Johnston Ridge offers point blank view

Point blank.

Up close and personal.

Unobstructed.

Those are the words and phrases that come to mind when it comes to the view of Mount St. Helens from Johnston Ridge.

There is nothing between you and the crater and lava dome on the exploded north side of the Washington volcano as you look across from next to the Johnston Ridge Observatory.

All that is below is the landslide zone from what set off the infamous May 18, 1980 blast, including a deep canyon carved out in only the 42 years since that would look to be much older.

You can pay $8.00 to go inside the observatory and take a look at the mountain through the window and at presentations and films about its eruptions, or walk along the outside and take in the view and snap pictures.

Also impressive on Johnston Ridge besides the view of the volcano is the mixture of barrenness and dead fallen trees and stumps along with new life.

Grass, bushes and small trees have poked their way into the scene along with flowering vegetation such as flaming red Indian Paintbrush and white Everlasting Flowers.  Even an occasional chipmunk makes an appearance.

Highway 504 to Johnston Ridge is well paved the whole way, and you can look down on the Toutle River and the mud flow that came crashing down the valley after the 1980 landslide and blast.

You can also look up and see the west side of the mountain and part of the crater to the left.

From there the road winds down to the shores of Coldwater Lake, which was also created in 1980, then back up again as you get closer and closer to Johnston Ridge -- and the mountain itself.

The road ends in a wide parking lot, and from the southeast side of the lot is a trail that takes you uphill to the observatory and viewpoint.

Johnston Ridge is named after David A. Johnston, the volcanologist stationed on the ridge who announced to his Vancouver headquarters and the world that "This is it" about the May 18 eruption right before his death in the blast.

How to get there:

To get to Johnston Ridge, take the I-5 exit onto Highway 504 at Castle Rock and stay on it to its end 52 miles to the east.  You can also take the Highway 505 exit until it goes through Toledo and joins 504, where you take a left.

The Johnston Ridge Observatory address is 24000 Spirit Lake Highway, Toutle, WA 98649.

For more information, call (360) 274-2140.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

Lighthouse shines on Puget Sound

It's so close and yet so far.

Point Robinson Lighthouse shines its bright Fresnel lens a short distance across Puget Sound from Federal Way to Des Moines and Three Tree Point, but requires a good deal of driving, a ferry boat ride and more driving to get to it.

A ferry can only be accessed from West Seattle to the north, Tacoma's Point Defiance to the south and from Southworth on the Kitsap Peninsula side to the west.

From any of those directions you must then drive to the middle of lengthy Vashon Island and across Maury Island to eventually get to Point Robinson on the northeast corner of Maury.

From there you park in a small lot on top of a tree covered bluff and wander down the hill to the park lawn and driftwood strewn beach.

You can sit on a log and take in the close-up views of Federal Way, Redondo Beach, Des Moines and Normandy Park and any ships that pass in between, or walk to the lighthouse and its accompanying residence.

The lighthouse was first built in 1914 and opened in 1915,  and is a 38 foot tall structure made of concrete.  It was automated in 1978.

The whole site was featured in a children's Christmas story written by Berkeley Breathed by the name of "The Red Ranger Came Calling."

The park covers a total of 10 acres of beach front property and marks the halfway point between Seattle and Tacoma.

Lighthouse tours are not currently available because of Covid, so it would be best to save any visit until after that scare is sufficiently over to allow them to resume.

For more information on the Point Robinson Lighthouse park, you can contact the Vashon Park District at info@vashonparks.org or (206) 463-9602.

How to get there:

The Point Robinson Lighthouse is located at 3705 S.W. Point Robinson Road in Vashon, Washington.

Take one of the aforementioned ferries to first get to Vashon Island, landing on the northern tip from Southworth or from Fauntleroy in West Seattle -- or on the southern shore at Tahlequah if coming from Point Defiance in Tacoma.

From either the north or south, drive up the hill and stay on Vashon Highway S.W. until you come to S.W. Quartermaster Drive and turn east into Portage.  Turn right onto the narrow connection between Vashon and Maury islands and stay on it as it becomes S.W. Point Robinson Road.

Otherwise you could take a small private vessel from Des Moines or Redondo Beach to Point Robinson on a nice day.  The park is only a two mile trip across the East Passage of Puget Sound from Des Moines.

Just follow that flashing light.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

 

This farm grows a new kind of crop

 

Weird white things have sprouted up in the desert between Ellensburg and Vantage in recent years.

They're gigantic, yet sleek, with slowly spinning propeller blades.

They're everywhere, dominating a landscape that once boasted little more than sage brush.

They are the windmills of the Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility owned by Puget Sound Energy.

They can be seen all over the hillsides from I-90, or up close and personal -- and even from the inside -- at the Renewable Energy Center located above the old Vantage Highway that parallels I-90 to the north.

The purpose of this wind "farm" is to produce inexpensive renewable electrical power to help supply the over 1,000,000 customers of Puget Sound Energy who are spread out over 11 Washington counties.

Nestled next to the Renewable Energy Center are solar panels that further boost electrical production.

Visitors to the center can learn about both energy sources through displays set up in partnership with nearby Central Washington University in Ellensburg as well as about the area's human and natural history.

Not only can they see the displays, windmills and solar panels at the center, on a clear day they can take in views of Mount Rainier, Mount Adams and even the top of Oregon's Mount Hood in the distance.

They can also see the Columbia Basin to the east in the direction of Moses Lake from this lofty point.

Visitors can go inside the center from 9 a.m. through 5:30 p.m. daily from April through November, weather permitting.

Free tours with no reservation needed depart daily at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. as weather allows.

Other options are available as well.

You can call ahead and schedule a separate group tour, or fill out a permit and wander around the ridges and valleys and see the windmills on your own.

A look inside the massive windmills is only available with a tour, however.

In order to go inside and see the inner workings you must wear closed toed shoes as well as the hard hats and safety goggles that are provided.

You can also schedule a conference at the center.  It has a meeting room that accommodates 48 people along with a kitchen and catering facilities.

To schedule a tour or a conference, call (509) 964-7815.

It's a breeze.

How to get there:

From the Puget Sound area and the west, travel eastbound I-90 to Ellensburg exit 106.  Follow the exit around and across an overpass to a four-way stop.  Continue on University Way until it becomes Vantage Highway and follow that for 16.5 miles.

From Spokane and the east, travel west on I-90 to Vantage exit 136, take a left onto Vantage Highway and follow it for 10.5 miles.    

From Yakima and the south, go north on I-82 and merge onto eastbound I-90.  Take exit 115 into Kittitas.  Turn right at a "T" onto Patrick Ave., turn left at 81 road then right at Vantage Highway for 10.5 miles.

For all routes, enter through the Wild Horse main gate and continue for three more miles.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

 

Dry Falls were mightiest ever

There was a time when Dry Falls was the wettest and biggest falls around.

During the last ice age the Central Washington cliffs roared with a waterfall two and a half times higher and five times wider than Niagara Falls.

In fact they ranked as the mightiest waterfall in the history of the planet at a towering 400 feet high and three and a half miles wide.

The question is where did enough water to form a waterfall this big come from, since even the mighty Columbia River in wetter times would not pack enough punch to power them and carve out the Grand Coulee above.

Scientists agree that it was all done in a matter of weeks and not eons of time as well, although whatever happened may have been repeated several times.

To find the answer, they point to glacial evidence at the site of the present day Grand Coulee Dam, which backs up the Columbia and diverts some of it to form Banks Lake inside the Grand Coulee.  Banks Lake is stopped from flowing over Dry Falls by the Dry Falls Dam.

Then, strangely enough, are the lines on the hillsides above distant Missoula, Mont. that look like ancient shorelines at various levels.

Putting the facts together, it is theorized that a glacier came down and blocked the river at the site of the dam and was much bigger than it, backing up the water all the way to Missoula to form a giant lake.

The pressure eventually broke the ice dam, sending all of that water rushing down the coulee.

It quickly carved out the walls of the coulee and spilled over the site of Dry Falls, turning it into a massive waterfall that dropped into what is now lake basins below.

From there it flowed on down the coulee, over the current Sun Lakes and out into the channeled scab lands by Moses Lake and the Potholes Reservoir and down to the present day Columbia River Gorge and out to the Pacific Ocean.

Backed up water from most of Western North America poured through here at the time, or times.

The Dry Falls Visitor Interpretive Center now stands off to the side of where the falls once thundered, offering a view of the cliffs and the lakes below.

Inside the center visitors can see a video presentation and an artist's interpretation of what the giant falls looked like at their peak.

The daily hours at the center vary throughout the year, and information can be obtained by calling (509) 632-5214.

Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park lies below, from which you can look up at the falls.

You can drive through the area, get out, and walk over eight miles of trails.

The lakes boast fishing, with anglers finding rainbow, brown and tiger trout in Dry Falls Lake at the base of the falls.

Swimming, boating and even golfing are available in the state park, which has 152 standard campsites and 40 RV sites.  It also has an amphitheater and climbing walls.

How to get there:

Dry Falls is located off Highway 2, which crosses the Dry Falls Dam above.  Turn south onto Highway 17 to get to the visitors center and head on down to the state park.  The road goes past more of the Sun Lakes and on to join I-90 near Moses Lake.

You can also go north onto Highway 17 from Highway 28, which can be reached from I-90 by Highway 283 near George.

Call (509) 632-5583 for more information on the 3,774-acre state park, which is located at 34875 Park Rd. NE, Coulee City, WA 99115.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

It's tulip time in Skagit Valley

It's time to tiptoe through the tulips at the annual Skagit Valley festival.

Well, walk through them. Or at least drive through them on the roads between the fields.

The flowers stretch into the distance in places, offering a splash of color for the eyes each April.

There are reds, yellows, oranges, pinks and purples.

On a clear day snow capped Mount Baker and the Cascades loom over the scene, which also features rustic barns and sheds as well as stately trees.

Three fourths of the commercial tulips in the United States are grown in the Skagit Valley, which has some 1,000 acres dedicated to tulips and daffodils.

Most are in a 15-mile triangle bordered by Highway 20, the Skagit River and the Swinomish River Channel.

Mount Vernon serves as the headquarters and turning point off Interstate 5 and it is located 60 miles north of Seattle.

Two farms are open for the public to tour for a price in RoozenGaarde and Tulip Town, with tickets in advance online including parking.

RoozenGaarde features 25 acres of tulips and 20 acres of daffodils, plus a five acre display garden.

Tulip Town has three acres of flowers plus a kite flying field, a trolley to ride included in the price of admission (if weather permits) and a cafe.

The price of admission at RoozenGaarde is $15.00 per person with children age 2 and under admitted for free.

Tulip Town costs $16.29 per person age 12 and over, but it is only $7.60 for ages 6-11 and free for ages 5 and under.

There is now no mask mandate at either location.  Pets and drones are not permitted.

The daffodils have been out for some time, while the tulips are starting to bloom already and should reach their peak in the middle of April.

How to get there:

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival runs an office in Mount Vernon open 9-5 daily in April.  It is located at 311 W. Kincaid Street, Mount Vernon, WA 98273 with a phone number of (360) 428-5959.

RoozenGaarde is located at 15867 Beaver Marsh Road in Mount Vernon and Tulip Town also has a Mount Vernon address of 15002 Bradshaw Road.

Or you can take Mount Vernon exit 225 or 226 and follow the Tulip Festival signs out to the roads among the fields to the west of town.

Text and top photo by Tim Clinton, bottom photo by Jeff Clinton.

 

Waters run deep at Lake Crescent

There is plenty of fun to be had on the surface of Lake Crescent.

You can go paddling and fishing on the water, swimming and hiking along the shore -- or sit on a park bench or a rock and take it all in.

But these waters definitely run deep.

Just how deep depends on whose survey you believe.

The United States Navy couldn't find the bottom with their instruments in the early 1960s.

A 1970 survey by Peninsula College students recorded 624 feet.

When power cable was laid in the 1980s, on the other hand, the readings came out in excess of 1,000 feet.

But the thorough Lake Crescent Bathymetric Survey in 2013 and 2014 found the maximum depth to be 596 feet.

Whichever the actual case may be, it is deep, as attested to by the surrounding Olympic Mountains plunging almost straight down into the water.

Fallen trees with huge bases can be found going off into the depths with the tops not visible.

Another fact to ponder is that the surface elevation is 580 feet above sea level, meaning the bottom of the lake is below sea level.

While the lake is definitely deep, it is also long on surface area at 11.81 miles in length covering an area of 8.011 square miles. 

The bathymetric survey found the lake to contain 0.5 cubic miles of fresh water, with Barnes Creek, Smith Creek, Aurora Creek and Eagle Creek providing the primary inflow and the Lyre River the outflow.

Paddle boats are available on the beach at the Lake Crescent Lodge, which was built in 1915 and ranks as a three star hotel at an average cost of $192 per night.  There is also dock space, and benches to sit on.

The lake contains a wide variety of fish, with Beardslee trout, Lake Crescent cutthroat trout, Coastal cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and sockeye salmon.

But if you go out onto the water, wear a life jacket.  It's a long ways to the bottom.

How to get there:

Lake Crescent can be found 17 miles west of Port Angeles along U.S. Highway 101.

Lake Crescent Lodge is located at 416 Lake Crescent Rd., Port Angles, WA 98363 with a phone number of (855) 584-5293 .

The lake is entirely contained within Olympic National Park, which can be reached at (360) 565-3130, but no entrance fee is charged since it is on a major highway.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

Short hike leads to Sol Duc Falls

A quick stroll through a scenic woods will bring you to a spectacular waterfall.

Sol Duc Falls inside Washington's Olympic National Park is at its best in the spring as the runoff from winter turns the falls into a raging torrent.

It's a short one mile hike to the falls on a well-maintained trail with a gradual 200-foot elevation gain.

Several bridges along the way allow for great photo opportunities.  Then there is a bridge over the falls that is another great place to get epic photos of yourself and friends.

The Sol Duc River splits into as many as four small channels at the top of the falls before plunging 48 feet into a thin and rocky canyon.

If you are lucky, the sun shimmering down through a narrow opening in the woods onto the moisture rising up from the falls will even cause a rainbow to arch its way across the scene.

No, there won't be any pot of gold at either end, but the presence of the bow itself is a treasure.

How to get there:

The turn for Sol Duc Falls can be found 29 miles west of Port Angeles off U.S. Highway 101 on the northern Olympic Peninsula.

Turn on Sol Duc Road and drive 14 miles to the parking lot at its end, which is past the Sol Duc Hot Springs and Resort.

The price of entry into Olympic National Park is $25 for seven consecutive days or $50 for an annual pass.

Camping is available in the area with a permit, including 82 sites near the trailhead.  Quotas and reservations are in effect May 1 through Sept. 30 for the Sol Duc-Seven Lakes Basin area.

Call (360) 565-3130 for more information on Olympic National Park, the falls and camping or (855) 584-5293 for the resort and its cabins and pools.

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

 

Lighthouse awaits at the end of this hike

A hot summer day with a cool breeze blowing off the water is the perfect time to hike out to the New Dungeness Lighthouse.

It's an 11-mile round trip hike that is easiest when the tide is lowest.

Starting your hike around an hour before lowest tide will provide the best walking conditions.  The entire hike is on sand and the further out the tide, the firmer the sand will be for walking.

The Dungeness Spit is the longest natural spit in the world and at its end is the New Dungeness Lighthouse.

There are plenty of birds to see along the way, and there is a good chance you will see eagles.

In fact, your hike must be taken on the Strait of Juan de Fuca outward side of the spit because the inner side toward Dungeness Bay and the Olympic Mountains is a wildlife sanctuary.

More than 250 species of birds and 41 species of land animals call the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge home.

The lighthouse has tours available.

The 63-foot tall lighthouse made of brick, stucco and sandstone first opened in 1857 and was automated in 1976.  It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 30, 1993.

There is a beautiful green lawn at the lighthouse that provides a perfect place to rest after the long hike.  There are also a few picnic tables and a clean restroom available, plus a drinking fountain fed by an artesian well.

Allow a little over four hours to complete the round trip on top of whatever stops you make.

The spit itself grows an average of 15 feet in length per year and is fed by landslides on the lengthy bluff west of it, which is a glacial moraine left over from the last ice age.

New Dungeness was named by British explorer George Vancouver in 1792 because of its resemblance to the Dungeness headland on the British Channel in England.

How to get there:

From US Highway 101 west of Sequim, Washington turn north on Kitchen-Dick Road.

Continue three miles on Kitchen-Dick Road to the Dungeness Recreation Area.

You go through the recreation area to the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge parking lot.

The hike starts off going through a forested area on a bluff overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  You pay a $3 entrance fee at the trailhead.

Call (360) 683-6638 for more information.

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

Wildlife Safari offers options

You have wonderful options when you visit Wildlife Safari near Roseburg, Ore.

You can wander around Safari Village on foot among the flamingos and under the palm trees, view exotic ducks up close, visit small zoo animals, and go into the shop.

You could also wander around in your vehicle on the Wildlife Safari Drive if you have time, through free roaming wildlife from around the world, including Africa.

Or you can do both.

A total of 600 animals roam a 610-acre park, giving them over one acre apiece.

The drive through safari is divided into four areas, with Asia getting the first section you come to, the Americas the second, wetlands the third and Africa saved for last.

Plus there are extras thrown in, such as the Australian emu.

The Asia section includes the Tibetan Yak, Sika Deer, Nilgai and Asian Elephant and the Americas have the Llama, American Bison, Brown Bear and North American Black Bear.  The wetlands include restrooms and a sheltered picnic area, and the Africa section contains the African Elephant, Hippopotamus, Rhino, Zebra and Giraffe.

The carnivores lurk in a separate area, such as the African Lion and Cheetah.

All of these can be seen from the safety of your own car on a trip that you should allow an hour and a half to complete.

The Wildlife Safari Drive costs $23.95 per adult, $17.95 for children and $20.95 for senior adults.

But don't bring your own animals to either the Safari Village or on the Wildlife Safari Drive.  A free unsupervised kennel area is available, with locks sold for $5.00.

Both areas are open year round except for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The hours for November to March are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both for the Safari Village and with the last car admitted onto Wildlife Safari Drive.  The hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for March after Daylight Savings Time through September and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in October.

How to get there:

Take exit 120 off Interstate-5 going south or north and drive west on Highway 42, which is a right turn going south and a left turn going north.

The exit is located just south of Roseburg and Green.

Take a short drive to near the town of Winston, and follow the signs for Wildlife Safari, taking a right turn.

Wildlife Safari is located at 1790 Safari Road, Winston, OR 97496.

Call (541) 679-6761 for more information.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

.

Oregon Trail celebrated at Center

You can really feel like you are stepping back in time at the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center near Baker City in northeast Oregon.

Wagons are circled on top of a lonesome hill surrounded by sage brush and wild flowers, and even the modern museum is full of lifelike scenes of being on the trail heading west in the 1800s.

A short distance away from it all across the desert you can see the actual ruts left over from the wagons, and you can step in display ruts inside the museum.

The 500 acre site also boasts remnants of the Flagstaff Gold Mine complete with a sluice box, plus a blacksmith shop, stamp mill, native plant garden, a picnic area and an outdoor amphitheater.

Four miles of trails loop around the site.  Plan on a two hour walk to the ruts and back from the Interpretive Center museum, but remember that the historic trail is fragile and take care not to damage it.

The trail was used from the 1840s to the 1880s and ran 2,170 miles starting in Independence, Missouri. 

The 23,000 square foot Center museum and restrooms are normally open year round but are temporarily closed for building renovations.  You can still plan your visit for this spring, summer or fall, or see the outside portions even this winter although the trails are not cleared of ice and snow.

It is well worth the side trip off Interstate 84 heading either southeast to Boise, Idaho or northeast to LaGrande, Pendleton, the Portland area or the state of Washington.

How to get there:

Take the Highway 86 exit (No. 302) off Interstate 84 just north of Baker City, Oregon and head east a few miles across the desert until you come to the signs for the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.

When you are done you can either return to Interstate 84 and be on your way, or continue east on Highway 86 for the start of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway and spend at least a day on that.

The Center's address is 22267 OR-86, Baker City, Ore. 97814.

Call (541) 523-1843 for more information or find oregontrail.blm.gov on the web.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

 

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.

 

Multnomah Falls stands tall

Multnomah Falls is an Oregon icon.

The waterfall often graces calendars of the state, and of the Pacific Northwest for that matter.

The two levels plunge a combined 620 feet into the Columbia River Gorge, with plenty of maple trees in front to add greenery in the spring and summer and color in the fall.

An arched foot bridge crosses above the second drop to also contribute to the scene.

The upper falls account for 542 feet of height and the lower for 69.  There is nine feet of elevation drop between the two.

Peak flow over the falls, mostly out of underground springs from Larch Mountain, is in the winter and spring.  Ice and snow can add a dash of white at times.

Moss covers most of the rock walls, where layers of ancient Yakima basalt flows can be found. 

Multnomah Falls is as popular as it is pretty, however.

Over 2,000,000 visitors make the stop per year and the parking lot is often full and closed.  It is sandwiched between the two sides of Interstate 84 about 30 miles and 30 minutes east of Portland.

A tunnel under the eastbound lanes and railroad tracks leads to the lodge and lower observation deck.

A trail goes on up to the foot bridge built in 1914 and gives visitors a closer look at the upper falls.

It is called the Benson Bridge after Simon Benson, who owned the falls in the early 1900s and gave the site to the city of Portland, which later passed it on to the USDA Forest Service.

The Multnomah Falls Lodge built in 1925 features a restaurant, the Forest Service Visitors Center, a gift shop, restrooms and a snack bar all open to the public.

The area is open all year for day use only.

Timed reservation tickets are required to visit from late May to mid September for the hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. except for bicycles.  You choose a time and have the entire hour after it to enter and can stay as long as you wish.

Tickets are expected to go on sale in May of this year for $1 per person per visit.  The cost is non-refundable, but does not guarantee a place to park.

How to get there:

Take Exit 31 off Interstate 84 heading east or west 30 miles to the east of Portland.  The exit is out of the left lane into the middle parking area.

Multnomah Falls is also accessible off the Historic Columbia River Highway (30), but do not block or impede traffic while trying to park.

You can also leave your vehicle at Rooster Rock State Park and ride a free shuttle to the falls from May through September.  The state park has a $5 per vehicle day use fee.

Daily bus service is offered by the Columbia River Express all year, including out of Portland.

For more information on the falls and lodge, call the Visitors Center at (503) 695-2372 or the Columbia River Gorge Natural Scenic Area headquarters at (541) 308-1700.

The address is 53000 E. Historic Columbia River Hwy., Bridal Veil, OR 97010.

Text and top photo by Tim Clinton.  Bottom photo by Jeff Clinton.

Saltwater State Park packs surprises

 

You never know what you're going to find at Saltwater State Park.

Yes, there's plenty of salt water.

You can find it crashing against the rocks, or lapping peacefully on the sand below the wall.

There's lots of seagulls and a few crows, but if you're lucky you can also find a blue heron sneaking up on one of the tiny fish that swim just off shore.

Or what's flying overhead might not be a bird at all, but a drone looking down from just above the tree tops on the crest of the bluff.

Or it could be one of the many jets that parade by just up the hill from the Des Moines, Wash. park on their way to Sea-Tac International Airport.

Among the things you know you are going to find are a freshwater creek, a restroom, a fire pit encircled by rocks, a covered picnic area, open picnic tables and benches to sit on and look out over the waters of Puget Sound toward Maury Island and the Olympic Mountains beyond -- or at the sunset if you are there at the right time of day.

A paved walking trail takes you to all of these and works its way through a grassy area, with a rock wall trying to protect it all from the onslaught of high tides and waves but obviously having failed in spots.

A couple of washed out areas creating holes in the concrete are marked off by yellow tape and off limits for walkers' safety.

The bluff above is cut into by a canyon at McSorley Creek, where the parking lot and a concession stand and another restroom are.  More picnic sites are also located here. 

A trail goes on up the creek where a 30-site campground is located.  The campground is open from May 15 to Sept. 15 with reservations.  Campers without a reservation may stay only one night at a time.

Saltwater State Park is on a 137-acre site with 1,445 feet of shoreline.

Hiking trails are on top of the bluff -- where another picnic shelter is located -- and on the north and south rims of the canyon.

Call (253) 661-4956 for more information on the park that is open at 8 a.m. daily all year long and closes at dusk.

Reservations can be made online or by calling (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.

The general Washington state parks number is (360) 902-8844.

How to get there:

Take the Kent-Des Moines Road exit from Interstate 5 and go west (left northbound and right southbound) through the light on Pacific Highway and on down the hill toward Des Moines.

Keep going until you come to Marine View Drive (Highway 509) at the bottom of the hill as you enter the downtown waterfront area of Des Moines.

Turn left at the light and watch for the Saltwater State Park signs to your right.  Turn at 8th Place So.

A booth offers day use tickets for $10 per vehicle or a $30 Discover Pass that gets you into any Washington state park for a year.

Saltwater State Park is located at 25205 8th Place So. in Des Moines with a zip code of 98198.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

 

Dash Point delivers a great getaway

When someone says the tide is out at Dash Point State Park, they mean the tide is out.  Way out.

The beach has such a slight incline that any tide that is low at all really makes the exposed sand go off into the distance.

It also provides so much shallow water that sometimes it seems like you can venture halfway to Maury Island across Puget Sound.

As long as it isn't high tide, there is plenty of room to sun bathe, walk, beach comb, swim or wade.

Even when the tide is in there is 3,301 feet of shoreline, plus a fishing pier.

On the water you can go boating, kayaking or skim boarding.

The latter is a Dash Point phenomenon, with the park nestled next to the heart of the city of Federal Way between Seattle and Tacoma hosting competitions at times.

You throw a small thin board into the shallow water, hop aboard and ride.

Dash Point boasts plenty of picnic area as well with two shelters that can be reserved and 20 uncovered tables available to whoever gets there first.

There is a short trail including a tunnel under the road from the parking area to the beach.

If that isn't enough of a walk for you, there are eight miles of wooded biking trails and 11 miles of hiking trails to navigate in the opposite direction.

Above it all in a wood so thick you can get the feeling you are way off in the mountains is the camping area.

A total of 114 standard campsites, 27 utility sites, one dump site, four restrooms and six showers are available.

Even though the beach looks like a good spot to chase clams with a shovel, it is not recommended.

Automated pay stations on the way into the overall 461-acre park offer $10 per car state day use passes and Discover passes for $30 that will get you into any state park in Washington for an entire year.

Camping and using the boat launch are extra.  Fishing and any harvesting of shellfish require a state license. 

 

How to get there:

Dash Point State Park is located at 5700 Southwest Dash Point Road in Federal Way.

Take the South 320th Street exit off Interstate 5 and keep on going west (left northbound, right southbound) until the street ends at Hoyt Road.

Take a right at the light until that road ends at Dash Point Road and go left where a roundabout is under construction.

A short distance down is the park to your right.

Call (253) 661-4955 for more information on the park or check the Dash Point State Park website. Call 888-226-7688 if you want to camp.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

 

Crater Lake shines like a gem

Crater Lake is nothing short of spectacular any way you look at it.

Deep blue waters surround tree lined Wizard Island with its small crater on top, with steep slopes encircling the scene and plunging into the depths.

Add a layer of snow and it becomes even more stunning.

But Crater Lake is not in a crater at all.

Technically it sits in a caldera.

"It will be a long time before they call it Caldera Lake," admitted a tour guide at nearby Newberry Caldera trying to explain the difference to his audience.

A caldera is formed when a magma chamber is emptied and collapses in on itself.

That's what happened to Mount Mazama when it erupted some 7,700 years ago, with the lake filling it in.

Wizard Island was the result of ensuing volcanic activity, with its top blasted out to form a crater.

Mount St. Helens in Washington has also boasted a large crater since it blew in 1980, with a lava dome gradually emerging in it.

But whether you call it Crater Lake or Caldera Lake, it offers viewers a striking blue color brought on by algae.

Wizard Island is the centerpiece of most photos coming out of what is officially known as Crater Lake National Park.

But the Southern Oregon scene stands out any way you look, with the ragged and rocky shell of Mount Mazama creating slopes that continue right down into the 1,943-foot deep lake.

A road goes around the whole caldera, weaving inside the rim at times to offer views of the lake.

The best place to see it is above the southwest part of the lake.

It features a visitor center and lodge as well as a large parking area and trails through the trees on top of a fairly flat portion of land.

The lake is huge as well as deep at 4.971 miles across and covering 20.6 square miles.

As far as elevation goes, the surface of Crater Lake sits at 6,178 feet.

The lake is inhabited by sockeye salmon and rainbow trout.

A time to avoid if you are in a vehicle but to flock to on a bicycle, on foot or even roller skates is Ride the Rim Day.

It is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 10 in 2022.

Two Ride the Rim Days were scheduled in 2021 but were cancelled by Covid.

Parts of the park are open during the winter depending on the weather.   Boat tours are offered in the summer.

Check out the Crater Lake website for current information and the semiannual park newspaper called Crater Lake Reflections.

How to Get There:

From the north on Interstate 5 take Highway 138 out of Roseburg and head east up the winding North Umpqua River.  The road turns south before you get to Diamond Lake and goes past it.  Turn right into Crater Lake National Park.

From Medford and the south on I-5 you can get on Highway 62 and wander north up the Rogue River before veering east at Union Creek into the west entrance of the park.

From Highway 97 to the east you can hop on 138 at Diamond Lake Junction and take a 15-mile drive to where you turn left into the park.

From Klamath Falls and the south on Highway 97 take Highway 62 before you get to Chiloquin and drive northwest into the park's south entrance.

Text and bottom two photos by Tim Clinton. Top photo by Jeff Clinton.