Indigenous history is told on Yachats hiking trails. Here’s where to find them

Wildflowers grow along the 804 Trail, a path that runs along the Pacific Ocean on the west side of Yachats on the central Oregon coast. (Jamie Hale/Jamie Hale/The Oregonian)

Indigenous history is alive and well in Yachats, and learning it is as easy as a walk in the woods.

Thanks to collaborations among tribes, residents and government agencies, trails in the central coast town have transformed into showcases of local Indigenous culture as part of an effort to highlight the people who originally inhabited the area.

Credit is owed to the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians and local nonprofit View the Future, which worked with the City of Yachats, U.S. Forest Service and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department on the various trails projects.

Those involved in the collaborations described the process as deeply healing, particularly for the Indigenous residents of the area. Between 1860 and 1876, their ancestors faced starvation and abuse at the hands of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which imprisoned them at the Alsea Sub-agency, a section of the former Coast Indian Reservation, in what is today known as Yachats.

That unvarnished history is on prominent display at the Amanda Trail, which connects Yachats to Cape Perpetua, and the Ya’Xaik Trail, a short walking path on the other side of town. Both connect to the 804 Trail, which follows an old Indigenous walking path alongside the ocean.

All three trails offer an opportunity to explore both history and the natural environment on this beautiful stretch of the Oregon coast.

AMANDA TRAIL

Perhaps the crown jewel of Yachats’ sprawling trail system, the Amanda Trail runs through a dense coastal forest between downtown Yachats and the top of Cape Perpetua.

The 7.4-mile out-and-back hike starts at Yachats Ocean Road State Natural Site. From the parking lot, walk south down Yachats Ocean Road until it meets up with U.S. 101. Turn right and follow a footpath on the west side of the highway. At Windy Way, cross the highway and continue on a trail on the other side.

Cross the driveway of the Ocean Creek Bed and Breakfast to go back into the forest, where the path becomes a bit clearer. After a brief walk up a gravel driveway, the trail continues down to the Amanda statue clearing. Go down to visit the statue and read Amanda’s story. When you’re done, backtrack to cross the suspension bridge, which leads to the last stretch of the trail: a 2.2-mile climb to the stone shelter at the summit of Cape Perpetua.

YA’XAIK TRAIL

Found on the north side of town, the Ya’Xaik Trail (pronounced YAH-khik, with a gargled h on the second syllable) is a short, forested hike that focuses on the Indigenous history of the area. While the short trail can easily be done as an out-and-back excursion, many hikers opt to do it as a loop with other connecting paths.

From its start behind the Fisterra Gardens Townhomes at the end of Diversity Drive, the trail runs 1.1 miles through Siuslaw National Forest land where signs inform visitors of the history. The trail ends at the beginning a short, public pathway through the private Gerdemann Botanic Preserve. That path pops out at a group of art galleries alongside U.S. 101, most of which are open daily.

Hikers can then continue across the highway toward the Overleaf Lodge and find the 804 Trail, or turn left and walk 600 feet along the broad shoulder of the east side of the highway back to the start.

804 TRAIL

A perfect sunset walk, the 804 Trail follows the coastline on the northwest side of town, running 1.7 miles between Yachats State Recreation Area and a sandy stretch of beach that goes all the way to Waldport. Originally opened in 1990, the trail follows an old pioneer road that is thought to have been built over an older Indigenous walking trail. One highlight of the walk is Smelt Sands State Recreation Site, where people have been catching smelt salmon for untold generations.

Start the trail by walking north from Yachats State Recreation Area, following a path on the west side of Ocean View Drive. In half a mile, turn right onto Marine Drive and make a quick left onto a connector path to Aqua Vista Loop. Look for a sign on the left that leads to a path out toward the ocean, then go right to follow the coastline north and cross the lawn behind the Adobe Resort to find a path to Smelt Sands. Follow the path another .6 miles to the sandy beach, just across Perch Street.

— Jamie Hale

503-294-4077; jhale@oregonian.com; @HaleJamesB