Tour the North Coast Beaches - A Photo Album
Begin
your beach tour at Ft. Stevens State Park. Follow the signs to the Peter
Iredale shipwreck, the remains of a sailing ship that wrecked on the beach
in 1916. Twenty miles of beautiful beach extend all the way from the mouth
of the Columbia River, at the location of the South Jetty, south to Seaside
and Tillimook Head. Drive onto the beach here and drive south on the former
Hwy 101 to Sunset Beach where there is easy return to the present 101.
Kite
flying, sandcastle building and vollyball tournaments abound at this beautiful
beach, but undoubtedly it is the Promenade below that offers this part
of the Oregon Coast its best charm. Also known as the "Prom,"
this historic walk takes you past elegant beach homes built in the late
1800's and early 1900's by some of Oregon's most famous residents.
Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery came here during the winter of 1805, '06 to mine the Pacific Ocean for its salt. No one knows for sure exactly where they chose to set up camp and build their salt cairn, but maybe you can discover it yourself. Walk onto the beach from the Prom and head south. The corps needed to find ample firewood and rocks with which to build their cairn.
When
you find that spot, look to the southwest to see Tillimook Head, to the
left, looking just as it did in 1805. If you come to this beach on the
weekends of July 15 - 17 and August 19 - 21 you can mingle among the corps
itself. First
person interpreters from Ft. Clatsop will camp and relive the experience.
You play the part of local Clatsop Indians, watching in wonder as the
corps extracts salt. Bring something to trade, and you may bring home
real seasalt from the Corps of Discovery. See our page on
first person events at the coast.
Continue
south to the first Cannon Beach exit. Before town, turn right to Ecola.
The view from this lovely park is fantastic. Look south to spot Haystack
Rock and the town of Cannon Beach.
Just
before you enter the parking area at Ecola, turn right at the sign to
Indian Beach. This hidden cove offers exquisit beach combing and trail
access to Tillamook Head. The trail follows the same Indian trail followed
by Lewis and Clark. They took this trail from the salt works to Cannon
Beach, known then as Ecola, to try and retrieve fat from a beached whale.
They found only bones, but did trade with Indian for blubber. In 2004,
a whale actually washed up on the rocks at Indian Beach.
Tillamook
Head Lighthouse can be seen from Ecola Park. Known as "Terrible Tilly"
because of all the lives lost trying to service the lighthouse, it serves
now as a masoleum.
Haystack Rock dominates the scene at Cannon Beach.
This
is a wildlife preserve and home of the Tufted Puffin, along with many
other sea creatures you may discover in the tide-pools around Haystack
Rock. Remember, this area is protected. You can look, but you can't take
anything home.
Three
miles south of Cannon Beach, turn off at the sign to Cascadia Beach.
The
hiking and beach combing here are among the best on the coast. As you
walk along the beach, remember that in 1916 Oregon governor Oswald West
designated the coast as Hwy 101, and put it under the control of Oregon
Department of Transportation. To this day, Oregon's beaches belong to
the public, and access cannot be blocked.
Hiking
south along the beach from Cascadia brings you around Hug Point, just
like the travelers along the original Hwy 101.
Before
the automobile, horse drawn carts followed the natural road around the
cape.
Save lots of time to discover Hug Point, and enjoy these photos taken in February, 2005.
I hope you enjoyed this tour of the North Coast Beaches. Please contact us for the best in lodging, dining, and touring.
