BrandiCarballo

I live here and visit Secret Beach a lot. It is my favorite beach, but you can ONLY go at low tide. The hike down is very short, but steep. Most people can handle it, even younger kids. But there is a climb down a rock about 20 feet. All the locals bring our kids and its no problem. There is also a stream to cross. If you take off your shoes and go out by the ocean the water is very shallow and easy to walk through. The caves are pretty cool. We do not call the trail system the "Pacific Coast Trail", we call it the "Oregon Coast Trail". If you do take the hiking trail from the parking lot to the south, which this article describes as "Thunder Rock Cove", the hike is a couple of miles, it is pretty mild and comfortable, but there are some sections where there are steep and dangerous drop offs right at the edge of the trail. I was nervous with my then 7 and 8 year olds on the trail. The main parking for Secret Beach is a non descript, unlabeled pull out on Hwy 101, between mile posts 254 and 255, as you are travelling north on the west side there will be a guardrail. Pull off the road where the guardrail ends and you can park behind it. About 6 cars can fit there.