How to elope at God’s Thumb | Oregon

I came upon the PERFECT elopement location on the Oregon coast and I wanted to share it with y’all! God’s Thumb in Lincoln City provides the perfect combo of whimsical coastal views along with enchanting forest and fields too! If you’re looking for a dreamy spot to elope on the PNW coast, keep reading! 

There’s numerous hikes that can get you to God’s Thumb, all varying in difficulty and length! I found a secret area with an EASY >1 mile hike that still gives epic views. But if you’re looking for a longer all day elopement there are other trails that go up to 4.4 miles!! Either option provides a great time, and the same, incredible view for the most dreamy elopement portraits! 

Knoll Loop: 4.4 miles 1400 ft of climb. This is the full hike that starts from the beach, goes through the forest, and takes you to the peak of God’s thumb. There’s a lot of uphill hiking on this one! Some of the trail is unmarked so you’ll have to pay close attention to the trail, or go with someone who has been there before (AKA ME: YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER) You don’t need to hike the full trail to get the epic views for this one! We can always start out on the trail and get to a spot that we love and start shooting from there!

Be prepared:

While it’s not an extreme hike, the PNW can be unpredictable with the elements so it’s important to always pack accordingly! Parts of this hike are exposed, which can mean lots of wind and sun! Bring a jacket and don’t forget to wear sunscreen!! The trail can be muddy at all times of the year, so always wear sturdy footwear and bring an extra shoe to put on for pics if you want (or at least a fresh pair of sandals to put on when you get back to the car!) As an Oregon local I have a lot of experience on our trails and can always help answer questions and am happy to provide my clients with extra supplies! My husband is also known to tag along on elopement days to help carry things and lend an extra hand. If you ever have any concerns leading up to the day, you can always reach out and ask!

Be Flexible:

Since we know the PNW can throw us curve balls with the weather, it’s important to always keep a flexible and adaptable mindset when preparing for coastal hikes! Some days we might not get as much of a golden sunset if the fog decides to stay close, or the rain might make a trail totally inaccessible! While I will always keep ya updated on the weather forecast, sometimes there’s only so much we can do and we gotta roll with the punches! The great thing about elopements is you get to decide exactly when/where you say I do. Whether that means doing a short 10 min hike into the forest, postponing another day, or changing locations on a whim: you have the freedom to decide!

Leave No Trace:

It’s always important to take care of our planet, and be good stewards of our public lands! This means being careful of wear we hike, packing out everything we brought in and being mindful of any and all of the trail rules! 🙂

God’s Thumb Elopement| Lincoln city, Oregon

Florals: @carolinereusenflowers

Dress: @dacigowns

Don’t forget to follow me over on Pinterest! And reach out here to book me as your Oregon Coast elopement photographer!