*warning* photo intensive.
This was the big vacation of the year. My sister-in-law had an art showing in Eureka the week of my daughter's spring break. It didn't take long for the gears in my head to start churning out vacation ideas that ended with several days in the Redwoods in and around Eureka California. The trip was originally supposed to go through areas of the cascades that we had never been before. The weather conspired against us however, so we chose the safer though more familliar trip down the coast.
Bear in mind while this is a "Trip Report" that includes a handful of hikes, this was a family trip that had something for everybody. So there will be the Fern Canyon hike (something for daddy), lighthouses (something for mommy), and tide pools (something for Thea). Some of this was a blur so forgive me if I get out of order.
We started in Astoria. Just south of there was the shipwreck at Fort Stevens. It was a perfect day for this one.
Next was the Ecola State Park / Tillamook Head hike. This was really the only day that weather was a factor. We never got dumped on, but the trail was extremely muddy/snowy in parts. And we did get sprinkled on enough to draw the protest of a particular six year old.
The Tillimook lighthouse (it's there if you squint). The first of eleven....I kid you not, we had to go visit every lighthouse on the Oregon coast. All nine "Official" ones, and two private ones. Heck, we even stopped at a few in California for good measure. I'm glad we got them all...In hind sight :-)
Cannon Beach
Next stop was Cape Mears. What a great area. The lighthouse here was only the beginning. I will spare you all photos of every lighthouse. There was a wonderful park, great views all around, and the Octopus tree.
I believe Yaquina Head was next. Here is a lighthouse because I like the picture, but the Yaquina Head Natural area is amazing.
The tide pools were world class.
Heceta Head was a great little mile round trip walk to the lighthouse. Here, from the inside.
A stay over in Bandon produced a last minute sunset picture of Face Rock.
The next morning, in better light.
Did you know that Cape Perpetua has tide pools? Thea did.
The next part of the trip was one of my favorites. The perfect combination of weather and scenery. The Samuel H. Boardman State Park has some of the most awe inspiring viewpoints I have ever seen. According to Sullivan, there is a 12 mile one way hike along the coast that takes you through the whole thing. I can't imagine. I'm doing it as soon as possible. If anybody out there has done it, let me know about it please. We stopped at about 4 or 5 viewpoints along the way.
Natural Bridges.....There is a little trail going right over the top of them.
We had to rush to get to the Oregon caves before they closed for the day. We were lucky this one was opened. It was very snowy up there, and just passable. It worked out though. Nobody was there and we received a long, personalized tour from a very knowledgeable ranger. This place was a lot of fun for all of us.
We finally made it into Redwood Country. The picture doesn't do it justice, but the Smith River had this amazing blue/green water. It looked Disney-ish, even fake at times.
The "Trees of Mystery" was better than I thought it would be. Lots of interesting trees and a great (free) Native American Cultural museum at the end of the walk. Here are the "Cathedral Trees".
Now that we were in the redwoods proper. We took a couple of the highly recommended scenic drives. The Newton B. Drury, Howland Hill Rd, and the Avenue of the Giants. There were great hiking trails of all lengths along all of these drives.
Here is 6 foot 2 inches worth of brother-in-law standing next to an uprooted redwood.
Last but not least was Fern Canyon. A one mile loop hike that for my money, was as good as any one mile stretch I've done. It is simillar to the Oneonta gorge hike, due to the steep canyon wall aspect. I'm told during summer you can hike the whole thing without getting wet. Not true during spring. There were portions that were thigh high in the shallowest spots. The canyon was gorgeous however and the return part of the loop is above the ridge of the canyon among coastal redwoods. The hike concludes where it started, at the mouth of the canyon on the beach. Where I might add, Elk are roaming freely.....On the beach !? This was a good hike for just daddy since the going was rough in some spots this time of year. The ladies did not mind hanging out on the beach while daddy got wet and cold.
Now I need a vacation to recover from my vacation :-)
Adam | 
