Over the past few years we have seen and read fellow hiker postings on Blacklock Point. So when we discovered that the trail was just a few miles up highway 101 from Cape Blanco SP, it became one of those "priority" hikes for our camping trip.
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| Time for another hike! |
After hiking the South Beach & North Beach of Cape Blanco, hiking to the lighthouse and seeing the Oregon coast for 3 days, you might wonder why drive and then hike just to see another section of coast? But from what we have read and seen, Blacklock Point is not just another section of the coast.
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| And so the hike begins...... |
So we drove from Cape Blanco SP out to highway 101, headed north a few miles and then drove along a road to the Cape Blanco Airport. Parking just outside the airport gate, we headed down the trail which began by winding it's way through the thick coastal brush. We felt like NASCAR drivers as we turned left at each intersection, making sure we were following the signage pointing to Blacklock Point.
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| A portion of the sandy trail through the thick coastal brush. |
At times the trail would split into two trails. One being the main trail, the other was usually a wooden boardwalk section that would parralel the main trail for a short segment. These boardwalks are in place due to the often flooded main trail during winter and spring. We were able to stay on the main trail the entire hike.
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| Main trail to left, boardwalk trail visible off to the right. |
Coastal brush gave to way to some dark forrested area of trail before we emerged into the open and sunshine-filled bluff that leads up to and overlooks Blacklock Point. Many pictures ensued.
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| Blacklock Point |
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| Notice all the flowers on the bluff above Blacklock Point |
To the south we could view the coastline back to Cape Blanco and the lighthouse.
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| View from the bluff to the south and Cape Blanco |
Looking northward we could see the beautiful scenic cliffs that line the beach down to Lake Floras.
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| View to the north from the bluff towards scenic cliff area and eventually Floras Lake |
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| Carol, Maggie, Karen |
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| Carol, Glenn, Maggie and Katie |
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| Carol and Katie soaking up the sun on the bluffs. |
After enjoying the views and taking an eating break, we made our way back along the trail to our car. We then drove back to Cape Blanco SP so we could take in even more views of the coast. Sorry, just can't get enough of the coast - espcially on a beautiful blue-sky-sunny day!
If you do get a chance to visit Blacklock Point, it is well worth it. There are some side trails where you can hike down to the beach and even make your way to where the Sixes river meets the ocean. You can also extend your hike by taking connecting trails all the way to Floras Lake. Or you could start at Floras Lake and hike south to Blacklock Point. So many options! But that's part of the fun in hiking. So get out and have some fun this summer and take in the beautiful views waiting for you.
Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol (and Maggie and our sister Karen and Katie too)
From that anonymous fellow hiker: Congrats, you finally made to Blacklock Point! One of these days you'll have to let me tour guide you to all the cool secret viewpoints that only anonymous fellow hikers know about.
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