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Field Trips


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SUGGESTED ITEMS TO BRING ON FIELD TRIPS

  • Appropriate clothes for any kind of weather
  • Sturdy foot wear, no sandals
  • Broad brim hat or one with bill.
  • Walking sticks
  • Sunscreen, bug spray. These trails are rarely buggy, but this year's late snow melt may change that.
  • Bring water container(s) with water. There is no water at trail heads.
  • Bring your own lunch and snack if you have not ordered one.
  • If you have trouble with heat, some sort of electrolite replacement drink is helpful.
  • If the weather is hot, a "Cool-tie" or a bandana you can soak down and wear around your neck works well.
  • Bring small bills for carpool money.
  • If you have any medical issues, please bring meds. for it. e.g. bee sting kit and inform your leader.
  • Bandaids, tape, etc. We do not have medical kits.
  • Some kind of seating pad or plastic protection for sitting on the ground.
  • Cameras (don't forget extra batteries) and binoculars

NOTE:

  • Please be willing to be a driver if necessary. We need to fill all vehicles to save gas as well as because of limited trailhead parking
  • Please be at Yachats Commons parking lot NO LATER THAN 8AM, earlier if you have not registered yet.

Cape Perpetua

Saturday- This trip includes the Giant Spruce Trail (2 miles round trip);a rocky meadow filled with wildflowers near the west shelter (best view on the Oregon Coast); and the Captain Cooks Trail (1 mile round trip) down to the ocean. This trip could be done parking at one location or several different locations around Cape Perpetua Visitor Center. Easy to Moderate walking. Website

Cape Perpetua

Sunday- Includes walking down to Devil's Churn and the rest of the short loop out of the rest area north of Cape Perpetua Visitor Center. Easy to moderate walking. Website


Darlingtonia californica
© Dan Luoma, used with permission

Sutton Creek Recreation Area

Most of the day is spent walking the Sutton Trails through Shore Pine coastal dune woods, Sitka Spruce forest, and along Sutton Creek (3-6 miles round trip). Moderate walking. Side trips could include Darlingtonia Wayside and Enchanted valley at the end of Mercer Lake. Easy walking. Website

Drift Creek Wilderness

This is a 3 mile walk downhill through Douglas fir-Red Alder forest to Cummins Creek (6 miles round trip). Moderate to strenuous on the walk back to the trailhead. A side trip could include walking the Beach at Patterson State Park or the estuary behind Waldport High School. Website.

South Beach, Oregon Coast Aquarium, Hatfield Estuary Trail, Mike Miller Old Growth Trail

The hike will start touring the grounds of the Oregon Coast Aquarium where many native plants are featured. The estuary trail behind Hatfield Science Center (2 miles round trip) encounters a diversity of estuary plants. The Mike Miller trail is a 1 mile loop through Sitka Spruce-Douglas Fir old growth which includes a pond. South Beach State Park has numerous trails through Shore Pine-Sitka Spruce coastal forest dune habitat. Easy to Moderate walking
South Beach website, Mike Miller Trail website, Hatfield Marine Science Center website

Grass Mountain

Grass Mountain is one of the highest peaks in the Oregon Coast range (3,600 ft). Several meadows (grass balds) occupy the summit area and are surround by noble fir and Douglas-fir forest. Rocky outcrops are home for rock garden plants. This hike is in a Research Natural Area, so group size will be limited. Three miles of moderate walking. Website

Washburne State Park

From the trailhead, walk the Heceta Head Trail 3 miles round trip through Sitka spruce forest to an ocean bluff overlook and the lighthouse. Other side trips from the same trailhead include the China Creek Loop trail which can be walked anywhere from 2-6 miles(which includes wildlife ponds and sphagnum bogs) and Hobbit trail down to the ocean (1 mile round trip). Moderate walking. Website

Cummins Creek Wilderness

This is a 4-mile round trip hike with a variety of flora diversity associated with a complex of openings and small bluffs. Also, large Douglas-fir and Sitka Spruce forest and ocean views. Side trips could include Captain Cook trail or others at the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center. Group size will be limited. Moderate to strenuous on the walk back to the trailhead. Side trips could include Captain Cook trail or others at the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center. Website

Baker Beach

Walk a mile or two through the deflation plain and Lilly Lake for a diversity of wildflowers. For side trips, walk part of the Sutton Trail from Baker Beach towards Alder Lake through shore pine woods, walk the Enchanted Valley trail near Mercer Lake, and visit Darlingtonia Wayside. Easy to Moderate walking. Lilly Lake Trail

Gerdemann Botanical Garden

Guided tour. Website