The entire OCT can be followed on foot, but some hikers choose to skip road-walking sections by catching a water taxi (boat ferry) or bus. The following bus and boat options are currently available; check back close to your start time as availability can change year to year or within the hiking season. The FarOut app is a good place to get the most current information.
BOAT FERRIES
Where the OCT meets large rivers or bay mouths, hikers may have to follow the highway shoulder to return to the beach. Alternately, you can catch a boat (where available). The following boat ferry services (listed north to south) are currently available. Prices currently range from about $10 per person to $50 for two hikers (more for additional passengers).
Nehalem Bay
Jetty Fishery (503-368-5746) ferries hikers across Nehalem Bay at from the end of Nehalem Spit (in Nehalem Bay State Park) to the south jetty of Nehalem Bay daily 7 to 7 during hiking season; no prearrangement necessary.
Tillamook Bay
Garibaldi Marina (503-322-3312) provides rides from the town of Garibaldi across the bay to Bayocean Spit, conditions permitting (calm seas, high tide). Call at least 24 hours in advance. Bus service also available from Garibaldi to Tillamook and on to Netarts.
Netarts Bay
No regular water taxi service currently available from Netarts boat ramp to Netarts Spit. Hikers can sometimes (but usually not) get a ride with Big Spruce RV Park (503-801-5434).
Umpqua River
Salmon Harbor Tackle and Guide Service offers hiker boat shuttle between Umpqua north spit and Winchester Bay,May 1 (possibly earlier) through at least September. Call 541-361-6256 a day ahead during open hours 6-4. (After hours emergency, call owner Ted Jones at 541-643-7055.) Typically arranges shuttles between 1 pm and late afternoon. $25 per person, $50 minimum per trip. Be sure confirm any boat ferry in advance before walking to the end of the spit, bypassing the hiking route out Sparrow Park Road.
Bus service is also available for part of this route. If you call Coos Transit dispatch (541-267-7111) in advance, you can request a pickup at the end of Sparrow Park Road. Watch for the bus and be ready to flag it down.
Coos Bay
No regular water taxi service is currently available from the BLM North Spit boat launch, either across the bay to the community of Empire or further south to the town of Charleston at the mouth of the bay. Some hikers have managed to hire a fishing charter to take them to Charleston.
Coquille River
South Coast Tours (541-373-0487) offers boat ferry from Bullards Beach State Park boat ramp to Bandon marina. Phone to arrange an early morning ride.
BUS SERVICE
Public bus service is available along the entire Oregon Coast but from a variety of different transit agencies. Most bus companies will pick up or drop off at “flag stops” (unscheduled stops), allowing you to avoid long highway shoulder walks (see below). You need to pick a spot where the bus can pull all the way off the road. At some stops you may need to call ahead to make sure the bus stops for you, and make ourself visible to the driver by waving your arms or waving something colorful avoid being inadvertently bypassed. Expect to pay in cash (exact change), typically $2.50 or less.
Bus service is available from the airports in Portland, North Bend/Coos Bay, and Medford to (or close to) the trail, see below.
Astoria to Yachats
Get details on bus options from NW Connector, a consolidated site for six bus companies on the north coast.
Astoria to Cannon Beach TO Portland
The Point NorthWest Route provides daily bus service between downtown Portland and the Northwest Oregon Coast.
portland to the north coast
A new express bus service between west Portland and five coastal locations (Astoria to Tillamook) launches May 23, 2025. Fri, Sat, and Sun only, roundtrip $49.99. https://visittheoregoncoast.com/express.
Yachats to Florence
LinkLane Florence-Yachats Connector provides daily bus service (except holidays). For flag stops call the office at 541-902-2067 during weekday business hours.
Florence to North Bend/Coos Bay & Charleston
Coos County Area Transit has routes from Florence to Charleston, including access to the Southwest Oregon Regional Airport in North Bend/Coos Bay
North Bend/Coos Bay to Smith River, CA
Curry Public Transit/Coastal Express runs Mon-Sat. It also travels inland to Medford.
Using the bus to avoid longer or dangerous highway walks
Check FarOut app for locations of bus stops and details for flagging down the bus in lieu of walking at the following longer highway stretches. For flagstops, study the bus schedule to estimate when bus will be passing by.
Garibaldi to Netarts (around Tillamook Bay). SOBO, take bus from Garibaldi (regular bus stop) to downtown Tillamook. Then take Route 2 toward Netarts; ask to stop at junction with Whiskey Creek Road to rejoin main OCT route. See NWConnector.org.
Pacific City to Neskowin (around Nestucca River). SOBO, take bus from Cape Kiwanda or Pacific City south; ask to be let off at the top of Winema Road to rejoin OCT route. NWConnector.org.
Cascade Head (south side) to Lincoln City north. SOBO, pick up bus along US 101 and Three Rocks Road (near south end of South Cascade Head Trail). This is a flagstop; wave arms to alert driver to stop and pick you up. NWConnector.org.
Lincoln City south to Gleneden Beach (around Siletz Bay).Pick up Lincoln County Transit’s Blueline at Taft IGA grocery store and ride to bus stop at Salishan & US 101. NWConnector.org.
Cape Perpetua to Rock Creek. SOBO, hike OCT to US 101 at west end of Cummins Creek Road, then cross highway and hike northbound a short distance to a wide pull-out on west side of road. Wave vigorously to alert driver to stop. Ask driver to let you off at pullout north of Rock Creek campground. NOBO: Wave bus driver down at Rock Creek Campground entrance; ask driver to let you off at Cummins Creek Road. Link-lane.org.
Heceta Head and Cape Creek Tunnel to Baker Beach.SOBO: Stand at pullout just north of Cape Creek tunnel and wave driver down; ask to be let off at Southview Lane. Walk to the next pullout to the south to find trail down to beach. NOBO: Wave driver down at bottom of Southview Lane; ask to be let out just north of the tunnel. If you prefer to walk that stretch, driver will pick you up at pullout at south end of tunnel and let you out just north of the tunnel. Link-lane.org.
End of Sparrow Park Road to Winchester Bay (around Umpqua River mouth). If you walk out to US 101 (rather than take the boat ferry across from the Umpqua North Spit), you can call ahead to arrange bus pick-up at US 101 (coostransit.org/routes/florence-express, 541-267-7111, x1). Offered twice daily. Wave wildly to make sure driver sees you (even if you called ahead). Alt: walk to bus stop in town of Gardiner.
North Bend to Charleston. To avoid the walk across the bridge over Coos Bay, you can catch the Florence Express bus (coostransit.org/routes/florence-express, 541-541-267-7111, x1) just north of the bridge at Bay Bridge Motel. Must call at least an hour ahead to alert driver to stop. Stops twice a day; $1.50 to just ride across bridge.
To avoid all of the road walking between North Bend and Charleston, the Blue Line bus runs frequently M-F.
Humbug Mountain State Park to Ophir Wayside. Curry Public Transit offers opportunity for hikers to bypass long highway walk to Ophir. SOBO, wait in wide pull-out just north of Humbug Mountain campground entrance. NOBO, wait at Ophir Wayside. Call at least an hour ahead to request a flagstop (currypublictransit.org/coastal-express, 541-412-8806.) If no phone service in campground, try walking above the campground NOBO a short distance. Study map to determine how far you want to go and discuss with driver when you get on bus.
