Oregon Coast Day Hike: Ferrelo Cape and House Rock

I love the Oregon coast, I’m not alone in this, and for good reason.  The beaches, rocky capes, towering sea stacks, create a dramatic and enchanting landscape.  For this hike I did a short section of the Oregon Coast trail from Loan Ranch Picnic area, to Cape Ferrelo, through the forest to House Rock and back.  It’s only about 3.5 miles, but you get a lot packed into those few miles. 

Starting at the Loan Ranch Picnic area, you’ll take the paved path northwards past the toilets on your right. Continue along the path as it turns into a packed dirt path and at the Y junction, go right to the beach.

This will put you on the beach heading towards the Cape Ferrelo viewpoint.

From the beach you’ll hike up an incline which leads to decent viewpoint of the beach and the picnic area. 

It’s impressive, but the real view is much higher up. 

There are two ways to go up to the Cape Ferrelo viewpoint, the easy one and the hard one.  I did the hard one going north on the trail and the easy one on the way back.  I’m planning to do this hike again and will probably take the easy trail next time.  I was able to do it, but it was tough.

Continuing along the trail takes you to the north side of the hill and a view of the beach there. Again, a stunning view stretches out north along the coast.  I could have filled my phone with photos but wanted to keep on to the next example of natural beauty.

In this case, it’s a tunnel formed by trees growing over the path. It looks like something you might see in a Lord of the Rings movie.  Your eyes quickly adjust to the darkness, and you’ll find yourself in an almost surreal dense forest before emerging out to the Cape Ferrelo parking lot.  From there, keep heading north and you’ll see the path goes down the hill and continues.

You’ll get a couple of brief views of the coast before going deeper into the forest.  It’s a lush and green canopy of trees that benefit from the marine climate bringing in plenty of fog and rain.

The views of the ocean, capes, and sea stacks are all spectacular, but for me the highlight of the trail was finding a magnificent tree that looked like something from a fantasy movie.  I half expected elves and fairies to appear from behind it.  At this point, there is a trail that goes down the hill toward the beach.  That’s not the trail you want if you plan to keep going on the Oregon Coast Trail.  Instead, take the trail going uphill.  It doubles back on itself and puts you on track to keep going north. 

There are several trails off the main trail that show up on the AllTrails map, but there are also several that don’t which lead down to beaches.  I was sorely tempted to follow them all but didn’t have the time. 

Most of my hiking this summer has been around the Ashland, Jacksonville and Medford triangle which means that I’m hiking in very dry and very hot conditions.  So, to be hiking in a cool and slightly damp forest was a huge relief and reminded me of hiking in the western Cascades of Washington.

You’re going to be following the contours of the terrain on this trail which means several inclines and declines.  With the exception of the first difficult option going to the Cape Ferrelo viewpoint, they aren’t that challenging with only about 100 feet of elevation change from incline to decline.

You’ll emerge from the forest at the House Rock viewpoint.  It’s a great place to stop and have lunch while taking in the views.  While I was there, a dozen or so folks arrived via car to do precisely what I did, sit down and relax looking at the ocean and the coast. 

This Oregon Coast Trail day hike gave me a taste of this trail, and that’s all this was really, I’m planning to come back and hike the full 12 miles next year.  I know this trail won’t disappoint.

For the video trail report of the Oregon Coast Trail covered here, go to Amputee Outdoors on YouTube and check out the Southern Oregon Hikes section.

History in the Redwoods: Hiking Oregon’s Bomb Site Trail

When most people think of World War II, they picture distant battlefields in Europe or the South Pacific. Few realize that tucked deep inside the old-growth forests of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest near Brookings, Oregon, lies the site of the only wartime aerial bombing on the contiguous United States.

Today, the Bomb Site Trail (#1118) is an easy out-and-back hike beneath a dense canopy of Douglas firs and giant coast redwoods. For hikers and history buffs, it offers a manageable distance with modest elevation gain, coupled with a remarkable story of wartime conflict transformed into a decades-long legacy of peace and reconciliation.

Trail Report

This being an easy hike (though getting to the trailhead is a little sketchy) I'll keep the trail report short and focus on the history behind this trail and the events of September 9th, 1942.

Japanese Bombing Site Trail Specifications

• Distance: ~1.6 miles round-trip

• Trail Type: Out-and-back singletrack

• Elevation Gain: ~100 feet

• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (amputee scale)

• Trail Surface: Packed dirt, loose gravel, exposed tree roots, and small rock steps.

The trail starts out amongst new forest growth around the burnt remains of forest fires that occurred naturally and not because of a Japanese bombing.  You’ll start out at 1,591 feet above sea level and in about 2/10^th of a mile climb up to 1,790 feet.  At that point the trail reaches a short plateau before descending to the bombsite at about 1,620 feet. 

After the plateau the forest transitions from new growth to a canopy of mature Douglas fir trees with several old growth redwoods mixed in.   At about the one-mile point, you’re going to find a bench across from a massive old growth redwood.  You may not be tired at this point, but it wouldn’t hurt to take a moment to read the plaque on the bench and give some thought to the folks that went through WWII. 

Shortly after the bench, you’ll be hiking up a short incline to the signs that go into the history of the event and a viewing platform from which you look down to the bombsite. 

Go back down the trail to the first sign and there you’ll find a short path going down to the actual bombsite.  If you’re so inclined, say a short prayer to Nobuo Fujita, a man who was once an enemy and became a friend.

The History: The Bombing of Wheeler Ridge

On September 9, 1942, Japanese Navy pilot Nobuo Fujita catapulted off the surfaced submarine I-25 off the southern Oregon coast in a Yokosuka E14Y "Glen" floatplane. Strapped to his flight seat was his family’s 400-year-old Samurai katana.

Fujita’s mission was unprecedented: drop two 150-pound incendiary thermite bombs over the dense forests of Mount Emily and Wheeler Ridge. The Japanese military calculated that starting massive forest fires along the Pacific Northwest coast would spark widespread panic and force the U.S. to pull military assets away from the Pacific war zone to fight domestic blazes.

Fujita dropped his payload, but the plan stalled due to two factors:

1. Oregon Weather: Heavy coastal rain the previous evening left the canopy and forest floor thoroughly damp, preventing the incendiary bombs from igniting large fires.

2. Swift Response: Forest Service fire lookouts on Mount Emily spotted the aircraft and smoke columns, quickly dispatching crews to extinguish the smoldering spot fires before they could spread.

Fujita flew a second nighttime sortie on September 29, but wet conditions again neutralized the bombs.

War Enemy to Ambassador of Peace

The story took an unprecedented turn twenty years later. In 1962, the Brookings Jaycees (Junior Chamber of Commerce) extended a bold invitation: they invited Nobuo Fujita to attend the town’s annual Azalea Festival as an honoured guest.

Apprehensive about how he would be received, Fujita brought his 400-year-old family katana with him, intending to perform ritual suicide (seppuku) if the townspeople responded with hatred or violence.

Instead, the people of Brookings welcomed Fujita and his family with open arms and warm hospitality. Deeply moved, Fujita presented his ancestral samurai sword to the city as a symbol of forgiveness and international peace.

Over the next three decades, Fujita forged a lifelong bond with the city:

• The Peace Tree (1992): On the 50th anniversary of the bombing, Fujita returned to Wheeler Ridge and planted a young Coast Redwood seedling at the exact bomb crater as a living monument to peace.

• Civic Friendship: He hosted local Brookings high school students in Japan, donated to the Chetco Community Public Library to buy children's books, and was designated an Honorary Citizen of Brookings shortly before joining his ancestors in 1997.

Today, his family samurai sword remains on public display inside the Chetco Community Public Library in Brookings.

Important Logistical Notes:

• Road Conditions: Forest Road 1205 is a 15-mile unpaved, single-lane gravel forest road. High-clearance or AWD/4WD vehicles are recommended, especially during wet season months when washouts, deep potholes and mud are common.

• Amenities: There are no restrooms or potable water at the trailhead. Plan accordingly. Make sure to pack out all trash.

• Cell Coverage: Cell phone service drops off shortly after leaving Highway 101. Download offline maps prior to driving into the forest.

• Limited Parking: There’s room for 3-4 cars at the pullout by the trailhead and down the road about 200 feet.

This isn’t an easy trail to get to and it’s not a challenging hike with spectacular views, but if you’re a history buff like me, it’s a must-hike trail.

Three Peaks, One Trail: McDonald, Split Rock & Wagner Butte

If you live in the Medford, Jacksonville, and Ashland triangle of Southern Oregon, you’re likely familiar with Wagner Butte. The historic fire lookout site and sweeping 360-degree views make it a local favorite. But most hikers miss out on a route that turns a standard trip into a three-peak summit traverse.

By starting at the Split Rock Trailhead, you can bag McDonald Peak, Split Rock, and Wagner Butte on a single 10-mile round-trip trail.

Here is my trail review, essential gear recommendations, and honest accessibility breakdown for tackling this Southern Oregon gem on a prosthetic leg.

Fast Facts: Split Rock Trail to Wagner Butte

Detail	Specification
Distance	~10 Miles Out-and-Back
Trailhead	Split Rock Trailhead (via Mt. Ashland Campground route)
Peak Summits	McDonald Peak (7,194 ft), Split Rock (6,893 ft), Wagner Butte (7,121 ft)
Difficulty	Moderate to Strenuous (Final boulder scramble)
Water Source	None during summer months

Getting to the Trailhead

Pro Tip: Do not rely on Google Maps standard driving directions. It will send you down a long, poorly maintained dirt road that can punish your vehicle. Instead, route yourself via the Mt. Ashland Campground.

Parking at the Split Rock Trailhead is extremely limited—there is only enough space for about two vehicles. Plan your trek for a weekday to ensure a spot and enjoy a quieter trail. At the trailhead, look for the sign indicating Split Rock Trail (Wagner Gap: 3 miles; Wagner Butte: 5 miles).

The Route: Breaking Down the 3 Peaks

1. McDonald Peak (Elevation: 7,194 ft)

Around the 0.75-mile mark, you will reach your first summit: McDonald Peak. Standing at 7,194 feet above sea level, the views here are fantastic. Looking north, you can see your final destination, Wagner Butte.

Along the way, keep an eye out for granite boulders emerging from the earth—some resemble ancient standing stones or English menhirs, while others look like weathered gravestones. As you progress along, you'll find the forest opens into subalpine meadows with clear sightlines to Mt. Ashland and the surrounding Siskiyou Range.

2. Split Rock (Elevation: 6,893 ft)

At roughly the 2-mile mark, you’ll arrive at Split Rock. While the direct view at this summit isn't as impressive as McDonald Peak, the massive granite formations provide welcome shade for a quick water break.

Adaptive Trail Note: Immediately following Split Rock, you’ll encounter the first of two steep descents. On a prosthetic leg, these loose, dusty drop-offs require deliberate foot placement and trekking poles for balance—and they make for a solid climb on the return trip.

3. Wagner Butte Lookout (Elevation: 7,121 ft)

At mile 3 (Wagner Gap), the Split Rock Trail joins the Wagner Butte Trail network:

• Left: Wagner Butte Trail (starts at Forest Road 22)

• Right: Wagner Glade Trail (starts at Forest Road 2060)

Continue straight onto the main Wagner Butte Trail for the final 2 miles.

The next 1.5 miles run mostly parallel to the mountain contour, allowing you to open up your stride across relatively level terrain. However, the last half-mile ramps up significantly, climbing from 6,800 feet to the 7,121-foot summit.

The final 200 yards require a hands-on-rock scramble over giant granite boulders. As a 62-year-old amputee, I stashed my hiking umbrella and trekking poles in my pack to keep both hands free. Navigating class-2 boulder scrambles on a prosthetic adds a real layer of technical focus to the adventure, but reaching the top makes every step worth it.

Summit Rewards & Essential Gear Tips

At the peak, you are treated to standard-setting Rogue Valley views: Ashland, Talent, Phoenix, and Medford stretch out below, framed by the Cascade and Siskiyou ranges.

Before taking a well-earned break, locate the green ammo box attached to the old fire watch station footings to sign the trail logbook.

• Water Management: There are no water sources on this trail during summer. I packed 5 liters and finished every drop by the time I returned to the car. Plan accordingly.

• Sun Protection: The exposed summit has zero shade. Packing a lightweight hands-free trekking umbrella allowed me to comfortably relax at 7,100 feet for an hour without getting baked in the late August heat.

• Trail Conditions: Summer and late-August hikes bring fine, powdery dirt. Expect every step to kick up dust clouds over your boots, socket, and prosthetic mechanical joints—be prepared to clean your gear post-hike.

Mystery Marker: Near Wagner Gap, I spotted a fresh yellow flag placed on the left side of the trail, along with old wooden/barbed-wire and red-and-white metal fence posts scattered along the route (historic cattle grazing boundaries?).

If you know the reason or history of these markers, let me know in the comments below! Thanks!