The title is a mistatement. I did hike in a couple places, very short hikes not more than 2 hours each, but was not hiking along the Oregon Coast as the title insinuates. 😉 After leaving Crater Lake, I followed the Umpqua River on its winding journey from the Cascades to the sea.
The Umpqua River was hiding behind just a few trees most of the way down the road.
The Umpqua River is beautiful, it flows fast and shallow for 111 miles to the sea, slowly becoming flatter, smoother and wider, looking more blue than gray like it was in the mineral filled mountains. Everything was very dry, meadows were brown.
Steep mountains and tall trees line the roads – effectively blocking the satellite signal for my radio.One of many elk who were residing near Elkton, Oregon.
I drove through Elkton (same name as my hometown), and lots of small hamlets and fishing villages. When I arrived at the sea, I immediately headed for Oregon Dunes State Park. Little did I know it was an ATV and motorcycle park. I quickly back-pedaled out of there. Too noisy and dusty!
The dunes further up the coast were wide and high and hot. In places there was a half-mile or more of gigantic dunes, not the tiny dunes like those along the Eastern Seaboard, note the trees growing out of them. HUGE!The trail through the forest after the dunes – went on and on and on, switchbacks on flat ground – to the sea, to the sea . . . . Finally out of the woods.Yes, I finally reached the sea, but it was time to get back on the road before it became dark.Peregrine Falcons were putting on a show over the cove that was their fiefdom. Lots of smaller shore birds far below in the cove were prey for the falcons. It was like a flying city: several floors of different types of birds flying about.This lighthouse sat at the bottom of a long hill down to a cliff. Beautiful old glass prisms.These trees reside near the top of the hill above the lighthouse, very tall.The fence surrounding a home was all made of lighthouses of Oregon, all slightly different and aged differently.No one is swimming in these cold waters.
The next morning, I wanted to see the moon set over the ocean and took off at 4:00 AM. The beach was of course deserted and very cold, the tide was going out. My feet and hands were numb very quickly. I really enjoyed the quiet solitude while the moon set into the Pacific.
Setting MoonA little bit lower now.Misty morning.Time to make the morning jo.
Hiking to the point in the morning. The sea was far below me, probably 150′ down, I could hear it though.The shapes of nature are so beautiful.Goodbye ocean, on to Washington.
Was enjoying photography and retirement until my youngest son contracted Valley Fever while working. Now, I haven’t written any posts or taken many photos (very few anyway). I struggle with remembering all my settings since not using them. There are plans afoot to start my blog again.
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3 Replies to “Hiking the Oregon Coast”
Glad to find your blog. You have some amazing pictures with your travel tales.
I am a man who believes romance should never die, movies make for a great night, custom suiting is a must and creating a legacy is one's purpose. A man who holds true to this understands the gentleman's lifestyle.
from egghill 
Glad to find your blog. You have some amazing pictures with your travel tales.
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Thanks very much! It’s really lovely knowing that others like what they see. I hope to get a post out later today, glad to have you as a follower.
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I didn’t know there was an Elkton in Oregon! There is a good ‘shadowed’ picture in this post. Hint, hint.
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