We took a full 8 weeks off from hiking due to an injury at the start of the year--which for us is insanity--so we've been eager to make up for lost time. I think it's fair to say we're just about back. In the past three weeks, we've gone on a snowy fire-tower hike in WA, an epic views-forever Oregon coast adventure, and even popped down to Los Angeles for a quick 48 hours of exploring. We'll fill you in on the WA and CA excursions in the next few weeks, but today, we bring you the unreal beauty of Oregon.
When I first floated the idea of driving to/from the Cannon Beach area in one day with a 5-mile hike in the middle, I assumed I'd be the only one on board. I was pleasantly surprised that Keith, Bella, and Evie were up for the journey. It took us around 12 hours roundtrip, leaving from the Seattle area, so if you're in the vicinity of the Emerald City and don't mind a long drive, it's entirely doable as a day trip. That being said, we would have happily lingered on the Oregon coast for a weekend...or a week. As much as we love Washington, before we headed home Bella asked us why we hadn't chosen to move to Oregon. If you go, be prepared for similar questions from your littles (or your partner!)
But first, coffee
If you've been following us for a minute, you may have noticed that we have a serious weakness for local coffee shops. It wouldn't be a lie to say that a significant part of any adventure is seeking out a new coffee shop to fuel up pre or post hike. Sometimes both. On our way to Oregon, we stopped in the little lumber town of Raymond, nestled between the Willapa River and highway 101. The draw for us was Alder + Co/Wild Pines Coffee, which proved to be even more charming that we'd hoped. Locally made gifts, cozy seating, and delicious handcrafted drinks make this a spot we'll revisit every time we drive South. Raymond is also home to 200 fascinating life-size metal sculptures which depict the town's history and make for an extra-fun dog walking/leg stretching stop.
Next: A Gorgeous Beach...with sand!!
After spending far more time than we'd planned in Raymond, we made our way down to Oregon. The original plan was to hike and then stop in Cannon Beach but since it was the first truly warm and sunny day in ages, everyone was eager for a little sand and sea (and more coffee!) before we set out. We stopped at Indian Beach in Ecola State Park, which is dog-friendly, was uncrowded even on the first 65-degree day of the year, and is hemmed in by dramatic cliffs. Also, it has sand! When we lived on the East Coast, this wouldn't have been a remarkable characteristic, but most of the beaches we've been to in the Seattle area are made of pebbles, so sand is now something of a phenomenon. After watching Evie and Bella play in the waves for a bit, we made our way into town for our 2nd coffee stop of the day.
Sleepy Monk
Photo c/o Sleepy Monk's Instagram
One of our favorite little games on these trip is deciding which coffee shop to try. Sometimes it works out (and then we tell you how great it was), and sometimes it doesn't (and then we keep quiet!) In this case, Sleepy Monk was a big hit. Not only did they have our coffee ready as soon as we'd finished ordering, they also had arguably the most delicious gluten-free, vegan brownie we've ever had. Bonus points for being big enough to split three ways and for fueling our hike.
The Hike
Finally, it was time for the big draw of our trip: Cape Falcon at Oswald West State Park. Because the only hike we'd done recently was a mere 2.6 miles, I may have refrained from saying exactly how long this hike would be. The Cape Falcon trail doesn't have a significant altitude gain, which makes it much more doable without training than, say, a Mt Rainier hike. The path is very rooty and muddy in places, but those things mostly add to the appeal for littles since you can turn them into mini obstacle courses. Other than trip hazards, this was one of the easiest hikes we've done, with one of the greatest payoffs. Just look at that view!!
The hike is a mix of near-jungle conditions (it's easy to pretend you're on a desert island in some of the muddier sections), narrow root-crossed, forested paths that follow a slight grade as you edge your way toward the coast, stunning ocean overlooks, and even cliffs as you get toward the summit.
We didn't bring a picnic with us, but the lookout at the Cape invites an extended stay, so we'd highly recommend it. It was 65 degrees and sunny the day we hiked, which was the perfect weather. We all wore proper hiking boots, which were a help with the roots. There weren't any bugs to speak of, but it was March, so hard to say if that would be different in summer. As with all hikes, be sure to bring lots of water...especially if you've already stopped for a couple of coffees. We hydrated on the drive down and brought 32 oz on our hike, which really wasn't enough. It was a good reminder for us to always bring more than you think you'll need.
And finally, a little advice for hiking with littles. Be vague about distance if they'll let you get away with it, be open to bribery, and use segmenting to your advantage. We always throw a secret sugar-boost into our pack for the moments when Bella's energy or interest starts to wane. Usually, it's something like gummy bears or jelly beans since they're small, easy to use for segmenting (e.g. "just another 1/2 mile until your next reward"), and something we don't often have. This particular hike included a second bribe: a promise to stop by another Oregon beach on the way home for one more toes-in-the-sand moment before we headed back to the land of pebble beaches.
"Where Forest Meets Sea and Grey Whales Frolic. Where Memories are Made and Shoes are Just a Suggestion."
Bottom photo c/o publiccoastbrewing.com
After our hike, we looked around for a good spot for dinner. It's fair to say that Cannon Beach has no shortage of cute restaurants, however, we have a few requirements that can make post-hike dining a little complicated: gluten-free fare and a dog-friendly patio. We couldn't believe our luck when we found the Public Coast Brewing Co. Almost everything on the menu is available gluten free. And it's delicious. That's unheard of! I would drive 4 hours just for their fish & chips (which are made in a gf fryer). It's that good. The fish tacos were excellent too. Evie also dug getting to hide out under our table on the patio and check out the other pups.
Sunset by the Ghost Ship
Finally, it was time to start heading North. As promised, we took Bella to one more beach. We didn't plan on being there for sunset, but our timing worked out pretty brilliantly. Our last stop was the Wreck of the Peter Iredale at Clatsop Beach in Fort Stevens State Park. What remains of the Peter Iredale, which ran aground in 1906, is the skeleton of the ship. It's a surreal sight, especially at sunset with the light streaming through and the tide coming in.
So there you have it, our version of hiking Cape Falcon, with a handful of other fun stops along the way.
Happy journeying!
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