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nearby lakes with thousands of rainbow
trout. At Cullaby and Coffenbury lakes,
anglers can test their skills from well-
built fishing piers. More intrepid adventur-
ers can take to the calm waters via kayak
or canoe. Most established techniques
will produce a bite, but small lures such
as spoons and rooster-tails often work
best. Day use fees apply at most bodies of
water; check signage at parking areas.
May – Birdwatching at Twilight
Eagle Sanctuary
With hungry chicks in the nest, bald
eagles are quite active in late spring. A
few miles east of Astoria sits the Twilight
Eagle Sanctuary, a preserve known for
hosting the giant nests of America’s raptor.
Parking is limited and the viewing area
small, but an hour spent at the sanctuary
can often yield impressive sights of eagles
on the move. Binoculars enhance the
experience and can be useful for viewing
the other denizens of the estuary, includ-
ing elk, ducks and the ships of Tongue
Point.
June – Fat-biking at the dikes
Stretching several miles and border-
ing many of the area’s waterways are
well-maintained earthen dikes. Acces-
sible to walkers, joggers and those atop
most offroad bikes, these structures are
best toured with help from the fattest of
tires. “Fatties,” as they are lovingly called,
are those bicycles featuring low-pressure
tires in excess of 3.5” in width. Perfectly
built for the sandy conditions found on
the dikes, these pedal-powered all terrain
vehicles offer a unique and invigorating
way to tour a seldom-visited natural space.
Park at the western terminus of the Lewis
and Clark River Bridge. From there, travel
past the airport and head toward Warren-
ton. If energy allows, cross U.S. Highway
101 and continue to get a great view of the
fishing fleet on the Skipanon River.
July – Netul Landing canoe launch
Within Lewis and Clark National His-
torical Park, and just south of Fort Clat-
sop, sits Netul Landing, a low-key pad-
dle launch offering visitors a chance to
ply the very waters traveled by the explor-
ers. Paddlers can head up or downstream,
but adherence to the tides can make for
a much more enjoyable trip. Wildlife
abounds in this section along the Lewis
and Clark River; blue herons, bald eagles,
and deer are frequent sightings. As the
ramp terminates in mud, avoid launching
near extremely low or negative tides. Fort
Clatsop often offers guided trips on the
river in the summer.
Andy Cameron
Visiting pelicans.
August – Salmon fishing
Ask Astorians to name the area’s quint-
essential pastime, and salmon fishing is
likely to rise to the top of the list. One
of the country’s most productive fisher-
ies, the lower Columbia takes on a new
life in August. From the battle dome of
Buoy 10 to the slightly more relaxed shore
fishing at Social Security Beach, anglers
have several options for landing what is
often termed a “chrome hog.” To max-
imize chances, head out with a guide.
There exists no shortage of qualified and
licensed professionals, who, for a modest
fee, can assist with the often-complicated
array of regulations, techniques and local
lore. For non-anglers, August often has
brown and white pelicans visiting the area;
both make for fantastic bird watching.
September – Sunset photography
Though capable of producing jaw-drop-
ping beauty on any evening, the skies of
Astoria come alive in September. Per-
haps due to regional wildfire smoke or
simply seasonal weather conditions,
early fall can produce technicolor hues
of deep pink, purple and orange. Cou-
pled with the unique architecture and envi-
ronment of Astoria, these sky shows can
result in frame-worthy photographs. For
the best views, head to any pier offering
the Astoria Bridge as an element of the
foreground.
October – Paddleboard lunch run
Astoria is blessed with a modest nau-
tical separation between a highly-recom-
mended source of tacos and an excellent
paddle launch. Depart from the Astoria
Recreation Center and paddle southwest
toward the Old Youngs Bay Bridge. Watch
for submerged pilings and head under the
bridge and into the bay. From there, fol-
low your nose toward La Cabaña de Raya,
a bayfront restaurant offerings delicious
fuel for the return trip. No official pad-
dling takeout exists, but in higher tides,
paddlers can easily exist the water at the
north end of the restaurant.
November – Crabbing for
Dungeness
Among seafood aficionados, the
“R”-months, or those ending in the name-
sake letter, bring about the best months
for crabbing. For those wanting to pro-
cure their own slice of the bounty, sev-
eral opportunities and techniques exists.
Regarding the former, the Columbia River
estuary largely requires a boat, but land-
based crabbers can find great success at
the 12th Avenue bridge in Seaside. Baited
with chicken legs or other butcher shop
castoffs, traditional crab rings are quite
popular. Smaller setups are becoming
more common, with several devices avail-
able for use with a standard fishing rod.
Note that the ocean is closed for crabbing
mid-October through November. Crab-
bing in estuaries, bays, beaches and at tide
pools, piers and jetties is open year-round.
December – North Coast glamping
Even the heartiest adventurer can ben-
efit from a few days of well-appointed
relaxation. Thankfully, the local state
parks are here to meet that demand. At
Fort Stevens, glampers can choose from
yurts or deluxe cabins. Both amenities
feature electric heat, and the latter offers
limited capabilities for indoor cook-
ing. Around half of the facilities are pet-
friendly. Further south, Nehalem Bay State
Park offers additional yurts. Be sure to
book early; these facilities are quite popu-
lar and go quickly.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021 // 5