The
Three Capes Scenic Loop is a route leading west
from Highway 101, to an exceptionally beautiful piece of
coastline, which includes Cape Meares, Cape Lookout, and
Cape Kiwanda. Cape Meares State Park is a large
day-use park offering picnicking, beach activity, and a
visit to the historic Cape Meares Lighthouse. Three Arch
Rocks National Wildlife Refuge is a prime birding area,
known for the largest flock of puffins on the Pacific
Coast. Cape Lookout State Park has camping within
its 1,974 acres. This is one of the state coastal parks
which take campsite reservations between Memorial Day and
Labor Day. For information on availability, and to make
reservations, call the state parks department at
800-452-5687 (in-state and out of Portland), or (503)
731-3411 (in Portland and out of state).
There
are two parks which cover the Cape Kiwanda area. A
Tillamook County park includes the parking area for both.
The state park contains the cape, with a huge haystack
rock offshore. As the Three Capes Loop passes Pacific
City, the route provides access to Bob Stroud State
Park. This day-use park offers exciting walking on a
section of dunes, on Nestucca Spit.
Cascade
Head Experimental Forest is found along the historic
(former) Highway 101, which leads off the newer 101, just
south of the town of Neskowin. The forest headquarters
office provides information on silvaculture. Another
sideroad, this one three miles south of Neskowin, leads
to Cascade Head. Heading west off Highway 101,
you'll find the middle trailhead of the Cascade Head
Trail. This six-mile trail has its north trailhead two
miles south of Neskowin, and its southern terminus on
Highway 101, two miles south of Neskowin. Continuing
along Cascade Head Road, you'll see the junction with
Forest Road 1861. This road leads to the trailhead of the
Harts Cove Trail.
Endless
Beach
The
stretch of coast south of the Three Capes contains the
popular Lincoln County beaches, a continuous 60 miles of
white sandy beach, with a succession of state beach parks
and beach-side tourist towns, including Lincoln City,
Gleneden Beach, Depoe Bay, Otter Rock, Newport, Seal
Rock, Waldport and Yachats (pronounced Ya-Hots).
Halfway
down this strip of beach is Newport, positioned on
Yaquinna Bay, the home of the Oregon Coast Aquarium and
the Hatfield Marine Science Center, next door. Keiko, the
orca star of the Free Willy movies has migrated from
Mexico, and is now in residence in an upscale killer
whale home, in the Oregon Coast Aquarium. The science
center sponsors daily dock and estuary walks during
summer. The aquarium, with its displays of marine
animals, plus a seabird aviary, charges an entry fee.
Entry to the science center is free. The major section of
the Siuslaw National Forest appears just south of
Newport, where it is two miles inland. By the time you
reach Yachats and Cape Perpetua, Highway 101 is into the
forest, with access to scenic trails and Forest Service
campgrounds.
Crossing
the Lincoln-Lane county line, we're now 168.5 miles south
of Astoria, more than halfway down the Oregon Coast, and
at an unsigned beach access point, one of many along the
coast that provide paths to walk onto secluded stretches
of ocean beach. This beach is noted for a sea "horn," a
spout of water blown through holes in the rock. There are
other horns to the south. Neptune State Park
(another mile) has picnic tables and restrooms. Less than
a mile south is a short road to the Cummins Ridge
Trailhead. This is a prime, 18.6-mile hiking loop in
the Siuslaw National Forest.
A
small wayside park is located at Bob Creek. Again, there
are no facilities, but a short stay here is recommended.
Mussels are in plentiful supply on the rocks at low tide,
and the creek mouth is a home for ducks. Harlequin ducks
have been seen here. Four miles south of Bob Creek,
Ocean Beach State Park offers picnicking in a
small wayside area next to another beach. The Forest
Service operates Rock Creek Campground, a small but
extremely scenic site in the forest, about .25 mile from
the highway.
Two
major state parks are located just north of Florence.
Carl G. Washburne State Park is comprised of 1,800 acres
of beach (more than a mile long) and shoreline
vegetation. China Creek and Cape Creek flow through the
park, offering wildlife habitat. There are tidepools to
explore, and elk to view at a distance. A day-use area
with picnic tables and rest rooms is located west of
Highway 101. A campground is east of the highway, with
additional walk-in sites, and a hiker-biker camp. The
campground is open year-round. Devil's Elbow State Park
is adjacent to the Hecata Head Lighthouse. The park is a
day-use facility for picnicking and walking along the
seafront. The historic lighthouse is open for tours
Thursday through Sunday from noon to 5 pm., during the
summer months.
