One Teen (and Nearly Four) Needed Rescue from Oregon Coast Cliff - Lincoln City

Published 03/15/26 at 8:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Lincoln City, Oregon) – UPDATE: ONE TEEN NEEDED RESCUE - THREE OTHERS FINE. Video of the rescue has been released as of Tuesday.

A trouble spot for rescuers on the Oregon coast became difficult again this weekend.

At approximately 4:01 p.m. on March 14, 2026, North Lincoln Fire & Rescue District #1 (NLFR) responded to a report of a hiker who had slipped on loose rock and fallen roughly halfway down a steep cliff face in the God’s Thumb area near Roads End in Lincoln City. Crews arriving on scene determined the individual was stranded on unstable terrain after sliding down the cliff. Two companions who had been hiking with the victim remained at the top and attempted to reach them but were unable to safely descend the slope.

Incident command was established near Logan Road and NW 64th Street while additional responders moved to the trailhead and beach to evaluate possible access points. Witnesses who saw the fall provided GPS coordinates, photos, and video showing the victim’s position on the cliff, allowing crews to quickly pinpoint the location and develop a rescue plan.

The entire photo from LCPD

Because of the steep, loose terrain and limited safe access for ground crews, NLFR said responders requested aerial assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard. The Lincoln City Police Department deployed a drone to provide overhead views of the cliff and help identify hazards. Members of the Lincoln County Technical Rescue Team also responded and prepared for potential rope operations if conditions allowed.

LCPD said two additional teens were found standing near the edge of the Lincoln City  attraction, off any established trail. Rescuers directed them back to a safe area.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter arrived and conducted a hoist rescue, safely lifting the stranded hiker from the cliff face. The individual was transported to Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital for evaluation and later reunited with their hiking companion. The two additional hikers were uninjured and able to self-rescue.

“North Lincoln Fire & Rescue would like to thank the U.S. Coast Guard, Lincoln City Police Department, and the Lincoln County Technical Rescue Team for their assistance in bringing the incident to a safe resolution,” the team said. “Officials remind hikers to use caution when traveling in coastal cliff areas, as loose rock and steep terrain can present significant hazards. Staying on designated trails and maintaining a safe distance from cliff edges can help prevent serious accidents.”

Photo NLFR

This part of Roads End and the hiking trail above at God's Thumb have created numerous issues in recent years.

In July 2025, two teens became stranded on a cliff at Roads End Point on the north side of Lincoln City, a popular Oregon coast viewpoint known for its steep, unstable edges. North Lincoln Fire & Rescue responded and during the attempt to reach the pair, one firefighter also became stuck on the cliff.

Oregon's US Coast Guard Saves Two Teens and a Rescuer from Lincoln City Cliff

Lincoln County Dispatch requested help from the U.S. Coast Guard after the situation escalated. According to the Coast Guard’s Northwest District, an MH-60 helicopter crew from Air Station Astoria flew to the scene and hoisted all three individuals to safety.

Past rescue in this spot: courtesy NLFR

These areas have been the sites of repeated rescues, with six similar calls from mid 2024 to mid 2025, all funded by taxpayer-supported emergency agencies.

In a separate incident in fall 2025, North Lincoln Fire & Rescue responded nearby to reports that a woman in her 40s from Corvallis had been caught in a strong current. She was swept hundreds of feet offshore and down the beach from where she entered the water. NLFR deployed two rescue jet skis within minutes, while the U.S. Coast Guard joined the search with two lifeboats and a helicopter. Lincoln City Police assisted from shore with a drone, and Depoe Bay Fire District added support.

Despite the extensive multi-agency effort, the woman was located and pronounced deceased. Tragic Death in Lincoln City Surf Sunday During Varied Wave Alerts on Oregon Coast -

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