- Elevation: 600 feet
- Distance: 3.6 miles RT
- NW Forest Pass required at trailhead
We stumbled upon this hike after a failed attempt to hike Cooper Spur on the NE side of Mt Hood. The access road to Cooper Spur was closed late summer in 2013 because hundreds of trees had fallen down from a fire that had happened. The trees had stood dead for years after the fire and finally fell all at once. We stopped at the Cloud Cap Inn (where we learned about the fallen trees) and asked the bartender where to hike. She told us about Tamanawas Falls and provided us with a map to take with us. We stopped and bought blackberries from a local farm and drove to our new destination. The hike is very easy. It starts by crossing over a large log bridge. After crossing the bridge, keep right. Continue to follow signs for Tamanawas Trail. You will cross a creek again. You will come to a spot where there are massive, exposed rocks. In not too much time, you will see the falls. You can walk behind it: there is plenty of room under there. I read that right of the falls, you can climb up over to reach the amphitheater behind the falls. The Hike:
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Kelly's Marina is the greatest place on Earth. And I've been to the Vatican, Eiffel Tower and Eagle River, Wisconsin. Kelly's is a bright green building right off of the 101. We ended up here on a rainy Sunday. Mary was visiting and we had hiked Cape Falcon earlier that day. Within 10 minutes of showing up, we already had our nets in the water. It was a really laid back day with a bunch of people hanging out around the fire pits. There was a Dave and Jimmy reunion (see pic below). Kelly didn't grace us with his presence until the tail-end of our stay. He loved Mary and deemed her, "the fire-keeper." At a later date, Mary would be offered a job at the Marina. We didn't catch any keepers, but there were some epic battles of man/woman versus crab. At one point, one of the little guys picked up a stick to use as a weapon! We purchased crab to feast on while we listened to Dave and Jimmy perform songs which I can only compare to the likes of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. Aaron and I came back with his parents a few weeks later, then I brought my parents and Erin here. We recently brought mini-van of people: Kara, Mary, Rachel, Phil and Sarah to meet with our friends Amanda and Joe. The verdict: everyone loves this place. If you're going to be on the coast, break up the drive with a quick stop here. The crabbing process yourself is very simple: you throw a net in the water, go drink a beer for 20 minutes (this place is BYOB) and then go check the net. It's a really laid back environment and it's a good time rain or shine! This place is located north of Tillamook on the 101. If you catch a keeper, they will cook it for you and show you what parts to eat etc. The owners are always around and are really nice people. Camping is available on the property.
This place is another prime example of how amazing the Oregon State Park system is. If this place were anywhere else, it would be a huge tourist destination. But because it is in Oregon, and waterfalls are a dime a dozen here, it is unknown to people who aren't from the area. The relatively easy hike features 10, yes, 10 waterfalls. The park is a busy place; with hikers, campers, bikers, swimmers and picnickers. I've only hiked here, but I plan to camp here in the winter, as it is open year-round. Start the hike at the South Falls Lodge Trailhead. The hike starts with a bang as you walk behind this roaring falls. The hike meanders up and down with a net elevation gain of 1,300 feet. To me, it is not very strenuous as there are plenty of places where the trail is level (you're not just trudging uphill for extended periods of time). Because of the up-close and personal experience with the falls, you will find yourself on some slippery terrain. Walk carefully and use rails when they are available (says "PT Megan"). What these waterfalls lack in name creativity, they make up for with personality. Silver Falls is Oregon's largest State Park with 9,000 acres. In addition to the trail of 10 waterfalls, there are many other trails covering the land. It's near Detroit Lake so come to this park to camp and make a weekend out of it. The Hike:
Everything about this hike is enjoyable! You can access this by parking just before crossing the Bridge of the Gods on the Oregon side. Display your NW Forest Pass. You can find the trail on the south side of the road. It is kind of a wonky start: you walk in the side of a road, under I-84 and then continue straight up a gravel road where you will soon see a sign for the trail. It is marked "Pacific Crest Trail." Join the trail here and walk through a swampy area. The trail begins to ascend and you'll soon be in a thick forest. The trail hugs next to the side of the mountain. The grade is slight so it is not taxing at all. A mile in you'll come to power lines, stay right and continue on the trail. The next intersection you hit you will take a right up the dirt road. If you go straight (continuing on PCT), you will soon come to a wooden bridge. I haven't explored the trail past this spot. When you take the right, it's the steepest part of the trail which concludes at Dry Creek Falls. It's a good spot for lunch or a beer! There is also a camping spot right next to it. The Hike:
This is arguably the best stop to whale watch short of hopping on a boat. The whales need to swim around the peninsula. We went during "Whale Week," I think that's a thing. I believe the best time to see the whales is the end of March. There were volunteers at the end of the trail helping the onlookers spot for whales. You will need binoculars. We stayed there for the better part of an hour before heading back. The trail includes an old growth forest and good views of the coast line both north and south. The trail was a bit muddy when we were there. Trail reports indicate that this is common. This cape is part of the "Three Capes Scenic Loop" which also includes Cape Meares (not that cool) and Cape Kiwanda (cool). Aaron and I did this hike again in January of 2015. We were hoping to spot some whales as we had the previous time. Unfortunately, the weather prevented us from having much visibility. It did, however, produce an amazing misty old-growth forest for us to hike through. We didn't see any whales, but we did see sea lions and a bald eagle. The Hike:
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I moved to the Pacific Northwest in August of 2012. I quickly identified myself as a hiker. I want to document my experiences so that I can refer to them for myself and others to provide the best hiking experience. I also hope to learn more about hiking from others comments and recommendations. Archives
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