The rocky islands that you can see from Coqille Point are part of the Oregon Island National Wildlife Refuge and provide a protected nesting area for murres, cormorants, petrels, and tufted puffins. Binoculars are needed to really see the birds. I used the zoom on my camera but didn't get very good photos. As far as I can tell we saw all of the birds except for the puffins. The puffin population has declined dramatically over the last 50 years due to multiple causes such as climate change, the return of eagles, and pollution. A large puffin sculpture, built by
Washed Ashore , an environmental group that makes art from beach trash to educate people about plastic pollution in the ocean, is located at the start of the interpretive trail.
The trail is about 1/2 mile long and consists of a small loop and an out and back spur. It is paved and accessible. Two spur trails with steps proved access to the beach.
The trail is about 1/2 mile long consisting of a small loop and an out and back spur. It is paved and accessible. Two spur trails with steps access the beach.
RVs can be parked along the edges of the parking lot or on 11th Street. Trail 3.113, -124.4336
The Oregon coast in the summer is a great place to be! Judging by your photos it doesn't look like summer yet :-)
ReplyDeleteWe ran over to the coast a month ago when the central valley got hot and we've been in cool weather ever since. 50 degrees, cloudy, and windy. But while we're all bundled up we see other people in shorts and tee shirts! We're probably just wimps. :D
DeleteLove the Oregon coast (who doesn't?)! I don't believe we've been on this trail yet, so thanks for the info -- soon it'll be time for us to head for Bandon.
ReplyDelete