Coastal Locations with Short Hiking Trails and Amazing Views
Short coastal hikes combine breathtaking views with quick access to nature’s drama.
These locations offer scenic trails where sea meets sky, each packed with distinct experiences and visual rewards.
1. Malta – Dingli Cliffs Trail
- Location: Southwestern coast of Malta
Dingli Cliffs Trail hugs the highest elevation in Malta, running along sheer limestone edges with wide-open views of the Mediterranean.
The trail offers access to the 17th-century St. Mary Magdalene Chapel, a peaceful stone structure perched near the cliffs.
Coastal wildflowers line the route, and sea winds accompany every step. Despite its short length, the trail delivers high visual impact and cultural touchpoints.
Why It’s Amazing
Sunsets paint the cliffs in layers of orange and gold. The drama of the vertical drop into the ocean amplifies the experience.
Walkers encounter ancient mysteries like the Clapham Junction cart ruts, prehistoric parallel grooves carved into rock.
With ancient stone, wide skies, and calm sea, it’s a route that combines nature’s beauty with echoes of history. Learn more about Malta through trails like this.
2. Cinque Terre, Italy – Vernazza to Monterosso Trail
- Location: Ligurian Coast, Italy
Linking two Cinque Terre villages, the Vernazza to Monterosso trail takes about 2–3 hours and moves through cliffside paths above a turquoise sea.
Lemon groves and ancient terraces mix with hand-built stone walls and panoramic rest points.
The scent of citrus and salt follows each step as the path winds above crashing surf and bright fishing boats.
Source: freepik.com
Why It’s Amazing
Pastel-colored buildings seem to pour into the sea below. Hikers witness ever-changing Mediterranean views, from dramatic cliffs to terraced vineyards.
At Monterosso, fresh-caught anchovies and crispy calamari await. Coastal cuisine and seaside color make this trail an unforgettable fusion of food, scenery, and tradition.
3. Oregon, USA – Tahkenitch Dunes Loop
- Location: Southern Oregon Coast
A 6-mile loop blending old-growth spruce forest with sand dunes and remote Pacific beaches.
Sections pass through moss-covered trunks and emerge onto high dunes, where wide skies stretch over the ocean.
Wildlife is ever-present, and trail markers feel sparse enough to spark a sense of self-reliant exploration.
Why It’s Amazing
Silence and space dominate the experience. Shorebirds skim the water, driftwood forms wild sculptures, and whale spouts sometimes pierce the sea horizon during migration season.
Campsites sit just inland, letting visitors sleep with the sound of waves and wind moving through spruce.
4. Montenegro – Vrmac Ridge Trail (Kotor to Donja Lastva)
- Location: Kotor Bay, Montenegro
A half-day ridge walk begins in Kotor’s fortified old town, winding up pine-covered slopes to an open ridge.
Views stretch across the Bay of Kotor, where high cliffs drop into deep waters. Remnants of Austro-Hungarian forts dot the trail, and historical echoes mix with mountain air.
Why It’s Amazing
The contrast of fjord-like waters and Mediterranean coast is stunning. As hikers descend, seaside cafés and stone alleyways offer rewards.
Mountain pine gives way to olive groves. At Donja Lastva, tired legs meet espresso and Adriatic breeze. Few trails blend history and sea so vividly.
5. Maine, USA – Ocean Path Trail, Acadia National Park
- Location: Acadia National Park, Maine
A 4-mile round-trip path tracing Maine’s rocky coastline. Suitable for nearly all ages and fitness levels, the trail offers stops like Otter Cliffs and Thunder Hole.
Constant views of crashing waves and tidal pools provide motion and sound that shift with every tide.
Source: freepik.com
Why It’s Amazing
During autumn, red and gold foliage frames the blue Atlantic. In all seasons, tidepools reveal sea urchins, barnacles, and tiny crabs.
Families linger near the shoreline, while photographers wait for the perfect wave at Thunder Hole. Nature’s rhythms take center stage.
Summary
These trails offer powerful scenery in compact packages.
With sea views, cultural touches, and natural wonders, each hike proves that short walks can still leave lasting impressions.
