ARCH CAPE—The Rainforest Reserve, situated in the Oregon Coast Range between Cannon Beach and Manzanita, is home to a diverse array of rare and precious plants and wildlife, in addition to providing a natural backdrop for communities along the North Coast.
Originally conserved in October 2021, after a five-year fundraising campaign, North Coast Land Conservancy (NCLC) has now expanded this 3,500-acre reserve by an additional 80 acres, purchased on Jan. 7, 2026. This newly conserved land is located on the southeastern border of the Rainforest Reserve and features a similar abundance of upland forest and rocky outcroppings.
A Diverse Landscape
Located adjacent to Oswald West State Park and above Cape Falcon Marine Reserve, the Rainforest Reserve is part of an uninterrupted 32-square-mile conservation corridor that stretches from the summits of 3,000-foot peaks within the Oregon Coast Range to Short Sand Beach and the sandy seabed and rocky reefs of the nearshore ocean. The entire corridor is brimming with critical habitat for a wide array of wildlife and plant species, to help them adapt to a changing world, while also supporting the surrounding communities.
Some of the critters and plants that inhabit the Rainforest Reserve include Chambers paintbrush, with its showy red-orange flower; Olympic onion; queen-of-the-forest; Pacific silver fir; Coho salmon; bobcat; black bears; elk; birds; and much more.
Onion Peak and the Angora Peak Complex are the main fixtures within the Rainforest Reserve. Relics of an ancient volcanic event, these peaks—islands in the sky—were once isolated by an oceanic moat. That isolation gave rise to a unique landscape of incredible diversity. Some of the species found on these coastal peaks exist nowhere else on Earth.
Since acquiring the Rainforest Reserve, NCLC has been active in conserving adjacent lands and waters to expand the existing corridor and enhance habitat connectivity. The new 80.57-acre property, in particular, has been a priority, as its conservation further protects Onion Peak, which contains uniquely sensitive habitats and rare species, such as the ancient black petaltail dragonfly.
NCLC looks forward to continually stewarding this magnificent reserve and providing the support and care needed to restore the land to its wild roots.
Comments
Wonderful news about the new acquisition! This is such a fine organization doing important work!
Such welcome news!! Thanks to all who made it happen!!
I am so very excited about this land expansion. How exciting to be able to say that so many acres of land can now be under the wings of trusted protection.
Does the NCLC allow logging or road building within its “conserved acreage”?
Thanks for asking! NCLC doesn’t permit outside agencies or businesses to log conserved lands. Our stewardship of a select few properties occasionally includes selective thinning, to help set former tree farms (that were once overplanted) on a healthy trajectory toward becoming thriving forests with more structural diversity and a robust understory. Trees that are thinned stay on the property to become habitat for wildlife and enrich the soil. One example is Boneyard Ridge Habitat Reserve, and we’ve written extensively about the long-term benefits of this selective treatment if you want to learn more.
We do not allow road building on our habitat reserves, and we are currently decommissioning roads in the Rainforest Reserve. We look forward to sharing more about this project in the future!
Glad to see the land above Cape Falcon and between Cannon Beach and Manzanita is protected.