Escape #1: Treehouse in Middle Earth
The Treehouse That Feels Like a Fairy Tale:
Location: Gold Beach, Oregon
By: someguy@escapeacrossamerica.org
A ¼ mile hike ends at the treehouse that will make you question if you are dreaming.
A Stormy Start, a Twisting Road, and One Hell of a Welcome
Driving in from California’s I-5 after being snowed in for a couple of days, I wasn’t sure what we were heading into. After speaking with the owner of the treehouse we’d booked, we found out they’d just been hit by a hurricane while we were buried in snow. Gratefully, they shifted our stay back a few days.
As we neared the coast, sharp turns and rising hills kept us on edge. The river ran alongside us the whole way—sometimes hundreds of feet below, over a cliff that didn’t care about second chances. There was both beauty and danger in every curve.
First Glimpse of Gold Beach
After a slow crawl that involved road crew delays and scenic stops, we arrived at Kissing Rock in Gold Beach. “Unreal” feels like a weak word, but that’s all I had at the time. The Pacific was thrashing the coastline with all her might. No whales that day, just raw power and cold salt wind. Beautiful doesn’t begin to cover it.
We walked the beach a while, then headed to our Airbnb—the so-called treehouse. And yeah, the excitement was very real.
The Wrong Foot and the Right People
Being from Florida, parking on grass feels normal. Turns out, not everyone agrees. I might’ve botched my entrance, but the hosts—kind, genuine folks—quickly turned it around. A husband-and-wife team running what I can only describe as a full-blown woodland retreat: horses, home-cooked food, a game room, shared showers.
Then they asked if we were ready to hike to the treehouse.
We were. Or so we thought.
“It is not even photoshopped. I don’t know how to do that.”-Some Guy
Like Stepping Into Narnia:
If I didn’t know we’d booked it, I’d have sworn we were trespassing in some secret realm. The path was straight out of fantasy: mossy, quiet, lit by twinkling lights, and hugged by a babbling creek. The deeper we went, the more unreal it felt.
Then came the waterfall.
The view from the bedroom in the treehouse in Narnia, but really Gold Beach, Oregon
It revealed itself beside a wooden walkway and staircase. You climb next to it—with it—until you’re face to face with the basin. Then the final stairs take you up to the door. The air’s thick with mist and magic. You move slow, not just for safety—but because something in you wants to stretch the moment.
Inside the Dream
The treehouse is compact, cozy, and completely surreal. A waterfall pours down right outside the bedroom window. The bed is not just soft—it’s comfort itself. There’s a tin soaking tub facing the falls, perfect for an end-of-day wind-down.
Sure, there’s no full kitchen. The bathroom has an RV-style toilet. But you’re in a treehouse watching water crash down ten feet away. Trust me—you won’t miss the stove.
A small sitting area with a TV and some movies exists, but you’ll probably forget it’s there. This place isn’t for zoning out on screens—it’s for zoning back into life.
What to Bring:
1.A couple of bottles of wine
2.Crackers, cheeses, olives, fruits, maybe some nuts
3.Warm clothes, good boots, a childlike sense of wonder
You don’t need much else.
Near, Yet Far Away
A beautiful hike in Gold Beach, Oregon located only minutes from the Treehouse. Bring water, and remember to go slow.
Only minutes from restaurants, beaches, and small-town shops, you’re close enough to stay connected—but just far enough to feel like you’ve stepped out of time.
As if it hadn’t been magical enough. No pot of gold to report, however.
Final Thoughts
If you’re headed to the Oregon Coast and only have a couple of nights, make this your stay. It’s romantic. It’s magical. It’s worth every penny.
You’ll leave with unrealistic expectations for what comes next—but that’s okay. The Oregon Coast might just live up to them.
Not a fan of people, this one.
