Chuckanut Drive winds its way into your heart

Chuckanut this and Chuckanut that.

There's a lot of places called Chuckanut in the area just south of Bellingham in northwest Washington.

There's Chuckanut Bay, Chuckanut Creek, Chuckanut Falls, the Chuckanut Mountains and the geologic Chuckanut Formation, not to mention Chuckanut Village, Chuckanut Manor, Chuckanut Brewery, Chuckanut Bakery, Chuckanut Bay Foods, Chuckanut Valley Veterinary Clinic and the Chuckanut Community Baptist Church -- just to name a few.

But the one to take is Chuckanut Drive, the scenic alternative to I-5.

It winds its way between the Salish Sea and the Chuckanut Mountains on tree-lined sandstone cliffs, offering views of the San Juan Islands and some even of the Olympic Mountains beyond.

Large ships ply the waters offshore.

The designated scenic byway known as Highway 11 runs 24 miles between Bellingham and Burlington to the south, with the last few miles north of Burlington cutting straight through Skagit Valley farmlands.

It was originally built in 1909 and opened in 1916 on land purchased as a right of way for the Great Northern Railway in 1892.  The railway was later discontinued.

And the word Chuckanut has nothing to do with throwing nuts at people.

It is said to mean in the languages of the local Nooksack and Lummi tribes "long beach far from a narrow entrance."

If you drive south the turnouts for views are more accessible on the right side of the road, but the drive north on the other side is equally stunning and much easier to get to.

Either way, Chuckanut Drive where the mountains meet the sea is sure to find a place in your heart.

How to get there:

Going north on I-5 toward Bellingham and Vancouver, B.C., take exit 231 in Burlington and turn left on Highway 11 once you get off.

From Bellingham going south, take exit 250 from I-5 and go right on Old Fairhaven Parkway, which eventually turns into Donovan Avenue.  Turn left on 12th Street. Go across Connell Creek and take the left fork onto Chuckanut Drive as opposed to going right on Hawthorn Road.

As you go south you come to another fork, staying right on Chuckanut Drive instead of veering left on the Old Samish Highway.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

 

Beacon Rock beckons you to the top

If you are looking for a place that has great views of the Columbia River and is a good workout, Beacon Rock is the place for you.

What is most impressive about the hike up besides the vistas are the 53 switchbacks with hand rails for safety.

There is a door in the rock wall about 15 minutes into the hike that is locked at dusk so no one can sneak up and spend the night.

There are two viewpoints at the top of the 848 foot high rock located on the Washington side of the river.

You can see the Bonneville Dam and the reservoir behind it and the Columbia River.

You need a Discover Pass to visit, which costs $30 and is available from an automatic machine at the park gate.  It is good for an entire year and usable at any state park in Washington.

Or you can pay a $10 fee for just one day of use.

Camping is available year round in the 4,458 acre Beacon Rock State Park for an additional fee.  It is first come, first served and the 26 sites are mostly suited for tent camping although a few other spaces are available.

There are showers and running water, plus a group site for up to 200 guests.

Besides the rock, the park also features 9,500 feet of freshwater shoreline and 26 miles of roads and trails to explore.

The park is open all year from 8 a.m. until dusk.

How to get there:

Take the Highway 14 exit off I-5 or I-205 and head east, which is a left turn off the exit southbound and a right turn off the exit northbound.

Follow the Columbia River up just past Skamania to find Beacon Rock State Park.

The address is 34841 WA-14, Skamania, Wash. 98648.

Call (509) 427-8265 for more information or call (888) 226-7688 in regards to camping.

Text and photos by Jeff Clinton.  Tim Clinton also contributed to this report.

 

Heceta Head Lighthouse well worth the stop

If you're a lover of lighthouses, Heceta Head on the Oregon Coast should be your first stop.

The lighthouse is situated on a cliff overlooking a picturesque cove.

There is a winding 1/2-mile trail leading to the lighthouse and a short side trail goes up to an overlook behind the lighthouse.  It is the perfect place to sit and watch the sun set over the Pacific Ocean with the lighthouse and a gnarled tree in the foreground.

Nearby is a Bed and Breakfast in the former assistant light keeper's home that provides fantastic views of the ocean.

It is rumored to be haunted by the wife of a former light keeper.  Her name is Rue and she keeps an eye out for her children, one of whom drowned.

Several occupants have reported items in their rooms being moved.  However, her presence is said to be a peaceful one as she watches over the lighthouse quarters.

The brick and stucco Heceta Head Lighthouse was first activated on March 30, 1894 and it was automated in 1963.

The light of its First Order Fresnel Lens can be seen from 21 miles out to sea.  Part of the great distance can be attributed to the fact the lighthouse is situated 205 feet up the headland and has a 56-foot tower.

Heceta Head (pronounced huh-SEE-tuh) honors Bruno de Heceta, the Portuguese captain of a Spanish ship who first sighted the cape in 1775.

There is ample parking but it can fill up fast.  Restrooms are on site and there is a parking fee of $5 to be paid via credit card.

The park is open year round for day use and the ground floor of the lighthouse opens for visitors as weather and staffing permit.  The top floors are closed to the public.

How to get there:

The Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint is located just off Highway 101 at 725 Summer Street, Florence, OR 97439.

It is 13 miles north of Florence and 13 miles south of Yachats.

You can cut over to Highway 101 into Florence on Highway 126 out of Eugene, or on Highway 20 and 34 out of Corvallis into Waldport just north of Yachats.

Call 800-551-6949 for more information, or call the park at (541) 547-3416.  School and tour groups should email ahead to heceta.h.lighthouse@oregon.gov.

For Bed and Breakfast reservations call 866-547-3696 or go to hecetalighthouse.com.

Text and photos by Jeff Clinton.  Tim Clinton also contributed to this report.

Redondo Beach earns applause

A sound pierces the salt air as the sun slips behind the Olympic Mountains with finality.

The crowd gathered at Redondo Beach has spontaneously broken into applause for the sight they just witnessed.

Such was the case on one visit to the Des Moines, Wash. park, and what you see there is often worthy of adulation.

It sits on Poverty Bay off of Puget Sound, almost encircled by the city of Federal Way to the east, west and south.

Des Moines gained incorporation of this strip of land after residents voted Federal Way down.

Redondo Beach Drive courses through the scene, separating the two parking lots, condominiums and multi floored beach houses from the beach front and boardwalk.

Tiny boats typically sail off the shore after setting off from the launch and dock nestled next to a fishing pier and Salty's restaurant at the northeast end of the boardwalk.

A small beach sits on the other side of Salty's with a sidewalk and sea wall behind it.

The boardwalk, and the beach below it, is a healthy 1.1 miles in length with the boardwalk suitable for any skill level.

High tide covers the beach, confining walkers to the boardwalk, while lower tides expose the sand and rocks and allow for sauntering and beach combing.

Pier and boat fishing is open per Marine Area 11 regulations, with anglers age 14 and over required to have a valid Washington license.

The sunsets are free and readily visible from all areas of Redondo Beach.

How to get there:

Go west on South 272nd Street off Interstate 5, Pacific Highway South or 16th Avenue (right southbound and left northbound) until the road starts to wind down the hill. Stick with it until it becomes Redondo Beach Drive.

From Federal Way and the south, go north on First Avenue (left eastbound and right westbound off Dash Point Road, South 312th Street or South 320th Street) and remain on it until it also becomes Redondo Beach Drive coming from the opposite direction.

A third option is to turn at the 16th Avenue South light off Dash Point road near Sacajawea Park (left eastbound and right westbound).  The road descends immediately and winds down a canyon to join Redondo Beach Drive near Salty's and the parking lots.

For more information on Redondo Beach call (206) 824-5700.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.