Grade:
| Padme’s Paws | (Out of 4) |  |
| My Grade | (A to F) | A- |
Hiking the Kwis Kwis to Fort to Sea Trail was a rewarding adventure for both Padme and me. Located near the Fort Clatsop Visitor Center, the trail provides not only scenic views but also a rich, immersive experience. As we walked, Padme delighted in the unique smells of the coastal landscape, making it a perfect spot for her to explore and play.
With diverse flora and lush greenery surrounding the trail, the environment is as soothing as it is captivating, even for someone like me who enjoys the solitude of the outdoors. The trail offers a refreshing mix of forested sections and open areas, perfect for both dogs and humans alike.
While I took my time to enjoy the sights and sounds, Padme was busy sniffing her way through the terrain, making our hike more about the journey than the destination. Whether you’re in search of tranquility, a good workout, or a pet-friendly adventure, this trail is a must-visit.
Trail Stats
- Trail: Kwis Kwis to Fort to Sea Trail
- Location: Fort Clatsop National Historic Park (lower loop)
- Distance: 5.23
- Difficulty: Moderate
- ADA Accessible: No
Directions
Parking and Facilities
The directions to the trailhead of this hike will take you to the visitor center for Fort Clatsop, which is a National Historic Park. There is plenty of parking and an incredible visitor’s center with educational videos, a gift/book shop and really friendly rangers.
The two rangers that were there the day I did this hike even helped me figure out a weird noise I heard, which of course was hilarious as all three of us ended up making weird noises to try to approximate what I heard. They were great sports about it and why I think everyone should visit their state and national parks!
To park here is $10 / day or you can buy a national parks’ pass (“America the Beautiful”), which I would absolutely recommend. The day pass is good for 7 days, however. For more information about this pass and several others, look at the section under Resources for parking information.
The visitor’s center has restrooms inside, but that’s only helpful if it is open.
Why It’s a Great Hike for Dogs—Or Not
First, this hike is reasonably close to the ocean, so there are different smells than Padme is used to for the most part. She had a great time sniffing everything. The landscape wasn’t densely forested or littered with boulders of various sizes for Padme to play on, but she was plenty stimulated by what was there.
I will say that I’m always glad that I don’t hike for time, because Padme would ruin it. My hikes are for me, but they are a little bit more for Padme so she can sniff the same spot for hours if she wants.
There were a few places with elevation changes where she enjoyed pulling me and there were several sticks that she found with which to play a game of tug with me. At one point, she found a thin branch that was wider than the trail to drag around. She was so happy! I was torn because I don’t like moving things from where I find them in parks, but by the time she breaks them up into little pieces, we haven’t moved things miles, just tens of feet so I just cross my fingers about how much it disturbs the ecosystem.
Why It’s a Great Hike for People
This hike was gorgeous. The amount of green everywhere was soothing, but even the rot and decay felt like it only added to the beauty of the landscape. One of the trees I passed looked a bit like a body with exposed guts, which is not fun on a person, but pretty cool on a tree.
Signs were also posted asking hikers not to pick mushrooms within a certain boundary, and I am thankful for it because there were so many and they were so different and so pretty. I have a friend who knows a lot about mushrooms and I wished that we were doing the hike together so she could tell me what they were called.
This hike is constructed like a figure-8, having an upper and a lower loop, with a stem that goes from the loop to the visitor’s center. The whole hike is supposed to be 6.8 miles. According to the maps at the trails, too, the distances are listed as around 6.8 miles. However, by the time I reached the junction for the upper and lower loops, I realized that I already had around 4 miles. I wasn’t sure how the upper loop, which looked as big if not bigger than the lower loop, was going to only add a mile and a half to the overall hike.
I decided to do only the lower loop and by the time I got to my car, I had trekked 5.23 miles. Luckily, those were fast miles because it was just so fun, but I’m still not sure of the math of the postings about the trail.
Also, there were parts of this hike that were steep enough to make me need to stop to catch my breath. Well, one part. Be aware and take it slow if you are working on your fitness.
Tips for Hiking Fort Cascade Trail with Your Dog
Kwis Kwis to Fort to Sea Trail is a gorgeous hike that might make you breathe hard, depending on your cardiovascular fitness, but there are a couple of things to remember.
- Pay for parking. The fees you pay help maintain and run the parks and visitor’s centers!
- If you make changes to your hiking plan, tell your check in person so that it’s easier to find you if something happens.
- Share the wealth. If the rangers make a request, like to leave the mushrooms, please do so. Let others enjoy the same views that you get to.
Highlights and Memorable Moments
One of the most memorable moments on the Kwis Kwis to Fort to Sea Trail was Padme’s pure joy as she explored the coastal smells and played with sticks along the way. Watching her drag a branch wider than the trail brought laughter and a sense of connection with nature.
The trail itself was a visual treat, with vibrant green surroundings and a soothing atmosphere. There were unexpected sights, too, like a tree that looked strangely like a body with exposed guts, which added a bit of quirky beauty to the hike.
My favorite moment, however, was the unexpected fun with the rangers at the Fort Clatsop Visitor Center, as we all tried to replicate a strange noise I heard. Their playful spirit and helpfulness reminded me why exploring state and national parks is such a rewarding experience.