, or fall! God’s Thumb is a pretty secluded spot, but it’s gaining popularity – in the off season, there will be fewer people around, so while you’ll definitely need to be prepared for rain and it might be a little chillier, having the views to yourself is worth it! Be aware that this hike is really muddy – good traction is a must.

God’s Thumb Trailhead

There’s one thing that’s super important to know about the God’s Thumb trailhead – there used to be a shorter trail that started at NE Logan Road, but this trail is private property and no longer open for public access. There has been some confusion about it, as some people believe you can hike this way if you park your car at the beach down the road (instead of in front of the residential homes on NE Logan Road). This used to be true (or at least it wasn’t explicitly not allowed), but it’s no longer the case – the trail itself is closed to the public! Please respect private property, and don’t try to go this way.

But, there are three different trailheads where you can park for the God’s Thumb hike now! You’ll see them all on the map below. If you’re doing the hike as a loop, I recommend the southernmost trailhead – it’ll get the uphill parts out of the way so you don’t have to do it at the end! The other two trailheads are in a residential area, and the parking lots are somewhat small, so on a busy day you may need to go to the bigger one located at the end of NE Devils Lake Blvd.

God’s Thumb Trailhead Coordinates: 45.01088, -123.99773

Hiking the God’s Thumb Trail

Once you’ve parked and you’re ready to begin, here’s what you can expect when you do the God’s Thumb hike!

This hike can be done as a loop, or as an out and back trail – I like the loop because it gives you some variety, and is only 0.4 miles longer. I recommend going clockwise, because you’ll see The Knoll on your way up!

If you parked at the southernmost trailhead, you’ll go on a short trail next to the parking lot (not the big one with the sign – look for a narrower trail in the bushes) for a little bit, then you’ll come to the second parking area on a gravel road. You’ll walk up the gravel road, which goes past some houses – there’s not much to see here, but take a minute to appreciate how not-muddy this part is :).

Soon, you’ll come to a third parking area, and walk a little past there. You’ll see the official beginning of the trail to The Knoll, marked with a sign and a gate.

Just walk around the gate, and you’re on the trail! It’s pretty steep from the beginning, and soon you’ll come to The Knoll. There’s a little trail to your left that looks really steep, and it’s kind of hard to tell if it is a trail – having a map of the trail is really helpful here! You could skip The Knoll and just continue up the path, but it’s worth a stop. Take the steep left and make your way uphill! This is where it starts to get muddy, so hiking boots with good traction are extra important on the God’s Thumb hike.

You’ll climb out of the forest and out onto this grassy hill that overlooks the ocean. It’s gorgeous here, but nothing compared to the Thumb – keep going! The Knoll will also probably give you a little taste of how windy it’ll be at the end of the trail :).

As you continue uphill from The Knoll, you’ll walk through a peaceful forest – the tall trees are often covered in a fog that makes everything feel even more quiet and magical.

Some parts of this trail are on private property – but whoever owns it allows public access, so make sure to respect the land and keep it that way! Access can be revoked anytime, which is likely what happened to the trail from Logan Road.

You’ll see fork in the trail, with the left side going uphill and the right side going down – go left to continue to God’s Thumb! The other way is part of the loop, so you can take it on your way down.

The trail only gets muddier, and soon you’ll come to an open meadow – elk sometimes hang out here, so keep an eye out! Soon afterwards, you’ll climb up to another open area, and just beyond the hill you’ll get your first glimpse of God’s Thumb.

Once you’re at the top of the ridge, you’ll come down to get to the Thumb. This part was probably the hardest – it was steep and muddy, and getting down was a challenge!

Once you’re down in the meadow, you can see the sea stacks and rocks down below, and you can also climb to the top of the Thumb, which is very steep but very worth it! The top is windy, so hold onto your hat.

The views here are really unbelievable.

When you’re ready to go back (or had enough of the wind), make sure to take the same trail out! There are a few other trails that connect at the bottom, but these will lead you away from where you came from.

Head back to the trailhead, and enjoy the downhill!

Where to Stay Near the God’s Thumb Hike

You can turn your hike into a little getaway, and stay somewhere close by! Here are my favorite options for places to stay close to this trail.

Glamping, Cabins, & Yurts

For a unique place to stay during your trip, check out Hipcamp! It’s like Airbnb for campsites – and you can find yurts (like this one near the Oregon Coast), cabins, glamping sites, and more. 

You can even get $10 off your first booking here!

A Camper van

With a camper van, you get a vehicle and a place to sleep, all in one! This is my favorite way to travel, and you can rent a fully decked out van with Escape Campervans. Another option is to use Outdoorsy, which is more like Airbnb – you can rent vans, RVs, and trailers from people who live nearby!

Find a Campsite

Whether you car camp, tent camp, or rent a tiny home on wheels, The Dyrt is the best way to find campsites! There are some options for campsites close by. Under an hour from the trailhead, you’ll find national forest land – which means you can camp for free!

There are lots options for free camping near the trail – for tips on finding the best ones, check out this guide.

An Oceanfront Home

If you’re on the Oregon Coast, stay somewhere with a view of the ocean! Here are a few options for oceanfront stays.

What to Bring to Hike the God’s Thumb Trail

When you hike the God’s Thumb trail, here’s what you’ll need to bring! To see all of my favorite gear picks, you can check out my Rockporch.

What to Wear to Explore the Oregon Coast

• Sun Shirt – this is my favorite thing to wear on hikes, as it provides sun protection while keeping you cool. I like the Mountain Hardware Crater Lake Hoodie, and the REI Sahara Shade Hoodie.
• Hiking Pants – I love the REI Trailmade Shorts and usually hike in them, but if you’re hiking in the cold, or want protection from bugs, I recommend the Trailmade Pants.
• Layers – it can definitely get chilly, so a lightweight windbreaker or a fleece is a good idea. For cold weather hikes, a down jacket will keep you warm. Rain is also really common here, so make sure to bring a rain jacket.
• Hiking Shoes – I prefer hiking in sandals and usually hike in my Chacos, but boots are a good idea if you need more ankle support. I love my Danner boots!
• Socks – I love the Darn Tough socks whether I’m wearing sandals or boots. They’re wool, so they stay warm even when wet, and have some padding that’s extra comfy for long days on the trail!

What to Bring to Day Hike on the Oregon Coast

• Backpack – you’ll need a backpack for water and snacks. I use a Gregory Nano 18 Hydration Pack for day hikes.
• Water – water is a must, always – and bring more than you think you need. The Gregory backpack comes with a 3L reservoir, which I usually bring, along with a Nalgene water bottle that I put electrolytes in.
• Sunscreen – no matter the time of year, make sure to protect yourself from the sun.
• Headlamp – if you want to get an early start, or stay to watch the sunset, make sure to bring a headlamp. It’s also a good idea to always bring one just in case!
• Trekking Poles – hiking with poles can help with stability, and can be especially helpful if you have knee pain going downhill.

More Adventures Near the God’s Thumb Hike

God’s Thumb is under two hours from Cannon Beach, so you can also check out places like Oswald West State Park for more hikes! For more of the best hikes on the Oregon Coast, check out this guide.

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