Rockaway Big Tree Boardwalk

The trailhead for the Rockaway Big Tree Boardwalk is conveniently located directly off Highway 101 in Rockaway Beach, Oregon. There is a small parking lot available right at the entrance.

Yes, dogs are generally welcome on the Rockaway Big Tree Boardwalk trail. However, it's always best practice to keep your dog on a leash to protect the sensitive wetland ecosystem and for the comfort of other visitors.

The trail is beautiful year-round, but early spring is particularly vibrant when the massive skunk cabbage is in full bloom. The dense bushes also feature pale pink salal and bright pink salmonberry blossoms during this time. Fall offers a different kind of beauty with changing foliage.

No, there are no permits or entrance fees required to access the Rockaway Big Tree Boardwalk trail, which is part of the Rockaway Beach Old-Growth Cedar Preserve.

The Rockaway Big Tree Boardwalk is an easy out-and-back trail, approximately 1.1 to 1.2 miles round trip. Most hikers complete it in about 15 to 20 minutes, allowing plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and the Oregon Champion Red Cedar.

Absolutely! This trail is rated as easy and is highly accessible. It features a well-maintained, flat, yellow cedar boardwalk with minimal elevation gain, making it suitable for nearly all ages and abilities, including families with strollers and individuals using wheelchairs.

The trail primarily consists of a flat, even yellow cedar boardwalk designed to protect the sensitive wetland. Its foundation uses unique eight-sided fiberglass pods that appear to float above the wetlands. While mostly flat, there is a slight incline about 0.25 miles from the "Big Tree" at the trail's end.

You'll be immersed in an ancient wetland forest. Look for massive skunk cabbage, pale pink salal, and bright pink salmonberry blossoms. The forest canopy includes gargantuan Sitka spruce, western red cedar, and red alder. Birdwatchers might spot Steller's Jays, woodpeckers, finches, and even an osprey nest.

The star attraction is the impressive Oregon Champion Red Cedar, a 154-foot tall Western Red Cedar estimated to be between 800 and 1200 years old. An observation deck encircles this magnificent tree. The entire Wooden Planks Trail at Rockaway Beach Park itself is a highlight, winding through a rare old-growth wetland forest.

Yes, sections of this route also pass through parts of the Salmonberry Trail, the Oregon Coast Scenic Bikeway, and the TransAmerica Trail (Oregon).

Yes, picnic tables are available along a spur trail near the trailhead, providing a pleasant spot for a break before or after your walk. The trail's location directly off Highway 101 also means easy access to amenities in Rockaway Beach.