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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 22, 2015)
Coast history; they happen to run along an old railroad line that was used in the early part of the 20th century for logging opera tions. “There are two old railroad bridges that run over the trails,” says Clyde Zeller, Rec reation Unit Manager for Tillamook State Forest District. “They were part of logging railroad work done around the 1920s.” Those railroad operations also included coal mining on Weyerhauser-owned land, further up from the current trails. Zeller adds that more research is pres ently being conducted to uncover further data related to the historical value of the railroad tracks. Overall, Zeller is responsible for taking care of trails and other recreation facilities on state forestland. With this in mind, the Coal Creek Trails have undergone serious maintenance this past spring in hopes of increasing aware ness of their recreational value. Under Zeller’s direction, students from the University of Idaho put in some help ful trail work. The students, who partici pated in what is called “alternative Spring Break,” came from a variety of disciplines to contribute to the trail’s upkeep. “A lot of brush clearing and water control projects,” Zeller says of the students’ work. While both trails in the system are great for avid mountain bikers, that usage comes with a price. “On Coal Creek Trail, mountain bik ers built some ramps and jumps, which changed water drainage on the trail,” Zeller says. He added that due to its semi-remote location, maintenance on Outback Trail is difficult to keep on top of consistently. Still, it’s hard to argue with the beautiful solitude of the trail system. That includes Story by DAN HAAG thought. You’ve reached the starting point the variety of wildlife present, some of for a unique and fulfilling hiking destina which hikers don’t often see on more popu lar trails such as Cape Falcon or Neahakh- iking is a popular pastime tion. nie Mountain. on the North Oregon Coast, A non-motorized trail system. Coal Zeller says that on any giv with trails of just about ev Creek Trails have been around en day, hikers may see fantail ery shape, size and degree in one shape or form since deer, elk, beaver and birds of difficulty. If you are look they were first cleared in 1998. You've reached such as red tail hawks. ing to ditch the usual trail The system traverses low land He notes that Coal Creek crowds but not stray too far coastal forest and allows hik the starting from civilization, the Coal ers to take in dense stands of itself is a great fish-bearing Creek Trails system out trees and a variety of wildlife. stream with its gravel bars and point for a side of Nehalem might be just what you are are two main trails in good shade. There the system; Outback Trail and looking for. “We’ve come across bobcat unique and prints on several occasions,” U.S. Highway 101 cuts through the mid Coal Creek Trail. he adds. Outback Trail begins a dle of downtown Nehalem. While most fulfilling Perhaps most appealing is travelers heading south hang a hard right quarter mile up from the road that such a remote area lies so at the town’s only light, hikers in the know and is popular with mountain hiking close to town. Zeller hopes that bikers because of its varied take a quiet left out of town. destination. will continue to draw people. Here, down North Fork Road, the road climbs. “It’s a completely different Coal Creek Trail winds winds and bumps along through a lush experience than what you’d farming valley buttressed by mountains and through older forest featuring find at, say, Oswald West,” he says. “You the Nehalem River. One gets the sense they large spruce and hemlock. It runs one mile get to see a working forest and a variety of up-slope to connect with Coal Creek Ridge are about to embark on a grand adventure. landscapes. And you can throw your bike in At around milepost four, a left turn up a Road. the car and be there after work.” Hie trails also offer a glimpse into Oregon largely unmarked gravel road confirms that COAL CREEK TRAILS I dib A hidden gem in the ^ Nehalem Valley ^ Photo by Dan Haag Coal Creek Trails offer a natural view of the Nehalem Valley area. H Roads - TL replica STATUS, SURFACE XX BKWM0 SuiracM Streams - TL replica Coal Creek and Outback Trails October 22,20151 coastweekend.com 19
