Hike This Oregon Trail For A Slice Of World War II History
By Catherine Armstrong|Published July 31, 2019
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Catherine Armstrong
Author
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
It’s almost always a perfect day to go hiking in Oregon, so grab your hiking boots and backpack and hit a trail! There’s something here for hikers of every skill level, and you’ll find a variety of scenery all across the state. Did you know that there’s a hiking trail on the coast that features a remnant of World War II? Check out the Tillamook Head Trail:
The Tillamook Head Trail is a 6.3-mile out-and-back trail that's considered moderately difficult. You can access the trail from the Indian Beach Trailhead, or from the Tillamook Head Trailhead, shown here.
A temporary camp was once set up here, which housed as many as 100 men, and included barracks, a pump house, storeroom, and kitchen. The entire camp could be assembled and disassembled in just a few hours.
The bunker served its purpose well during the war, but now it sits abandoned in the forest. The entrances have been blocked off, so if you visit, please explore the bunker from the outside.
Bats have taken up residence, and some of the species found here are on the endangered list, so it's a federal crime to disturb them, and the decaying structures may not be safe.
Have you hiked this trail? Tell us about your adventure!