Photos by Andy Cameron
LEFT: Coffenbury Lake is located 10 miles west of Astoria in Fort Stevens State Park. RIGHT: North Coast winter hiking trails may be muddy, but they’re free of snow.
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chance to burn off fuel and work up an
appetite for the next serving.
Many of the included hiking trails are
suitable for off-road biking, with Washing-
ton’s Discovery Trail featuring the most
opportunity for multi-generational family
riding.
Cyclists hoping for a higher heart rate
can do no better than spin from Astoria to
Fort Stevens and back. For those wishing to
avoid the New Youngs Bay Bridge, which
can arguably raise heart rates through its
vehicular volume and speed, parking is
available on the western terminus. From
there, cyclists can peddle toward the fort by
way of quiet back roads, well-maintained
paved paths and primitive bike trails.
Hunt Neptune’s treasures
With the headline-grabbing king tides
recently ebbing their way back into the
sea, beachgoers are likely to be treated to
numerous finds along the sandy shores.
Sea glass, shells, driftwood and marine
floats have all been deposited along the
North Coast. Coupled with often deso-
late beaches, these treasures are ripe for the
finding.
Find a historic connection
The rich history of the North Coast is
well preserved through numerous muse-
ums, meticulously-curated sites and
thoughtful reproductions.
Fort Clatsop offers entry into the
world of Lewis and Clark, and several
other locales, including Seaside’s salt
works and Washington’s Dismal Nitch,
offer interesting side notes to the tale of
the explorers.
Also steeped in history are local favor-
ites, Fort Stevens, the Hanthorn Cannery
Museum at Pier 39, the Flavel House, the
Columbia River Maritime Museum and for
those seeking an experience rooted in more
recent times, the Oregon Film Museum.
Discover a hidden world
With low tides occurring during the late
morning, the Thanksgiving weekend looks
to be a ripe opportunity for exploring the
North Coast’s tidepools.
While the tides aren’t ideally low,
beachgoers should have an easy time
locating tidal denizens such as anemones,
sea stars and intertidal fish such as gunnels
and sculpins. Take care to abide by tide
pool etiquette, and refrain from touching
the fragile inhabitants.
Andy Cameron
The low tide will be in the morning Thanksgiving weekend, creating an opportunity to explore
North Coast tidepools.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021 // 5