I’ve done this tour many times. Today was a perfect day for it…sunny and clear. Forgot my camera, so these are phone pics. I decided to put this Grand Tour in text, so if you want to see it all, please read… The map and track are available on the “Maps and Tracks” page.
Angora Peak – Grand Tour…
The “Grand Tour” will take you to most of the unique spots this area has to offer, along with the spectacular views of the Pacific coast line…on a clear day of course.
The main stops along this tour include… (In this order)
The Hermit Hut: The name “Hermit Hut” comes from an old sign on a tree back down the hill a ways. My guess is that it’s an old local hunter’s shelter. The grout between the rocks doesn’t look that old so it’s certainly not historical. In the past decade more and more people visit the shelter and there are now signs of vandalism.
The Hermit’s View: I named it that because it’s about 100’ from the Hermit Hut, at the lower edge of the Angora Cliffs. The Hermit’s View offers a spectacular view up and down the Pacific coast line.
Angora Pinnacle: As you continue on the abandoned road, you’ll round the corner and see this impressive pinnacle on your right. This is Angora Pinnacle. Follow my track to the base of this rock and find the narrow groove on the south side. Climb the 4th class groove to the top.
Little Angora Pinnacle: After tagging Angora Pinnacle, follow my track along the abandoned road to its end. Scramble the north ridge out to Little Angora Pinnacle…the technical one. You’ll need climbing gear to get to the top of this one. If no gear, circumnavigate around the pinnacle…it’s a fun thrash. After thrashing around, take the ridge back to the roads end.
Angora Peak: From the roads end follow my track back down the road and up the hill to the high point of Angora Peak. The highest point is a long rock that points out in a NE direction. Stand on this rock and see your next objective, the Revenge Pinnacle.
The Revenge Pinnacle: From the summit of Angora Peak, Scramble SSW around some rock to find a steep drop with lots of vegetation to hold on to. This will lead you to the base of The Revenge Pinnacle. Scramble your way to the col between the pinnacle and the cliff face. Once there you’ll see the 4th class groove route to the top of this pinnacle…on the north side. After descending this pinnacle, choose the path of least resistance back down to the abandoned road below.
Favorite Outcropping: Follow the road back for a short ways to where it looks like a trail that leads up an open ridge…follow my track through the forest and out to a fantastic outcropping. Enjoy the views…
Angora Cliffs: From the out cropping follow the edge of the Angora Cliffs, turning into the forest, then back out to the edge of the cliffs. We’ve taken several lines straight down to the road below using a technique called “Thrash Rapping”. After navigating the cliff’s edge you’ll find yourself back at the Hermit Hut. From there hike the trails and roads back to your vehicle.
Side note…another adventure option for this area is “thrash Rapping” off the edge of the Angora Cliffs. Hike up to the Hermit View, continue along the cliff’s edge and choose a line to drop straight back to the road below (1000’ to 1200’ drop). We’ve dropped several lines down to a rock we call Sasquatch Rock… This rock stands at the edge of the clear-cut unnoticeable until noticed.
First big view, looking north…
Hermit view…
Favorite outcropping, I’ll visit that on my way out…
First view of the Revenge Pinnacle (left), and Angora Pinnacle (right)
Looking at the Revenge Pinnacle from the old road below…
A sub pinnacle (balancing rock) off the side of Angora Pinnacle…
The grovel groove to the summit of Angora Pinnacle…
A view east from the summit of Angora Pinnacle, looking at Onion Peak in the distance…
From the summit looking over at the Revenge Pinnacle and Angora Peak proper…
At the base of Little Angora, the technical one. I’ll circumnavigate before heading to Angora Peak…
From the true summit of Angora Peak, looking out at the top of the Revenge Pinnacle, my next stop…
A thrashy start to a grovely class 4 scramble to the summit of the Revenge Pinnacle…
From the summit looking south at Angora Pinnacle and the Nehalem Valley in the far distance…
Looking east at Onion Peak…
On my favorite outcropping looking south at Nehalem Bay….
Looking back at Angora Peak…you can see Little Angora on the ridge to the left…
Little Angora, the technical one…
A good shot of the Angora Cliffs, and if you know where to look, Sasquatch Rock…
Angora Grand Tour…
I sending you a HUGE THANK YOU for this fabulous trip report. I’ve spent the better part of three years studying maps and online info (very limited) while dreaming of making it up Angora.
Came across the link to your info after responding to a post on the FB group Oregon Hikers. Previously I had made it up to the dead end but hadn’t found the side trail. After studying your map three of us made it to the Hermit Hut and had a great lunch at the Hermit View. Now I’m planning my next trip out to the Pinacles.
It’s one of the better kept secrets of the Coast Range and I appreciate the views, the solitude and the adventure. Thanks again for sharing this special place.
Jim,
Thanks, glad you got up there. I first explored Angora area back in 2007, and it took me a few of times before I learned my way around. Since then I’ve been up there many many times, and have explored every nook & cranny, ridge & rock up there. I’ve even put up a technical route up and over the Little Angora pinnacle. It really is a hidden gem of the Northern Oregon Coast. Try not to tell the wrong people.
FYI…there is alot more out there…