Oregon Coast

Umpqua Lighthouse State Park
May 21-25, 2017

 The site was a little tight, but private

We had a nice side yard

 With a beautiful view of the rain forest

 And a huge back yard

 View of the lighthouse from the campground. Although named for it, the light house is not in the state park.

The first lighthouse built on the Oregon coast, this version is still in operation after more than 120 years!

Not very tall, only 65 feet, but because it was built on the hill it is 100 ft above the Umpqua River and is visible to ships for about 13 miles.

 Winchester Bay, where the Umpqua widens before entering the Pacific

Let's stay here next time!

 Lake Marie is a small freshwater lake in the state park. It has a sandy beach at one end 

for swimming and day use, and hiking trails surrounding it.

And rhododendron in bloom everywhere

 The trails in the park also led to this Oregon Dunes NRA beach where OHVers camp and ride.

Fun to watch!

Hiking at Tahkenitch

 Hiked this loop trail 

This loop trail took us through a mile of conifer forest,

that opened onto the dunes and views of the ocean.

So excited to see the ocean! even though it's a long hike over the dunes away!

Flowering in spring and early summer, 

yellow sand verbena grows in the open sand along the trail.

 White-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

  Finally at the ocean!

We now would've hiked along the beach to the Three-Mile-Lake Trail 

but we couldn't get to the beach because...

so we had to take the trail through the dunes. 

Ugh, my aching legs!!

 Glad we brought our trekking poles...the deep sand was like hiking in the snow!

 Passed some temporary little lakes caused by the rainy spring

 These were the trail makers we had to look for across the dunes

 The 3.0 mile return hike took us back through the dunes forest, 

where we had excellent views of the Pacific Ocean!

 And passing by the Three Mile Lake

Huge spruce trees and beautiful ferns boarder the trail during the final stretch of the hike!

Cape Perpetua

 Lots of areas to explore

Had fun looking for sea-life in the tidal pools

 There's a huge starfish in this pic. Hard to see though.

Purple sea urchins

Interesting the way the trees look like they've grown slanted due to the heavy winds

 Wildflowers in bloom along the trail

Cook's Chasm Bridge

Stream entering the Pacific

Trail to tidal pools

Nice place to take a break

 Heading down to Devil's Churn

Devil's Churn is a 30-foot basalt chasm of churning white water

Dave getting an up close look at the churn

View from the top of Cape Perpetua at cloud level

View of all of the areas we just walked.

Stone shelter built by the CCC boys

He believes he can fly...

 Heceta Lighthouse (Umpqua's twin) on the coast

 Cool fog bank in the background

 View from Umpqua Lighthouse

 The beach at Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

 Too chilly to sit and enjoy

 OHV area

Lighthouse from the beach

 Loved seeing the elk!!

Heading to Portland area next!