Oregon hikes will lead you to some truly exceptional places. There are some bucket-list level hikes here that will take you to some of the most wondrous places in the entire world. However, many of these treks require a more advanced hiker, or at least someone willing to log some serious hours on the trails. That’s what makes the Peter Iredale Trail in Oregon so truly unique. This hike, less than a half-mile long, leads straight to one of the state’s most mysterious wonders, an abandoned ghost ship located off the Oregon coast. Known as the Wreck of the Peter Iredale, this attraction is one of Oregon’s most infamous ruins, and the eponymous Peter Iredale Trail will take you right to the shocking scene.
Located in Warrenton, Oregon, Fort Stevens was once an active military base; the primary military defense installation of the Harbor Defense System at the mouth of the Columbia River.
Mary O’Neal/Google Local The fort was in service for 84 years, from roughly the Civil War to the conclusion of World War II.
Today, Fort Stevens is a 4,200 acre park offering exploration of history, nature, and many recreational opportunities.
Laura Kimmel/AllTrails Fort Stevens’s most popular attraction, however, is located off its southern shore.
Known as the Peter Iredale Shipwreck, this ghost ship is one of the most haunting places in Oregon.
Brandy Tharp/AllTrails
The shipwreck is easily accessed via the eponymous Peter Iredale Trail, a 0.4-mile walk that’s flat, straightforward, and accessible for all ages.
Dee T./AllTrails
You’ll wander through a sand-covered path (part of the park’s six miles of hiking trails), going over sand dunes and grassy knolls along the way. In no time at all, the shoreline comes into focus, and a ghost ship materializes, seemingly out of thin air.
daveynin/Flickr
This is the Peter Iredale – or at least, what remains of the Peter Iredale – a four-masted, steel barque sailing vessel that was quite impressive in its day, part of a well-known shipping fleet.
Wilhelm Hester/Wikipedia But on Oct. 25, 1906, the ship encountered thick fog and unrelenting tides while en route to the Columbia River, and the crew had to bail out.
There was originally very little damage to the hull, and plans were made to tow the ship back to sea.
Matthew Johnson/Google Local But after several weeks, the ship had become embedded in the sands. The salvage rights to the ship were sold in 1917, though the wreck was never actually broken up.
Like many before it, the ship was destined to become part of the infamous Graveyard of the Pacific.
Robert Bradshaw/Wikipedia The Graveyard of the Pacific stretches the Pacific Northwest coast from Oregon all the way to Vancouver. Known for its tempestuous tides and unpredictable weather patterns, this area has historically acted like a bit of a vortex, claiming countless ships and fleets.
A shadow of its former self, all that remains of the Peter Iredale is the bow, some ribs, and a few masts.
Victoria Zasadny/AllTrails
It’s a fascinating place to visit; the Peter Iredale Trail a simple, straightforward hike that all can (and should) plan to take at some point.
Dee T./AllTrails
The Peter Iredale Trail really is one of the most unique adventures in the state — an accessible hike to an extraordinary abandoned ghost ship in Oregon everyone must do at least once! If you’re looking for another abandoned ruins hike in the state, there’s a hike in Portland that leads to a rumored witch’s castle.
Mary O’Neal/Google Local
The fort was in service for 84 years, from roughly the Civil War to the conclusion of World War II.
Laura Kimmel/AllTrails
Fort Stevens’s most popular attraction, however, is located off its southern shore.
Brandy Tharp/AllTrails
Dee T./AllTrails
daveynin/Flickr
Wilhelm Hester/Wikipedia
But on Oct. 25, 1906, the ship encountered thick fog and unrelenting tides while en route to the Columbia River, and the crew had to bail out.
Matthew Johnson/Google Local
But after several weeks, the ship had become embedded in the sands. The salvage rights to the ship were sold in 1917, though the wreck was never actually broken up.
Robert Bradshaw/Wikipedia
The Graveyard of the Pacific stretches the Pacific Northwest coast from Oregon all the way to Vancouver. Known for its tempestuous tides and unpredictable weather patterns, this area has historically acted like a bit of a vortex, claiming countless ships and fleets.
Victoria Zasadny/AllTrails
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Address: Peter Iredale Rd, Warrenton, OR 97121, USA
