After meandering some time at
Cannon Beach, we took a short drive over to
Ecola State Park. Ecola State Park was quite busy when we arrived and we would soon learn why. We were lucky to get a parking spot -- one of the lots was marked closed when we first arrived. Fortunately, the park ranger at the entrance let us know that we arrived at a time when a lot of visitors start leaving the park and we should find a spot. Find a spot we did and after a short walk, we soaked in this view:
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| Rocks and an arch lining the Oregon Coast at Ecola State Park. |
The drive towards the beach is striking itself. You wind through a breathtaking Sitka Spruce forest which you can see looking up from the beach:
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| The forest right above the beach. |
The preserve includes an 8-mile section of the Oregon Coast Trail and a 2.5-mile Clatsop Loop Trail which is a historical interpretive trail. If you follow Clatsop Trail, you will follow part of the path that Captain William Clark and members of the Corps of Discovery took in search of a beached whale at Cannon Beach. Clark would describe the observed vista as
“… the grandest and most pleasing prospects which my eyes ever surveyed…” I agree!
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| Tillamook Rock Lighthouse rises above the surf. |
From the shore, we relished quite the view of Tillamook Rock Lighthouse. I enjoyed the view from Cannon Beach but this view was even better! The picture above was taken with a special lens. Below, you will see what you see with the naked eye. If you look closely, you may also spot a surfer.
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| Tillamook Rock Lighthouse beautiful in the distance. |
Every corner of the preserve is picturesque. I spent some time watching different section of rock receive the splash of the surf.
Before leaving and heading back to Portland for the evening, we stopped at the overlook at the head of the Clatsop Loop Trail. This spot is pretty popular and a great place to enjoy a picnic with a view! Just stunning:
Nature's wonders are certainly on display at Ecola State Park on the Oregon Coast. The park is truly one of my favorite discoveries on our trip that was full of discovery. Ecola State Park includes an amazing blend of nature with stunning shorelines and a thick forest. Truly a gem and we are so lucky to have visited!
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