From incredible waterfall trails to rural rail trails, the Beaver State has tons of hiking trails, each unique and beautiful. There’s one trail along the coast that held a gruesome secret for years, and even today, many Oregonians don’t know about this dark time in our state’s history. Keep scrolling to learn about Amanda’s Trail:
Amanda’s Trail stretches between Yachats and Cape Perpetua. It’s 3.7 miles one-way and is considered moderately difficult.
The Register Guard/YouTube
From Yachats, the trail follows the coastline for a bit, providing gorgeous views of the ocean below, then it follows along Highway 101…
Jason Boyersmith/Alltrails
…where you’ll walk through the quiet forest. This coastal forest is lush and green. Moss-covered logs and verdant ferns line the path.
Diana Cabrera/Alltrails
Watch for the vibrant wildflowers along the way, too.
Rob B/Tripadvisor
Pam D/Tripadvisor
You’ll be in awe at the beauty of this trail, but it has a dark, gruesome history.
The Register Guard/YouTube
This land was once part of the Coast Indian Reservation. When the U.S. Government decided that it no longer wanted to keep the terms of the treaty formed in 1855, it started rounding up Native Americans and moving them to a new reservation.
Nancy Hale/Alltrails
Rather than endure poor conditions and worse treatment, some people ran away from the new reservation. The military hunted them down, then marched them back. Amanda De-Cuys was one of the runaways who was captured. Elderly and blind, she was forced to walk along steep, difficult terrain with the others.
The Register Guard/YouTube
The Corporal in charge, Royal Bensell, stated that he thought they should just kill all the women because it was taking too long for them to make the treacherous journey. The party was only able to walk about 10 miles per day, and “Old Amanda” cut her feet on some sharp rocks. She left bloody footprints for miles, but was forced to continue on.
The Register Guard/YouTube
It took 10 days for the party to reach Yachats. Amanda and the other runaways were left at the new reservation until 1875, when that reservation was also terminated so that white settlers could take over the area. The remaining tribe members were moved to other reservations inland and forgotten.
Nancy Hale/Alltrails
For more than 100 years, the gruesome secret of this trail was unknown to most Oregonians. In 1984, Loyd Collett, a trail planner who worked for the Siuslaw National Forest, stumbled upon the story and decided to dedicate a trail in Amanda’s Name.
The Register Guard/YouTube
Today, you’ll find a statue and monument to her and her people in a little clearing along the path. Take some time to sit on one of the benches and reflect on the trials faced by Amanda and her people in the 19th century.
Khristinatew/Tripadvisor
Get a quick tour and some additional information about the trail from this YouTube video posted by the Register-Guard:
The Register Guard/YouTube
Jason Boyersmith/Alltrails
Diana Cabrera/Alltrails
Rob B/Tripadvisor
Pam D/Tripadvisor
Nancy Hale/Alltrails
Khristinatew/Tripadvisor
Did you know about the heartbreaking tale surrounding this hiking trail? Have you hiked it for yourself? Let us know in the comments below.
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