Image shows a group of people carrying surf boards towards the ocean
Image shows the view of the ocean from a surf board
Image shows a group of people walking on the beach
Image shows to women sitting on stand-up paddleboards and smiling at the camera
The Northwest Oregon Coast is a dramatic landscape of cliffs, beaches, rainforest, tide pools, and mountains. On this unique trip we’ll be staying at a rustic camp, which will serve as our home base for days of hiking and 2 days of Surf lessons! You’ll get to experience all of the best parts of the Oregon coast: gorgeous forests, beaches and bluffs for hiking, and sandy beaches with fun waves for surfing. You’ll stay at a camp-type facility, with beds in rustic cabins, showers, bathrooms, and a dining hall where you will work together to prepare meals. You’ll spend time bonding with your small group, and also meet other new students whose trip is based at this location. Come see why the Oregon Coast is a premiere destination for outdoor enthusiasts!
Example Itinerary:
(actual itinerary will be adjusted to the weather and group)
Arrival Day: Arrive to campus in the morning, meet your group and collect any outdoor gear you are borrowing from College Outdoors. Eat lunch on campus, then drive about about 2 hours to Camp Kiwanilong.
Day 2: Hike 4-6 miles through the lush temperate rainforest to views of the ocean. Evening games with the other Hike & Surf group.
Day 3: Surf Lesson! Learn to surf, and spend time on the beach. Evening games with the other Hike & Surf group.
Day 4: Hike 4-6 miles through the lush temperate rainforest to views of the ocean. Evening games with the other Hike & Surf group.
Day 5: Surf Lesson! Build your surfing skills, and spend time on the beach. LC Night to learn about Lewis & Clark from current students.
Day 6: Explore more of the Oregon Coast with a 4-6 mile hike. Evening games and reflection.
Final Day: Pack up camp, return to campus, move into residence halls.
The Oregon Coastline features some of the most spectacular scenery in the state, with dramatic cliffs, towering old-growth trees, waterfalls, ferns, sandy beaches, crashing surf, coastal lakes, and, if the time is right, tide pools. We’ll learn to surf the ocean waves, and hike some of the Northwest’s many coastal trails, where you’ll see some of the most productive temperate rain forest on earth. Keep an eye out for newts, sea lions, and numerous birds including the dinosaur-like cormorant! The coastal forests and waterways are the traditional lands of the Chinook, Willapa, Lower Chinook, Clatsup, Kathlamet, and Nahalem tribes, whose traditions are interwoven with this vibrant ecosystem of abundance. You’ll stay near the mouth of the Columbia River, which is where the Lewis & Clark expedition first reached the
Pacific Ocean.
We’ll drive about 2 hours from Portland to a camp near Astoria, Oregon late in the afternoon on the day you arrive for your trip. You’ll spend 2 of the days learning to Surf, and the other days hiking nearby trails. The trails we’ll be hiking are rated moderate, with more strenuous trails and longer mileage as options for people who’d like the challenge. Not everyone in the group will want to hike at the same speed, so we’ll do what is best for the group when it comes to routes.
The camp we stay at features rustic cabins with bunk bunds and restrooms with flush toilets. Gender-neutral bathroom facilities are available. The main lodge of the camp features a commercial kitchen where we will work together to prepare meals and a large fireplace to gather around in the evenings. During the day you will have the chance to connect with other new students in your small group while hiking, and surfing, and in the evening, you will get to know even more new students, since other NSTs stay at the same camp. After a day exploring, we’ll have plenty of time in the evenings to hang out, get to know each other, and participate in some fun games and activities.
The weather on the coast is very temperate in August and is usually around 67F during the day and 55F in the evening. It is not uncommon for it to rain on the coast, so we recommend bringing good rain gear.
No surfing experience necessary! We’ll teach you everything you need to know.
Breakin your hiking boots: If you are getting new-to-you boots for this trip, you’ll want to wear them around in the weeks leading up to the trip. New boots + long treks = painful blisters. It is very important to break in your boots by wearing them with a pack for extended periods prior to your trip.
Get moving: It’s a great idea to walk, run, or swim this summer to get yourself into shape. This trip is rated as moderate physical rigor.
We will be cooking together in a commercial kitchen and we eat well on this trip! Some examples of typical meals include: pizza, burritos, and mac & cheese, and we love delicious snacks! This trip can accommodate any dietary restrictions and allergies, as long as you let us know about them ahead of time.
For vegan and other non-medical specialty diets, there is an additional charge. There is no extra cost for vegetarian diets or medical allergy restrictions.
Dates: Thursday, Aug. 20 - Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026
Cost: $1175. Financial aid is applied for high-need students who qualify. Vegan and non-medical specialty diets have an additional $30 charge. Vegetarian diets and special diets due to food allergies do not have an additional fee.
These forms can be completed only after you have received a trip placement email, and are due by Wednesday, June 17, 2026. You will need to log into your L&C Portal to complete these forms.
