Waldport Walkers: November 21, 2019 - Cooper Ridge Nature Trail, Salal Hill Trail

Today we met at Keady, and I say we as in the royal "we", because I (Robyn) was the only one to show up. So, we decided to go up to South Beach State Park for an adventure. I went and parked in the day use area and took a little trail out of the parking lot over to the Cooper Ridge Nature Trail beginning, and hiked that loop all the way around the park. It was a really nicely maintained trail, and even though it circled the state park campgrounds one would hardly know it did so. It was a sunny day, just a bit on the brisk side, and the mushrooms were out in force still. I really enjoyed that fun trail, it has a lot of character.

After the hike I went to get a map and talk with the hospitality center in the campground to try to discern how long that hike had been, because it felt like 4-5 miles to me, and though they apparently don't know either, it does look as if it was about that long. I went off on that trail on a bit of a treasure hunt so I was following directions and didn't know what I was getting myself into! I had no idea it would be that long, but I enjoyed every step of the adventure.

After that I was still interested in walking more, so I went and checked out the trails around the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, which I had never walked before. Short but sweet.

Then I decided to head out to Yaquina Head Lighthouse in the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area and see what the trails were like over there. I stopped in the welcome center and got a trail map and decided to hike up the Salal Hill Trail to the top for the views, which is about a 3/4 mile trek up, and then another back down, luckily they had switchbacks! Freshly graveled trail walking made for somewhat skittery footing.

Beautiful day to be out and about on the Oregon Coast trails.