Our Coast: Outdoors 2021

Find your adventure Kiteboarding Hiking Mountain Biking Geocaching Kite Flying Beachcombing Birdwatching

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Explore coastal nature this summer

Alyssa Evans Editor Coast Weekend

If you’re visiting for a day or you’re a local resident here to stay, you’ll find that Oregon’s North Coast and southwest Washington are full of outdoor adventures. From mountain biking along a local trail to geocaching in a state park, there are endless ways to enjoy nature locally.

This summer marks the first trips many of us will take since early 2020, if not longer. Tourists have already been flocking to visit the coast and local residents have begun to enjoy gatherings together — many of which have been outside as the forecast warms up. As our local coastal communities transition into this next stage of the coronavirus pandemic, one thing is certain: the outdoors will be enjoyable for all to visit.

Regardless of how long you’ll be in the area, we hope these stories help you make the most of your summer. Articles in this summer’s issue feature tips on a variety of activities including hiking, geocaching, mountain biking, kite flying, paragliding, beachcombing, bird watching and visiting local parks.

Whether you prefer activities on land or on the water, there’s something for you to enjoy on the coast. Enjoy your time exploring.

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Our Coast Outdoors 2021

Outdoors OUR COAST

PUBLISHER Kari Borgen EDITOR Alyssa Evans CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Jonathan Williams PHOTOGRAPHER Hailey Hoffman DESIGN DIRECTOR/LAYOUT John D. Bruijn

Catch Some Air

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Alyssa Evans Gary Henley Katherine Lacaze ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Sarah Silver ADVERTISING SALES Lisa Cadonau Heather Jenson Andrew Renwick

SUMMER 2021

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Kitesurfing and paragliding on Our Coast

Time to Pedal

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10

Clatsop County’s mountain bike trails

Trekking the Coast

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Multiple hiking trails to experience

Time to Soar

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Kite flying on Our Coast

Geocaching 18 Discover the North Coast’s hidden treasures

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Beachcombing and mudlarking

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Birdwatching 20

A Day at the Park

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Six parks to consider heading to this summer

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Outdoors Resources

Information to help plan your adventure

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The Sights and Sounds of Our Coast A photo essay by Hailey Hoffman Visitors and locals alike often swoon over how beautiful the landscape along the North Coast is. And rightly so — its beauty is remarkable. But we rarely talk about what it sounds like. You know the sounds: the bark of the sea lions, Fort George Brewery’s 5 o’clock whistle, the gentle rush of waves hitting the shore and more.

To fully immerse yourself in the spirit of our coast, visit DiscoverOurCoast.com to hear the sounds as you view the photo essay. Close your eyes and open your ears. Then look at the photos. You’ll be ready to adventure.

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Words & Images: Gary Henley

here are plenty of opportunities in Clatsop County for fun and recreation on land and in the water … but how about those who are looking for a little “air time?”

And not just flying a kite, but for the adventure seekers looking for ways to ride the winds and explore higher altitudes over the North Coast?

There’s always ziplining (Highlife Adventures, 92111 High Life Road, Warrenton). But there are other ways to find above-ground entertainment.

The first is kitesurfing and/or kiteboarding — attaching your feet to a short surfboard, then putting on a harness with a bar, attached to a big kite. Thus, “kitesurfing.”

The coastal winds of northwest Oregon provide some of the finest areas available for kitesurfers and kiteboarders. Both groups can be seen sometimes from northern beaches between Sunset Beach and the Peter Iredale, and in or around Trestle Bay, near the South Jetty.

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Our Coast Outdoors 2021

“Kiteboarding, kitesurfing, or whatever you want to call it, is one of the best sports on the planet,” according to kite-line. com. “Kiteboarding allows you to feel connected to the elements (water, snow, land) as the wind powers you and your kite along.

Kitesurfing has grown tremendously and the sport has taken off in many directions (wakestyle, freestyle, surfing, foiling, snow, land). Kiteboarding equipment has also changed along with each discipline.”

All kitesurfing and boarding gear can be purchased online, but if you’re looking to try it on first, Cleanline Surf in Seaside (60 N. Roosevelt Drive, 503-738-7888) and Cannon Beach (171 Sunset Boulevard, 503-436-9726) carries most equipment for your kitesurfing and kiteboarding needs.

For those who wish to fly much higher, consider paragliding.

Paragliding offers powered and unpowered gliding over a nearly 5-mile stretch of beach, from Del Rey to Sunset Beach.

And what is paragliding?

“Paragliders (use) a ground-based towing system, where a vehicle with a specially designed winch system pulls the paraglider aloft,” according to discoverparagliding.com. “The vehicle and paraglider start in close proximity, with the paraglider climbing higher as the vehicle drives along the beach between Sunset and Del Rey Beach approaches. Elevations of over 3,000 (feet) can be reached with this method. Once the paraglider reaches maximum altitude, the tow line is released and quickly rewound into the tow vehicle.”

And the paraglider is off and gliding, riding the wind currents up and down the beach.

Discover Paragliding (503-440-0733, info@discoverparagliding. com) “offers scenic tandem flights and solo paragliding training over spectacular Sunset Beach.”

Individuals can fly with a certified “Master Tandem Instructor” up to 3,000 feet above the beach.

For those who prefer to fly solo, the company offers “complete training packages from that ‘first day’ to your advanced ratings and beyond. With its consistent winds and miles of flyable beaches, Sunset Beach is arguably one of the top five training locations in the U.S. It’s a perfect destination for your paragliding training vacation.”

Discover Paragliding recently announced that customers will be required to provide proof that they’ve been vaccinated against the coronavirus.

“With our extended group exposure, both indoors and outdoors, we feel that this decision definitely falls into the ‘best practices’ category for the safety of our students and instructors,” the company said.

Operations “will frequently be conducted during daylight hours for the duration of our flying season,” approximately March 15 to Oct. 15.

Discover Paragliding is now offering tandem instructional flights, under the above conditions, with limited availability.

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Our Coast Outdoors 2021 Words: Gary Henley

• Images: Hailey Hoffman

TIME TO PEDAL

Explore

Clatsop County’s mountain bike trails More trails, more bikers, and (hopefully) fewer closures … will all add up to more fun on the Klootchy Creek mountain biking trails network.

In 2020, coronavirus pandemic restrictions and weather conditions (wet and/or dry) led to blanket closures of trail systems across the state.

In early July 3 2021, the current system of trails at Klootchy Creek were all closed due to fire danger.

When it is open, an overview of Klootchy Creek shows a total of 17 different mountain bike trails.

The North Coast Trail Alliance manages the trail system with GreenWood Resources and the Clatsop County Parks Department.

The trail alliance is still hosting mountain biking events along the Oregon Coast.

While the latest closure is “discouraging,” said Steven Blakesley, president of the Northwest The North Coast Trails Alliance, enough work was Trail Alliance completed in the off-season that there are “just under 10 miles” trails manages the trail in the Klootchy Creek system, up system at Klootchy from 7.7 miles at this time last year, Creek which has a with more trail openings on the way.

Before the July closure, an total of 17 different “Upper Low Tide” trail was opened mountain bike for intermediate riders, while the “Quarantine” trail was completed trails. all the way to the Klootchy Creek mainline road.

“We had done work on the lower part of the system, and we were about to start on the intermediate trails (before the closure),” Blakesley said.

The alliance’s long-term goal is to have 40 miles of networked trails. Volunteer trail-builders have put in more than 5,000 hours of work on the trails.

“When we had the grand opening (in 2019), we had 2.7 miles,” he said.

Early returns in 2020 showed “where people are coming from, and they’re starting to come from all over,” Blakesley said. And that was in a summer hit hard by inclement weather, coronavirus restrictions and a 10-day closure in August for fire danger. The virus and the summer fire season kept organized work parties from developing the trails, while the funding is “mostly driven through tourism dollars,” Blakesley said — another major setback because of coronavirus that wiped out much of the tourist season.

“COVID hit us hard in the sense that it made it difficult for the volunteers and the fundraisers to get together, because of the social distancing rules,” he said.

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Collaboration

Until recently, the “true mountain bikers” of Clatsop County had limited options on where to ride.

Thanks to a collaborative effort of the Northwest Trails Alliance, GreenWood Resources and the Clatsop County Parks Department, those options improved dramatically with the Klootchy Creek Trail system.

The network of trails is located off U.S. Highway 26, two miles east of the U.S. Highway 101 junction.

It’s also the county’s only system of trails built specifically for mountain biking.

County commissioners were joined by representatives from GreenWood, the trail alliance and others involved in the project for a chainsaw “ribbon-cutting” that officially opened the trails in July 2019.

The Klootchy Creek trail system has something for every type of mountain biker, from the casual rider to the most serious expert mountain biker.

“The project is really about designating trails for all user levels and user-desired experiences,” Blakesley said in 2020. “It really covers a lot of ground.”

Before you go, a quick check of some of the trail names (which can be found at trailforks.com) might give you an idea of what the trails are like.

The Klootchy network includes the “Defibrillator,” “Sticky Buns,” the “Get Down,” “Dirty 30” and “Holy Shoot,” just to name a few. Trails are all classified by difficulty.

“The trails are very different and they all have a unique feel to them, so they appeal to different people,” Blakesley said. “That’s the goal we’re trying to reach. We love seeing new riders up there.”

A mountain bike rider pedals through the forest.

A cyclist rides along the Astoria Riverwalk.

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Trekking the Coast

Multiple trails offer fun walking experiences Words: Gary Henley

• Images: Hailey Hoffman

Some call it walking; others call it hiking, exploring or working out. No matter what you call it, there are plenty of hiking trails to enjoy a trek in Clatsop County.

The county has miles of paths, trails and walkways, including flat trails, steep trails, paved trails, unpaved trails and everything in between.

Oswald West State Park features hiking trails and views of the Pacific Ocean.

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Our Coast Outdoors 2021

Lydia Ivanovic, left, and Nichole Lopez, travel through Angora Peak.

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he Astoria Riverwalk is a paved path for walkers, The entire path is asphalt and can be used for walking, skating or joggers, skaters and cyclists. It also serves the local biking. It is also wheelchair accessible. residents who live along the path by being perfect for Bicycles can cover more ground on the trails in Fort Stevens State taking Snoopy out for his morning walk or going on an Park but there are miles for walking, jogging and wildlife viewing evening stroll to catch beautiful summer sunsets. The throughout the park. Visitors can park and begin their adventure at path is also wheelchair accessible.

Battery Russell, which serves as the starting point of several trails.

The riverwalk provides a literal walk through history. Walkers For a long, straight walk, try the Kestrel Dune Trail, which runs can observe the city’s past from the present, from viewing the pilings parallel to the Peter Iredale beach. Trail endpoints are the Peter of former canneries and warehouses built over the Columbia River, Iredale Road and Parking Lot A, off Jetty Road. The trail is straight to walking in the shadows of historical buildings which still stand. and paved for all 1.9 miles.

It’s also a good place to spot wildlife, from For walking on non-asphalt trails, head to the occasional deer, to sea lions basking in the There are miles of walking, Fort Clatsop, where the short Netul Trail, and sun, to a multitude of birds along the banks of the longer Fort-to-Sea Trail will serve all your jogging and wildlife the river. walking, hiking or wildlife viewing needs.

The riverwalk trail itself extends 6.4 miles viewing trails throughout There’s also the “airport trail,” which borders Fort Stevens State Park. from Tongue Point at the east end, to Pier 3 at the Astoria Regional Airport. The trailhead is the Port of Astoria. During the summer months, off U.S. Business Highway 101, just west before look out for the Astoria Riverfront Trolley, which runs along the rails crossing the bridge over the Lewis and Clark River. adjacent to the riverwalk.

In Coast Weekend’s annual “Readers’ Choice Awards,” the Another local spot for walking, jogging or wildlife spotting is Astoria Riverwalk received the most votes for “Best Place to Walk.” the Warrenton Waterfront Trail. The southern tip of the trail begins The runners-up included two places on the north side of the at the east end of S.E. 3rd Street, bordering the Skipanon River. The Columbia River: the Discovery Trail and the Long Beach boardwalk, trail follows the Skipanon, travels inland for a mile or two, then runs both in Long Beach, Washington. north along the shore of the Columbia River.

The Discovery Trail is an 8.3 mile paved trail that is mostly level After a brief detour around Tansy Point, the trail rejoins the river, and runs parallel to the beach. Trail endpoints are 26th Street N.W., follows a path and winds through the streets of Hammond — all just west of Sea Crest Avenue in Long Beach, and Main Street S.W. the way to the west side of the Hammond boat basin and ends at the and 2nd Avenue in Ilwaco. eastern edge of Fort Stevens. The length of the Warrenton waterfront The Long Beach Boardwalk is accessible from Bolstad Avenue trail is 4.7 miles, according to traillink.com. and Sid Snyder Avenue in downtown Long Beach.

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S

Flying quad kites at the beach.

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Our Coast Outdoors 2021

Soar TIME TO

DESTINATION TRAILERS TRUCK CAMPER / TOY HAULERS

Kite events, shops make for beach fun

Words: Gary Henley & Alyssa Evans • Images: Hailey Hoffman

TRAVEL TRAILER / 5TH WHEEL

Weather depending, kite flyers can enjoy ideal kite flying conditions from spring to fall on Oregon’s North Coast.

For the competitive and creative kite flyers, there are occasional kite festivals in the Columbia-Pacific region. The largest is the Washington State International Kite Festival, held annually the third week of August in Long Beach, Washington. The festival is a weeklong event, including celebrations and competitions.

Long Beach is also home to a handful of smaller kite-focused events, including a “windless kites” event in January, a celebration of the Asian New Year, and an October event, “One Sky, One World.”

Buy your gear Ready-to-fly kites are available to buy in spots along Oregon’s North Coast and in Long Beach, Washington.

Cleanline Surf features some sturdy kites in Seaside at 60 N. Roosevelt Drive (503-738-7888) and in Cannon Beach, 171 Sunset Boulevard (503-436-9726). Also in the area is Pinky’s Kite Factory in Cannon Beach, 339 Fir Street (503-440-6092).

On the Long Beach Peninsula, there is the World Kite Museum and Hall of Fame, 303 S.W. Sid Snyder Drive (360-642-4020), which also features a variety of kites from around the world. In downtown Long Beach, there is Wind World, 115 Pacific Ave. (360-642-5483).

Other shops scattered throughout different beach towns in the area also sell kites.

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17

Geocaching

Discover the North Coast’s hidden treasures Words: Alyssa Evans

The sun peeked through the clouds on a calm summer morning.

Downtown Astoria was surprisingly quiet. Few people walked along the sidewalks.

Heading out of my apartment, I wondered whether to head toward the Astoria Riverwalk or stroll by the many downtown shops.

After a quick deliberation, I started walking east, feeling nervous. This wouldn’t be an ordinary walk — I was on the hunt for treasure.

As I walked, I kept glancing at my phone’s screen. Acting as a modern treasure map, Geocaching, an app, directed me to a treasure marker just a couple of minutes away.

A few blocks over, off 12th and Duane streets, people at the Astoria Sunday Market maneuvered their goods into bags and backseats. I looked around, checking to make sure I wasn’t in

• Images: Hailey Hoffman

anyone’s way on the sidewalk. No one was within a block of me.

Feeling slightly relieved, I took a couple of minutes to ease into my surroundings. Checking the app, I read a description of the hidden treasure.

“There is no need to leave the sidewalk … This is near a sign commemorating Clark Gable’s first acting job. It was in a theatre that was this location before it burned down in the Great Astoria Fire of 1922,” the description read.

After quickly reading the sign about Gable, famously known for his role in the 1939 classic, “Gone With The Wind,” I looked around the area to see if anywhere stood out as a good hiding spot.

After a few minutes of no success, I took a second look at the app, reread the description, followed by a second clue: “Totally tubular.”

This was the missing hint I needed. Soon enough, in a hidden nook, I found what I was looking for — a micro cache.

Photos (from left): A notebook holds the names and nicknames of people who found one of the geocaches at Pier 39 in Astoria.

The anchor at the Columbia River Maritime Museum hides a virtual geocache. Geocache team ‘Sharpy Squad’ left a Polaroid image from 2019 in a bag for other geocachers to see.

What is geocaching?

Geocaching is a game of socially distanced treasure hunting. The premise of the activity is simple: people find caches — or treasures — hidden by other people. The game is essentially a wide-scale version of hide and seek for adults.

Geocaching started in 2000 after an Oregon resident hid a cache, according to a New York Times interview with Bryan Roth, co-founder and president of Geocaching HQ. People have hidden caches throughout the U.S. and abroad in the more than 20 years since the game began. In 2020, the Geocaching app’s sign-ups increased by 70%.

The North Coast isn’t a stranger to the activity.

More than 100 caches are hidden between Raymond, Washington, and Manzanita — many of which are located in historical and scenic spots. In 2020, many coastal caches were found by local residents and visitors.

How to geocache To start geocaching, download a geocaching app on your phone. The Geocaching app is free to download and features dozens of free caches. Some caches in the app require a premium membership.

Other geocaching apps include Cachly (costs $4.99 to download on iPhones) and c:geo (free to download on Android phones), among others.

Next, create an account to track your progress.

After that, you’re set to go. While the app is open, you’ll see a GPS map of your region to search around for local caches.

Each cache will include hints about where it is hidden plus descriptions that detail the size and type of cache hidden. Caches differ in size, shape and type.

Some caches are about the size of a dime, called micros. Others increase in size.

Each cache includes a log for geocachers to sign. Larger caches often include small gifts that geocachers can take. Bring a pen in case there isn’t one at the cache site. If you’re going to visit a cache with a prize, consider bringing a prize of your own to replace the one you take.

Cache descriptions and user comments detail the difficulty of finding caches. All are reachable by walking. Some are accessible by wheelchair but check cache descriptions ahead of time to be sure.

Where to geocache There are several caches to find along the coast. It is recommended looking for caches along hiking trails.

A lot of the caches are hiking caches, Cape Falcon and Neah-Kah-Nie for example. There are also hidden caches in spots like Youngs River Falls and along the Discovery Trail.

In Washington state, most local caches are located on the Long Beach Peninsula and along U.S. Highway 101. Breaking up geocaching by region likely will work best and save you time. Consider staying in one area per day. Popular cache hubs on Oregon’s North Coast include the Astoria Riverwalk, Fort Stevens State Park, Gearhart, Seaside, Cannon Beach, Oswald West State Park and Manzanita. Each area features dozens of caches and could easily make for separate day trips.

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BIRD WATCHING Images by Hailey Hoffman

Identification and information courtesy of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Many types of birds call the North Coast home, making it a birdwatcher’s dream.

Here are a few birds Our Coast has spotted and where you can find them.

Bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Location: Clatsop Spit, Fort Stevens State Park Bald eagles can be found in Clatsop County any time of year, but are most active in the late winter and early spring. With wingspans of 6 and 1/2 feet and bright white heads (for the adults at least), they’re hard to miss when they’re soaring through the sky searching for prey.

Western gull Larus occidentalis Location: Cannon Beach

The fluffy gray and white bodies of western gulls can be found just about anywhere on the coast. On the beach, along the river, at the dump, you’ll see or hear them.

European starling Sturnus vulgaris

Dunlins Calidris alpina

These birds tend to flock at dusk in fall and winter, creating fascinating patterns as they jet through the sky in large groups.

The birds resemble black birds and are considered an invasive species from Europe.

Dunlins are a sandpiper and enjoy hanging out in groups in the shallows of estuaries and beaches where they pick through the mud to find snails, worms and other crustaceans. In winter, their feathers are brown and gray on their backs and white on their bellies (as photographed), but by breeding season they switch to a brown back and black belly.

Location: Astoria

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Our Coast Outdoors 2021

Location: Area D, Fort Stevens State Park

Double-crested cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus

Great blue heron Ardea herodias

These cormorants are easy to find flying and nesting on and around the Astoria Bridge and in other estuaries in the area. They’re a larger bird with long necks, orange throats and a coat of dark feathers.

You’ll often find these 4-foot-tall and lanky birds wading through the river, lake or ocean shallows, hunting for fish and other aquatic creatures. Sometimes, you can spot them in pastures and dry fields. They’re covered in white, gray and dark gray that almost resemble blue feathers.

Common murre Uria aalge

Tufted puffin Fratercula cirrhata

It’s not hard to spot a common murre along the North Coast.

They’re easily found hiding on Haystack Rock or on other rocky cliffs and outcrops. You can identify them based on their black backs and white bellies.

The puffin is a bit of a mascot for Cannon Beach due to its annual return in April to nest on Haystack Rock. They usually leave by the end of July to fish out at sea. These puffins have all black bodies, orange feet and beaks, white faces and light-yellow eyebrow plumes. The best time to see them is at sunrise during low tide before they return to their burrows.

Bufflehead Bucephala albeola

Barn swallow Hirundo rustica

These cute little ducks bob up and around the Columbia River looking for plants, insects and crustaceans. Male ducks have a bright white body and dark patch on the head while females are mostly dark gray with white patches (as photographed).

These fluttering, bright-yellow birds can be found all around Oregon.

They typically stay inland and make their homes in human-made structures (like barns).

Location: Astoria Bridge

Location: Haystack Rock

Location: Columbia River

Location: Astoria

Location: Haystack Rock

Location: Warrenton

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The Columbia-Pacific has hidden treasures waiting to

Relic HUNTERS

Beachcombing and mudlarking on the North Coast Words: Katherine Lacaze

• Images: Colin Murphey

ng to be discovered.

After millennia of Indigenous peoples living on the land, two centuries of European exploration and inhabitancy, and scores of shipwrecks off the coast, the Columbia-Pacific has a treasure trove of historical artifacts waiting to be uncovered.

Locals and visitors search for these relics as active hobbies, as ways to tidy up the environment, and as part of living and playing in a region where mountains, rivers and sea converge. The methods they use vary, from diving and beachcombing to metal detecting along riverbanks and in parks (aka mudlarking).

Robin Montero searches the surf near Seaside for debris to use for her art projects.

R

obin Montero, of Seaside, makes picking up trash the primary focus of her beachcombing. When she first moved into her house near the Seaside Cove in 2011, she would be on the beach, notice marine debris that washed ashore and frequently think, “I should have brought a bag,” she said.

“That’s when it dawned on me: ‘I’m doing this the wrong way,’” she said.

Now, each time she prepares for a daily hunt, she wears the essentials: gloves, boots, garbage bags and a soundtrack to listen to. Because of the Oregon Beach Bill passed in 1967, the land along the Oregon Coast is publicly owned, though managed by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

“We are really lucky, in that way, to have (the beach) as a public park,” Montero said.

When she gets rewarded by finding exquisite shells, seal teeth and sea glass for jewelry-making, “I’m tickled pink,” she said. “What more could you ask for?”

With an arsenal of metal detectors, Astoria native Don Kelly has combed the Astoria region, hunting for interesting artifacts, which he frequently shares in the Northwest Artifact Recovery community on Facebook.

One of the best He calls it “dirt fishing.”

His interest was sparked times for finding at age 14 when he was given treasures on the a metal detector. Scouring his backyard, he had dug down beach is after about a foot when he felt a a storm.

World War II ammunition case. Inside the box, wrapped in a beige naval blanket, were the preserved remains of a Siamese cat.

“When I reached in that hole, and I found that metal handle on the box, I was hooked,” Kelly said. “Even though it was a dead cat, it could have been something else.”

There have been occasions over the last five decades when he would go dirt fishing for hours without realizing time had passed.

Since the Siamese cat, he’s discovered a plethora of items, including vintage jewelry, military paraphernalia and foreign coins roughly three centuries old.

Kelly’s most treasured find was a 19th-century 6-pound cannon ball, discovered in June 2018 on private property (he promised the landowner he would not disclose the location). Through research and with the knowledge of a local historian, he learned the British brought that style of a cannon ball to the area around the time Fort Astoria was acquired by the North West Company and renamed Fort George. The cannons were removed from the Astoria area in the 1860s, giving him a good idea of when the cannon ball could have been fired from a ship or stored on land with other ammunition and become trapped underground.

At times, Kelly’s finds are less than intriguing: old railroad spikes, rusted tin cans, scraps of metal. He still removes such items to dispose of them, which is better than having them in the ground, he figures.

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Mind the law The best times for finding treasures (and trash) on the beach are at the beginning of summer or after a storm.

In Seaside, the Cove is the place to go: West swells cause driftwood, floats and other items to wash up, and they often get funneled there.

Jeff Jarrett, who works for Seaside Surf Shop, doesn’t consider himself a beachcomber by hobby. But, living near the ocean, he often walks the tideline with his dog and looks around. Sometimes he photographs interesting finds rather than remove them, except for the occasional aluminum float, glass bottle or piece of driftwood to incorporate into his home décor.

“I’m pretty critical of what I want to drag home,” Jarrett said.

Whether scavengers are prone to come across their treasure through beachcombing, diving or metal detecting, they should be aware of both maritime salvage laws and laws that govern the finding of antiquities on public lands.

Anything of cultural origin, including human remains, belongs to the state, even if found by individuals, according to Jeff Smith, a curator at the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria.

“If you find something that may be of historical interest, you contact the authorities,” he said.

Divers and others can get in trouble if they don’t go out with “a group that knows the rules,” Chris Dewey, president and founder of the Maritime Archaeological Society, said.

Exploring the ‘Graveyard of the Pacific’ People who happen upon interesting artifacts will frequently contact the maritime museum, which has more pieces of the Peter Iredale than they can use, for example, Smith said.

The Maritime Archaeological Society finds and documents the remains of such shipwrecks in the Pacific Northwest and beyond using sonar data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The society is dedicated to discovering the sites of shipwrecks. They also take on projects in Youngs Bay and elsewhere, reporting on “isolated finds” (areas with less than 10 historical artifacts) and archaeological sites (areas with 10 or more artifacts and/or one feature).

While Kelly searches for historical artifacts and Montero cleans up trash and finds jewelry-making material, the fruit of the society’s labor, according to Smith, is for accurate, detailed information to find its way into Oregon and Washington archives to guide further research and investigation.

Go to DiscoverOurCoast.com to check out additional beachcombing and mudlarking photos and finds

24

Our Coast Outdoors 2021

Photos (from top): Don Kelly moves his metal detector slowly over the ground looking for buried items. Kelly then digs in the ground after his metal detector pinged on something buried underfoot. This antique cannon ball is one of Kelly’s favorite finds with a metal detector.

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A Day at the Park The North Coast and the Long Beach Peninsula in Washington state are known for their scenic beauty, outdoor recreation and seemingly endless history. Many parks are available to visit for day or camping trips. Some have been the backdrop of movies. Others are home to shipwrecks and areas once traversed by Lewis and Clark. All are worth a visit. Next time you have a day to spare, consider heading to one of these parks.

Words: Alyssa Evans

• Images: Hailey Hoffman

LONG BEACH

1

Willapa National Wildlife Refuge The refuge provides a bevy of wildlife and birdwatching options Willapa National Wildlife Refuge is home to more than 200 species visit the refuge each year, including dozens of shorebirds.

The refuge isn’t home to just birds, though — elk, salmon, river otters, black bears, black-tailed deer, porcupine and racoons are among other species that inhabit the refuge.

3

HAMMOND

Fort Stevens State Park Explore the park’s history, trails and wildlife — all in one day Fort Stevens is one of the country’s largest state parks, yet much of the park can be explored in a day.

In the park you’ll find Battery Russell, Coffenbury Lake, the Wreck of the Peter Iredale and an observation tower that overlooks the ocean and the mouth of the Columbia River at South Jetty.

5

CANNON BEACH

Ecola State Park An abundance of picturesque sights and trails perfect for hikers, picnickers and photographers Ecola State Park features an abundance of sights and trails that are so picturesque you may find yourself feeling as if you’re in a movie. Fittingly, the park’s scenery has been featured as a backdrop to films like “The Goonies,” “Twilight,” “Kindergarten Cop” and “Point Break.”

6

ARCH CAPE

Oswald West State Park The park holds a bevy of hikes and spectacular views Oswald West State Park includes an abundance of great hiking trails through vibrant forests leading to remarkable views of the North Coast with a beach for tide pool viewing and surfing.

26

Our Coast Outdoors 2021

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There are several spots worth exploring at the park.

Popular ones include Beards Hollow, which makes for fantastic beachcombing and tide pool viewing; and Waikiki Beach, a popular place to storm-watch and picnic. North Head Lighthouse and Cape Disappointment Lighthouse are both reachable via short hikes.

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Spanning over 2,000 acres along the Columbia River, the park is a popular destination for campers, hikers, cyclists and stormwatchers

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26

Cannon Beach

CLATSOP STATE FOREST

53

Tolovana Park

C L ATSOP C O. Sugarloaf Mountain 2,858 ft.

CLATSOP STATE FOREST CLATSOP STATE Onion Peak FOREST 3,064 ft.

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Go to DiscoverOurCoast.com to check out additional information about the parks in this story

SADDLE MOUNTAIN STATE PARK

Davis Point 1,559 ft.

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Lewis and Clark National Historical Park features a bevy of history and areas to explore including Meriweather Lewis, William Clark and the Corps of Discovery’s winter quarters at Fort Clatsop.

Lewis & C lark R iver

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Where history and nature converge

CLATSOP STATE FOREST

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Lewis and Clark National Historical Park

Sister Green Mountain 1,723 ft.

River

TILLAMOOK STATE FOREST

6

TILLAMOOK STATE FOREST

Rock Mountain 2,004 ft.

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Manzanita

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Outdoors resources Image: Colin Murphey

Hunting and fishing seasons and licensing info Oregon: www.dfw.state.or.us Washington : wdfw.wa.gov

Clatsop State Forest trails and camping info

www.oregon.gov/odf/recreation/guides/clatsop-state-forestrecreation-guide.pdf

Oregon Department of Forestry Astoria District office 92219 Hwy 202 503-325-5451

Wildlife viewing Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area

myodfw.com/jewell-meadows-wildlife-area-visitors-guide 79878 Hwy 202, Seaside, OR 97138 Tel: 503-755-2264 Fax: 503-755-0706

Big Creek Hatchery

92892 Ritter Road, Astoria, OR 97103 (503) 458-6512 myodfw.com/big-creek-hatchery-visitors-guide

Klaskanine Hatchery

82635-202 Hatchery Road, Astoria, OR 97103 (503) 325-3653 myodfw.com/klaskanine-hatchery-visitors-guide

North Nehalem Hatchery

36751 Fish Hatchery Lane, Nehalem, OR 97131 (503) 368-6828 myodfw.com/north-nehalem-hatchery-visitors-guide

Fort Stevens State Park

stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=129 101-161 Peter Iredale Rd., Hammond, OR 97121 503-861-3170 x 21

Cape Disappointment

parks.state.wa.us/486/Cape-Disappointment 244 Robert Gray Drive, Ilwaco, WA 98624 Phone: (360) 642-3078

Leadbetter Point

parks.state.wa.us/537/Leadbetter-Point Ocean Park, WA 98640 Phone: (360) 642-3078

Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge

Includes Twilight Eagle Sanctuary and sites in Lower Columbia estuary islands accessible by boat. www.fws.gov/refuge/Lewis_and_Clark/visit/plan_your_visit.html

Willapa National Wildlife Refuge

3888 State Route 101, Ilwaco, Washington 98624-9707 360/484 3482 • www.fws.gov/willapa

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