It had been raining the day before and we had previously had our share of grey, misty days so we were excited to find the clouds lifting and the sun breaking through.
The majesty represented by a beautiful tree and a well-populated forest always resonated with my spirit and the South Trail on Cape Lookout did not disappoint in this respect.
The trail begins very modestly.
The South Trail of Cape Lookout Begins
Soon the coast appears to add interest to the hike. The fog was still rather low, but was beginning to lift.
The fog was lifting to reveal more of the ocean
As we moved further inland, the forest began to reveal some of its interesting sights. The ferns growing in the nooks and crannies of the tree limbs are known as basket ferns. This area is close enough to the shore to provide ample moisture for these plants to thrive.
Ferns growing in the crooks of tree limbs known as basket ferns
As the trail meandered through forest and intermittently along the coastline, we were treated to vistas of the ocean and shore.
The trail reveals vistas of the coast
This was a picturesque cove that we stopped to admire both coming and going!
A picturesque cove shows can be seen through a break in the tree line
The path was very muddy in places because of the recent rains.
The path was muddy from overnight rains
On the return trip, we began to encounter more hikers. Luckily we started early enough to have the trail to ourselves during most of the hike to the cape. In season, I would anticipate larger crowds.
This (below) was one of my favorite stops along the trail. The colorful browns and greens and the mist-laden atmosphere was very captivating.
A serene landscape along the trail
Here is another shot of the coast showing one of the panoramic views from the trail.
A panoramic view of the coast
Not actually a flower, this Chicken of the Woods wild mushroom (Laetiporus sulphureus), was as nice as many wildflowers.
Nature’s art seen in a beautiful wild mushroom
As we neared the parking area, we came across yet another Banana slug. They grow them big in this wooded area as the quarter coin next to it demonstrates!
Large Banana slug
While some may feel that the South Trail of Cape Lookout does not have a remarkable payoff at the end, it is a nice vantage point for whale watching and looking at the ocean. Keep in mind that getting there is more than half the fun!
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Read previous posts about our adventures hiking and exploring in Oregon:
Exploring Astoria, Oregon – Part 1
Exploring Astoria, Oregon – Part 2
Exploring Astoria, Oregon – Part 3
Adventures in Oregon: Warrenton to Seaside
Adventures in Oregon: Hiking at Indian Beach
Adventures in Oregon: Views from Ecola Point
Adventures in Oregon: Movin’ On Down the Road
Adventures in Oregon: Garibaldi’s Graces and Pier
Adventures in Oregon: Tillamook – Cape Meares Lighthouse
Read more Hiking and Exploration posts HERE
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©Jeffrey B. Ross – 2018 – JBRish.com
Cape Meares, lighthouse, ocean, pacific, beach, scenery, history, landscape, pacific ocean
