Secret Beach

During our Arch Rock hike (see previous post), we were lucky enough to come upon Secret Beach at low tide, allowing us to scramble down some rocks to enjoy our picnic in a delightful almost hidden alcove, replete with a waterfall and trailing stream which trickled out to meet the waves. Twice each day this beach is re-sculpted, with the incoming tide washing up the shore and swallowing the stream, and the newly formed stream re-carving its path with each low tide. One wonders how "secret" this tiny beach really is, since we found it not only on the trail map, but also along the trail itself. Still, we were the only ones there that day, and it isn't all that easy to access. You have to be comfortable with a scrambling short climb down, and back up the rocks that separate the trail from the beach. Well worth the effort, but watch the tide! You don't want to get stuck at high tide waiting for the waves to recede before getting back on the trail. 

Arch Rock Hike (Oregon Coast Trail)

Once again, and to our delight, we found ourselves hiking along the Oregon Coast Trail (OCT), this time on a stretch of Highway 101 between Gold Beach and Brookings. This particular hike centered around Arch Rock, obviously named for its distinctive shape, and identifiable the minute you lay eyes on it. But Arch Rock is just one of many impressive rock formations along this stretch of the OCT, including Natural Bridges and countless other unnamed rock sentinels rising from the sea that don't seem to warrant their own notoriety. Our hike started form a parking lot trailhead and wound in and out of old-growth forests, taking us to cliff-side views of the coast, and at times right along the edge of Highway 101. Along the trail we were treated to many varieties of wildflowers and mushrooms, along with the ever present fern that blankets the forest floor. We packed along a picnic and when it was time to break for lunch, we were lucky enough to find ourselves at Secret Beach at low tide…but that's the subject of my next post.

Cape Perpetua Hike

Yachats (pronounced "Yah-Haughts") is a small coastal town about 26 miles north of Florence bordering the Siuslaw National Forest. From the Cape Perpetua Visitors Center in Yachats, there are numerous hiking trails that wind through virgin stands of Sitka Spruce, Western Hemlock, and Douglass Fir. Dan and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take one of these hikes while we were still staying in Florence; below are some pictures from our outing. 

Ecola State Park, Cannon Beach, Oregon

Our last outing in Cannon Beach before heading south to Florence was a hike in the Ecola State Park. Dan and I had a lot of fun trying to figure out how to pronounce "Ecola". Is it pronounced E. Cola like the dreaded E. Coli? Or, was it more like "eee-cola", like the lozenge Ricola? Or maybe neither, maybe it was pronounced "Echo-la". We never found out officially, but we did find out what the word means. It turns out Ecola (or E-cu-lah) is the Chinook word for whale, and this area was thus named by Merriwether Lewis (of Lewis & Clark) for a beached whale they had found after an arduous search, led by Sacagawea. Far cry from the tiny E. Coli microorganism, huh?

The hike we took in the park this day was another experience of stunning views of the coast and trails winding through old-growth forests. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to explore portions of the Oregon Coast Trail during our stay in Cannon Beach, and I am looking forward to further explorations in both Florence and Gold Beach as we continue south over the next few weeks. Here are some snapshots of our hike.

 

Hiking The Oregon Coast Trail (Falcon Crest)

Hiking ranks high on my list of "Favorite Things to do Outside", and hiking near the ocean is even better yet. Throw in hiking on the portion of the Oregon Coast Trail that winds through old growth forests, catching breathtaking view of the Oregon coastline, experiencing the sights, sounds, and smells of this incredible spot on Planet Earth, and I can't really think of anywhere else I would rather be, or anything else I would rather do. I am forever grateful for each day my legs allow me to trample through the woods, up and down rooted and muddy trails, and climb the hills where hikes like this take me. As long as I can keep on trucking, I will forever look forward to the next opportunity to experience places like the Falcon Cape Hike near Cannon Beach.