FOUL WEATHER AT ECOLA STATE PARK, OREGON

I figured that a rare rainy Monday in August would be ideal to spend in Ecola State Park. So I headed west out Oregon Hwy26 about 1 hour or so to the park.

ECOLA STATE PARK, Oregon, is located just north of Cannon Beach, about 50 W. of Portlamd. In 1805 the Lewis & Clark expidition established a fort and stockade here. The area offered plenty of protection from the winter storms and food. The forests here date back to 123,000 years. The image above is a good representation of the Sitka Spruce, moss covered alder forest that encompasses the entire park, right doen to the edge of the 60o’ plus cliffs that come right up to the edge of the Pacific Ocean. Douglas fir, red cedar and red alder also are plentyful. The area averages over 75″ of rain per year and rarly freezes. If you like green, here is the place! 

There are 2 main areas with plenty of hiking trails. On the north, there’s Indian Beach. On the south, theres Crescent Beach. You can get to points that offer great views of Seal Rocks, and Haystack rock just south at near by Cannon Beach.

Crescent Beach

Tillamook Rock Lighthouse

This lighthouse is visable only on fairly clear days as it is located 1.2 miles off shore. The tower is 62′ tall and is 133 above sea level. It opened in 1881 after three years of construction ( imagin building this lighthouse one mile off shore in the late 1800’s!) and was active until 1957 when it was shut down. Today, there is an automated bouy that replaces the functions of the lightouse. Believe it or not, the only use for this lighthouse today is as a mausoleum for storing the ashes of those wishing to spend their eternity at sea.

Roosevelt Elk

Just as the rain was increasing and I was getting ready to head out leter in the day  a small heard of Roosevelt Elk came out of the near by woods. Roosevelt Elk originated from a transplant of 8 calves captured on the Olympic Peninsula in 1928. The can be found south into Northern California. The are slightly larger  and darker in color but less symmentrical then the Rocky Mt. Elk found east of the Cascade Mts.

Ecola State park is a great place to photograph, even in rainy weather.

JG