Adventuring: 40:40:2 Cape Perpetua

Cape Perpetua is full of history and beauty. It's location just two miles south of Yachats is easy to access from US 101. Just follow the signs. Once you drive up to the top you can choose to hike down the switch back path full of views of the cape to the visitors center, hike the moderate Amanda's Trail back towards Yachats, or walk to one of the perfectly situated benches to enjoy your view from the top!

If you plan on heading to the visitor's center plan on a steep trek back to the top. Once you get to the campground your connecting trail to the station is by the bathrooms. This is the most popular hike in the area with the most breathtaking views.

View looking down on the visitors center

Amanda's trail is in memory of a coastal Indian Amanda, who was forced to leave her daughter on the banks of the Coos River, and walk with other Coos and Lower Unpqua Tribes to Yachats for interment. This is a three and half mile one way trail.

Amanda's memorial- photo by Roger Scott

If you want to just enjoy the views from the top, they are spectacular! Short wheel-chair accessible walks wind through pines and other trees. A lookout built by the Civilian Conservation Corps is still present. This lookout was used in WWII as a watch station and had a large coastal defense gun temporarily installed.

Foggy morning on the Cape

Adventuring: 40:40:1 Heceta Head Lighthouse Trail

Oregonians and visitors have enjoyed the perfectly situated beauty of Heceta Head Lighthouse. The easy way to approach the Lighthouse is to park in the parking lot bellow it's perch and walk up the 0.3 mile trail to get a closer look. Another way is to drive another mile north, past the entrance to a little pull-off to the right. Across the road to the left you will see a trail head for Hobbits Trail. Start following this and when it splits stay to the left to wind your way along the 1.5 mile trail to see a back view of the lighthouse. This trail will end at the base of the house and you can then enjoy all the usual tourist photos and tours.

The day I chose to do this was a foggy March morning. The trail will incline and descend though ocean grass, ferns, and trees. This AM there was an eery beauty with the fog and the rising sun.

40 for my 40!

I have been thinking and working on this since, well, March when my 40th B-day rolled around. I thought "How grand would it be to hike 40 trails during my 40th year!". The goal will be to post each of these here and then link so others can enjoy these same trails. They do not have to be trails that I have not hiked before, they just have to have hiked them again since March. This goal has been great in encouraging me to find new trails and stretch my distance and endurance. I still feel pretty wimpy at times, but it's all in good fun! Hike on!