Fairytale Forests

 One of the things that has surprised me the most about Oregon is the fairytale forests on the coast. Before moving here, I think I had a vague image in my head of these coastal hikes being rocky, steep cliffs, and pine trees all around. You certainly get those sights, but these other ecosystems have been so magical and unique. A trail may start out with a woodsy area with spruce trees, cedars, alders, transition to neon green moss covered grounds and trees before reaching a whispy grassy meadow leading you to views of the Pacific Ocean down steep cliffs. Keep on trekking up through these wildflower fields up to reach another pine forest. That's Cascade Head. 

Then Bob Straub State Park and takes you through these mossy forests with views of Nestucca River to the west and ocean to the east. You can make it all the way down to the river mouth to be greeted by some curious seals.

I think Sitka Sedge will have its images burned in my heart forever. One of my favorite places. You get to see tidal flast, saltwater marsh, forested wetlands, and on the beach see Haystack Rock to the south and Cape Lookout to the north. Going from these enchanted forests, crossing over the dunes to this beach almost always has me gasp. Sometimes you come out and it looks like a pastel watercolor painting, others it's vibrant blues and bright yellow sand dunes, others its the trademark Oregon mist. It's almost always a surprise. 

In the fall, colorful, diverse mushrooms pop up all over these forest floors.