New in Town

Clear blue skies, warm sun and a cool breeze last weekend saw amazing spring weather here on the North Coast. It was a clear call to head out into the fresh air. And I, for one, couldnt resist.

Friday evening I wandered around Fort Stevens State Park. I had been to the fort itself and the South Jetty before, but I hadnt realized how many paved trails run through the park. It made me itch to hop on a bike and go for a ride. I also spotted my first small herd of elk. I know to locals theyre a familiar sight but theyre still a sight to see.

Saturday my friend and I?decided to go on an adventure and hike the Fort to Sea Trail. Starting at Fort Clatsop and ending at Sunset Beach, the easy-to-moderate trail is 6.5 miles long and travels through a succession of different terrains: forest, bogs, pasture, beach woods and finally, the gentle dunes of the beach itself. Though you could loop back and make the hike a round 13 miles, my friend and I?parked our respective cars at either end so that we had a ride from the beach back to the fort.

Two miles into the hike, the view from Clatsop Ridge was clear and gorgeous. The flat blue of the ocean was visible through the trees, a promise of what was to come. The bog was mainly a creek, which watered a massive bed of western skunk cabbage. Also known as swamp lanterns, the plants were everywhere, bright yellow and green but despite the name, I didnt find the odor bad at all. They added a colorful quality to the journey.

After emerging from the woods and hitting some open pasture, crossing the tunnel under U.S Highway 101 (and applying some sunscreen), my friend and I took a mid-hike break on the bank of Neacoxie Creek. Enjoying the lily pads and shade, we caught sight of a female Mallard with her seven ducklings. Those baby ducks and the next mile of cows, calves, emerald green grass and daffodils made for a very pastoral, Easter-themed spring hike.

Finally we hit the beach. The trail has a lookout point on the dunes, much like the one on Clatsop Ridge. We could see the sand full of cars and dotted with beach-goers, who were enjoying the sun, the waves and the wind with games, kites and more. After a restful hour soaking up the sun, we headed back to Astoria for a grilled burger and a lovely sunset: the perfect ending to a perfect day at the coast.