Cape Perpetua

August 13, 2019

After hiking double digit miles the previous day, we decided to head to the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area and hike a couple of short trails that happen to be the only two trails we have not hiked at this beautiful park.  If you are ever in the Florence, Yachats, Waldport, or Newport area and have time, don't miss a visit to Cape Perpetua.  There are lots of trails and hikes of varying miles featuring shoreline, incredible views, and old growth forest.  Our first hike was a relatively flat "family friendly" 2 mile trek (round trip) from the visitor center along the Giant Spruce Tree trail to see the Giant Spruce Tree.  There are many large trees in the park, but this one evidently is the king/queen of them all. The trail followed Cove Creek and it did not take long to arrive at the tree - wow!  After taking a few minutes at one of the benches to look at this tree and of course take pictures, we headed back to the visitor center.  From there we headed up to and hiked the Discovery Loop which is a 1.4 mile lollipop hike.  The first .4 miles is a slight uphill climb followed by a .6 mile loop that has display boards telling you facts and history about old growth forest.  There were so many trees and ferns and so very green, it made this a very beautiful hike, even though it was short.  So now we have hiked a least a portion of each trail at Cape Perpetua. But we still want to come back and hike here again in the future.  Later, we added a few other hikes later to the day back at Washburne SP to bring today's total miles to 7.8.  Still one more day of hiking left.

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol

The very green & relatively flat Giant Spruce Tree trail

Looking up at the Giant Spruce Tree

The sign says it all - hope we don't live that long!

One last view of the King/Queen

Carol & Katie at the Giant Spruce Tree base

Ferns everywhere

View of trees along the Discovery Loop trail

One of many very nice display boards telling the history of Old Growth Forests

The Discovery Loop trail

A great place to visit, hike and relax!

Taylor Creek Trail

April 22, 2018

W C Fields was once quoted as saying "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.  Then quit.  There's no point in being a damn fool about it".  Since we tried and failed to hike the Taylor Creek trail in 2012, we decided to give it a second try before quiting and we are glad we did. The main factor being that the bridges over Taylor Creek that were missing in 2012 had been rebuilt in 2016.

Time to hike!!

We started at the trailhead located 3 miles up the Briggs Valley Forest Road 25 in Galice.  The entire trail is 10 - 11 miles long, so our goal today was to do between 5 - 6 miles.  The hike began by descending from the trailhead along numerous switchbacks to the canyon below.  Of course this meant that on our return trip, we would be ascending the same switchbacks when we were tired.  But you try not to think of that when your hike is just starting.  We worked our way along the trail through a couple of meadows and across the first rebuilt bridge before entering the old growth forest that would dominate most of this hike.

First meadow along the trail.

The first newly built bridge and Taylor Creek

During our section hike today we crossed 5 wooden bridges (the new bridges are wonderful, well built, and picturesque) and at least a half dozen small side creeks.  These side creeks, as well as stops along Taylor Creek, provided Katie with lots of water opportunities and may have made this one of her favorite hikes.

Yellow Violets

Wild Ginger

Burned Timber Creek Falls

Trail near Tin Can Campground

We encountered many varieties of wildflowers on this hike including first of the season sightings of Wild Ginger and Western Spring Beauty.  The Lemon Colored Fawn Lilies dazzled us with the large groupings right along the trail and every now and then we spotted Fairy Slipper Orchids.  Other varieties seen were Snow Queen, Goldfields, Buttercup, Oregon Grape, Houndstongue, Larkspur, various Stonecrops, Trillium's, Yellow Violets, Wake Robins, and Blue-Eyed Mary.  Wow!  So many wildflowers!

Fairy Slipper Orchids

Stonecrop Plants

Western Spring Beauty

In addition to the wildflowers, the trail either stayed above Taylor Creek on a ridge with views or made it's way next to the creek. So we had old growth forest to hike through while viewing wildflowers and enjoying the sight and sound of the creek.  We really enjoyed this hike and it may now be our favorite.

Our turnaround and lunch stop

Katie gives this trail a 5-paw rating!

We took a nice break right next to Taylor Creek at new bridge #5 where there is also a large pullout for parking and trail access.  After enjoying the sunshine, some food, and of course the creek, we began our hike back to finish at 10.1 miles for the day.  We hope to come back and hike the balance of this trail this year or even do an Autumn hike here like our hiking friends "Boots on the Trail did in 2016.  Spring or Autumn, this trail is a MUST DO.  So if  you get the chance, try the Taylor Creek trail or visit the area and spend part of a day along the creek with the kids, dog, or by yourself.  You'll be glad you did and will probably want to come back for more.  We do.

Trekking Together
Glenn and Carol