Home is where the heart is. This area was my stomping…read more grounds for many moons! I use to go to Ecola state park, regularly growing up. Go on hikes,look for rocks shells,surf, get lost in nature, just sit in the grass and watch the ocean. Here is what you can do at Ecola State Park: Hiking & Walking: Explore trails ranging from easy strolls to challenging hikes through Sitka spruce forests. The Clatsop Loop Trail follows the path of1806 explorers, while the Oregon Coast Trail offers longer, scenic treks. Indian Beach: A popular, secluded cove for surfing, sunbathing, and tide-pooling to see sea stars and anemones. Viewpoints: Take in spectacular vistas from Ecola Point, including views of the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse ("Terrible Tilly") and distant Haystack Rock. Wildlife Viewing: The park is known for herds of elk grazing in the meadows, as well as sightings of bald eagles and migrating gray whales. Picnicking: Enjoy lunch at the picnic areas located on the grassy bluffs with ocean views. Photography: The dramatic, moody coastline provides excellent opportunities for photography. Oregon State

Forgive me for this late review. I should have written it long ago, but perhaps the trees and the…read moreocean were patient enough to wait. The drive through the forest is a passage into another world. Sitka spruce and hemlock lean over the road as if they are curious about you. At the end of the road the land opens and the Pacific announces itself in vast gray blues and greens, broken by sea stacks that rise like stubborn monuments. The trails are generous. Some wander to secret beaches, others climb to high points where the ocean and horizon meet like two old friends. Indian Beach is a gathering of tide pools, surfers, and quiet sand. Crescent Beach feels private, almost hidden, with the company of seals if you are lucky. Wildlife belongs here as much as people. Elk graze, eagles soar, and sometimes whales turn the water into theater. The park offers all of this without asking much in return, except that you take your time. Bring layers because the wind and mist move through the park like they own the place. Take your time. Sit, watch, breathe. This park gives you a rare combination of accessibility, natural beauty, and serenity. I regret not praising this place sooner. Ecola State Park holds the kind of beauty that makes you feel both small and fortunate. Five stars, without hesitation.

What a wonderful under the radar waterfall this is...Beaver Falls!…read more Located 6 miles east of Clatskanie, Oregon, this area near the Columbia River is beautiful. Let's get straight to the heart of what Beaver Falls is all about... If you plug "Beaver Falls Trailhead" into Google Maps, you'll have no problem finding it. Then just park along the side of Highway 30 and hike 1/3rd of a mile through the forest to the base of the falls. It's that easy. When I visited on a Thursday in early afternoon of July, there was hardly anyone around which was good for taking quality photos. Best of all, you can swim in the waters. So definitely bring a bathing suit, towel and a pair of water shoes so the rocks won't hurt your feet while entering the pool beneath Beaver Falls. The water is cold but once you jump in and get comfortable, it's a terrific setting. There's also a long rope where you can swing across and splash down below. It's great for kids (and adults too, lol) to have playful times. For me, I was content soaking in the pool and appreciating the surroundings. More info... - It's free to visit. - Cell phone reception works fine. - You can walk underneath the falls! This is a Must-Do. You can capture some amazing moments standing beside Beaver Falls. It's not hard or dangerous and offers a unique perspective. - Beaver Falls is just one of many outstanding waterfalls situated around Oregon and especially near the Columbia River. There's also Lower Lewis River Falls, Panther Creek Falls and Spirit Falls, to name a few. - You can spend a few hours hanging out or as little as 30 - 40 minutes. It depends on your time horizon. But overall, it's really pleasant to be here that I'd suggest bringing snacks, lunch and maybe having a picnic. This Beaver Falls is absolutely so much fun to hang out at. When you can swim in the waters, swing from a rope and even walk underneath the falls, It makes for a worthwhile summer visit.

Easy drive in to the trailhead, granted it's kinda in the middle of nowhere. I'd read it was a spot…read moreknown for car break-ins, but when roaming the area last weekend I saw the sign for the lake trail and decided to give it a whirl. Again, easy to find trail...signage good at the road and the trailhead. There's a handful of parking spots, and yes, lots of broken glass around. We debated, but ultimately decided since it's a quick 1.8 miles we'd go for it. The trail started off a bit bland, but got more interesting the further we went. The path is wider and flatter at the beginning and gets narrower, with some ups & downs and lots of uneven surfacing the closer you get to the lake. It's a lollipop loop around the water, which is small but still a bit bigger than I'd pictured for some reason. A quick, easy hike if you find yourself in the area. Birds and critters rustling along the way, and banana slugs as well so watch your step!

this is a very scenic, easy hike about 90 min west of Portland. take US-26W then turn south on…read moreOR-53/Necanicum HWY. the trailhead will be on the left after ~ 5 miles. what i like about this hike: 1. it's close enough for a quick day hike 2. it's far enough from Portland that you won't be dealing with hiking "rush hour", we ran into 5 people on the trail 3. very dog friendly--snuffle along the trail, hop through the meadow, swim in the lake! 4. twisty roads on OR-53 bring out the roadster in everyone 5. nice flat pack-in campsite for overnights what i would change: 1. very short hike, only 5.5 miles long, it'll take you less time to hike it than to drive there! 2. no sherpa with a box of Krispy cremes waiting for you at the trailhead lol

Awesome trail through a beautiful, lush forest. I felt like I was in an enchanted forest! Views…read moreto the ocean are gorgeous. Wear hiking shoes, not sneakers. Slippery due to moisture in many locations. Worth hiking!

This is a hike that's a must do in my books. Pack some snacks because the way back can take a…read morelittle longer than you expect. I would plan to leave about 5 hours for this hike so you have enough time to make it out and back without too much of a rush. It looks like an enchanted forest!! The nature is unreal!

3.9 mi, 1050 ft elevation gain, 1hr 22 minutes…read more Plenty of shaded parking was available. There is a porta potty and a trash can at the main trailhead. Lots of out of state folks here doing this hike- I'm sure it would be quite packed on a weekend. The trail itself was a bit overgrown and narrow in parts. Beware of game trails, I missed a turn and found myself a ways down a game trail before turning around. The view at the top is amazing, definitely don't just view from the lower trail. If you're able- climb up the rock face to see the view from the peak. It's so worth it!

A short but challenging hike, especially the last 100 feet. But the view from the top is…read morespectacular!

I loved this park. I took my 79 yo mother and 4 small dogs. It was a reasonable walk for my mother…read morewho uses a walker. We were able to park at the trailhead and we had the park to ourselves for the duration of our visit. The path is rock/gravel and there is a wooden staircase and a wooden bridge, both with hand railings. When we went it would have been impossible to approach the bottom of the falls without wading through the river, but nonetheless we had a lovely perch on a fallen log. The pictures I've seen of the falls online did not do it justice at all! It is a tall falls and quite relaxing and beautiful. There was a rocky portion next to the river where the dogs could wade into the water and explore, and some trails leading up to the highway. We heard very little traffic from the nearby highway. We will definitely return. This is a perfect trail for less physically active persons and also for children. Regarding the bathroom, there is one 3 miles south on 202 at the elk reserve (marked public restrooms at the turnoff). This is accessible. Beautiful picnic and outting!

Not far from highway 26, this is a nice detour if you want some quick waterfall action. Ample…read moreparking but not much of a park itself. There's a short, simple trail that will take you to the waterfall. It's a nice, rumbly gushy waterfall. I'd you're looking for more of a hike, I suggest elsewhere. This is a nice pitstop though or a place to meditate as the waterfall drowns out all the road noise.

Very pretty and scenic walk. Easy for beginners. I have a bad back and was able to take the short…read moreroute with a friend of mine. A bit of a hidden gem as most other places are usually pretty crowded. She told me about this place. A little hidden off the path as I've been going to this part of the Oregon Coast for decades and never knew it was there!

Nice walking path and you can walk to where the water is. Beautiful and quiet. Not too crazy busy…read more We walked it with a 3 year old and she did great. It was about 2 miles round trip to the water, there were a ton of benches along the way In memory of people, pretty neat.

Recently did this 40-mile bike ride and it was a spectacular ride! A friend and I decided to ride…read moreon a gloomy + rainy day which ended up being worth it! It wasn't crowded at all and the views were still great. It was a full day, as we arrived around 10:30 am and were back in the car around 5:30 pm, so expect to take the whole day to enjoy this ride and to stop at the town of Vernonia. I love how this trail had multiple bike hubs and came in handy to put some air in my tires about 15 miles in. It was generally all family-friendly riding, with only a couple of hills where we did walk our bikes, but you can ride uphill if you are looking for an uphill challenge. But do note, that there were considerable amount of uneven spots/small potholes on the trail which my friend didn't remember on her last ride here so just be prepared for that. Luckily, most of them are marked! I will also agree with other reviews - about first 10 miles from Banks was a noticeable workout. We decided to grab some burgers in Vernonia and stretch our legs - which I totally suggest to do. We did see that a neighbor on our way to Vernonia had some free grapes and apples for us, which was such a sweet treat and extra fuel. I will suggest this to all my newbie and more advanced biker friends looking for a workout with a view!

This is a fine trail, but the reviews that mention great views must have never been anywhere with…read moretrees and forests. There are no overlooks or valley views, just forests and a few grass fields. We just completed another section on our e-bikes. We will end up making three visits to complete the trail. Parking at Banks is very limited. Parking in Vernonia is unlimited. Someone has been marking roots and bumps with paint and it was greatly appreciated on our bikes. Our first visit was on a hot sunny day and was not near as enjoyable as yesterday in a cool drizzle. Not real rain, just threats of it.

This is a must see while staying in Rockaway Beach! It's a very easy 1.2 mile loop on a raised…read morewooden boardwalk. It's pretty flat most of the way, just a slight incline and decline near the tree. They have a small parking lot available, but if it's full, people park along highway 101. There's a porta potty available in the parking lot. There's also a dog waste bag station and garbage can available. The old growth cedar tree is amazing! There's a lot of vegetation to view along the way too. Mushrooms, bleeding hearts, fuschias, etc. Would highly recommend.

This was our favorite attraction/hike in Rockaway Beach. It's a beautifully built & well…read moremaintained ~1 mile elevated boardwalk through a native coast wetland that ends at one of the largest western red cedar trees in the state. It's accessible for everyone, including those with strollers & wheelchairs. The trailhead/parking lot is on the east side of Hwy 101, just past Washington St (some other mapping apps currently have the wrong location listed). It's only large enough for about 10 cars, so on a busy day you may need to park on adjacent city streets.