destination: fishhawk falls/ lee wooden county park, oregon

destination: Fishhawk Falls at Lee Wooden County Park, Oregon
where:  4 1/2 miles northwest of Jewell along Highway 202 in Clatsop County
ramblers: Susan, Dave, and Mary
season: Autumn, October
field notes: It's mushroom season in the pacific northwest! The county park is nicely maintained with a small parking area and an easy, short trail along Fishhawk Creek that leads to the waterfall. Pictured here is just a sampling of the charming mushrooms currently on view along the trail. More mushroom pics here.

Fishhawk Creek in Autumn

A secret Fairy Door in moss-covered tree...

The lower part of Fishhawk Falls

mushrooms galore!

 Fishhawk Falls/ Lee Wooden County Park is 25 1/2 miles southeast of Astoria, or 4 1/2 miles northwest of Jewell along Highway 202 in Oregon.

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earthlings: fungi: mushrooms

where: Fishhawk Falls trail at Lee Wooden County Park, Clatsop County, Oregon
ramblers: susan, dave, and mary
season: autumn
field notes: just a sampling of the charming mushrooms currently on view along the short trail that leads to Fishhawk Waterfall.
 

 

Fishhawk Falls/ Lee Wooden County Park is 25 1/2 miles southeast of Astoria, or 4 1/2 miles northwest of Jewell along Highway 202 in Oregon.

 It's a beautiful and crazy planet.

Go forth and ramble!

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Susan Faye on Pinterest

destination: haystack rock marine garden

What: Haystack Rock Marine Garden and National Wildlife Refuge at Cannon Beach, Oregon.
   
Where: Haystack Rock is located off of the Oregon Coast Hwy (U.S. Route 101),  about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of downtown Cannon Beach and is about 80 miles (130 km) west of Portland.   

Ramblers: Susan, Mary and Emilia

Season: Spring 

Haystack Rock is an impressive monolith that towers 235 feet over the beach. It is home to nesting seabirds in the spring and summer,  and to tidepool creatures all year long. The tidepools at the base of Haystack Rock are accessible by foot, but  only during low tide.

You can check daily times for low tides at Cannon Beach HERE

 

The Haystack Rock Awareness Program is a mobile environmental education program that visits the beach during low tides in the spring and summer months.

Trained, knowledgeable, and friendly volunteers are happy to point out easily missed wonders such as....

...Nudibranchs!  (small, fancy sea slugs) like this Opalescent Nudibranch which is swimming upside down.  This particular one was spotted by Emilia, after we were educated as to what to look for.

The area surrounding Haystack rock was designated as a Marine Garden in 1990 and as part of a National Wildlife Refuge in1976. All climbing is prohibited on Haystack Rock- as is operating low flying aircraft (including gliders) near the rock. This protects the seabirds (especially ground-nesting seabirds) that nest on the rock.

TIDEPOOL ETIQUETTE: "No poking, prodding, prying, removing, eating, squashing, stomping, kicking, licking, collecting, crushing or otherwise injuring plants and animals." Check out the Tidepool Etiquette page to learn more.

Birds that nest on Haystack Rock include Western Gulls, Tufted Puffins, Pelagic Cormorants, Pigeon Guillemots, and Black Oystercatchers.

To learn more about this beautiful sea garden visit the

 Friends of Haystack Rock page.

[ It's a beautiful and crazy planet.

Go forth and ramble!]

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Susan Faye on Pinterest

destination: klickitat river trail, washington

What: The Klickitat Trail is a trail for hikers and cyclists that follows the first 31 miles of an old railroad corridor that once linked the towns of Lyle and Goldendale in Washington State.

Where: The Klickitat River empties into the Columbia River at Lyle, where you will find the lower trailhead with parking. There are several other trailheads located to the north along Highway 142, which parallels the river.  
 Click here for downloadable Klickitat Trail map in PDF format
 

Ramblers: Susan and Dave

Season: Spring 

Earthlings encountered: Bald eagles, poppies, lupine, cornflower (bachelor buttons), pollinators
Field Notes: We walked the first 2 miles of the trail to the Fisher Hill Trestle Bridge. BEWARE: There was poison oak EVERYWHERE! Stay on the trails and keep your kids and dogs at your side.

 For more information, click here: 

Klickitat Trail Conservancy

It's a beautiful and crazy planet.

Go forth and ramble!

Follow me!

Susan Faye on Pinterest

destination: jewell meadows, oregon

Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area
Where:  79878 Oregon Hwy 202/ Oregon/ USA

Ramblers: Susan and Dave

Season: Spring 
Earthlings spotted: Roosevelt Elk
 

Jewell Meadows provides a winter habitat and supplemental feeding for Roosevelt elk in the Coastal Hills range in the northwest corner of Oregon. Open pastures with a creek and nearby woodlands border Oregon State Highway 202,  where you can enjoy excellent viewing of up to 200 elk.

The main meadow is a year-round refuge with no hunting or public access to the meadow. You must admire from afar. Be sure to bring binoculars and your telephoto lens!

 Unicorn? No, that appears to be an albino elk!

The wildlife area has two paved parking areas, four viewing areas and interpretive signing. Restrooms, an interpretive kiosk, and brochures about the area are available.

Best times to visit: 

November - April for elk viewing 

Year-round for bird and wildlife viewing.

 For more information, click here: 

Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area

 

Directions:  From Portland, travel west on Hwy. 26 to the Jewell Junction, just west of Elderberry Inn. Turn north on Hwy. 103, which parallels the Nehalem River for nine miles to Jewell. At Jewell travel 1.5 miles west on Hwy. 202 to the refuge area on Fishhawk Creek. Parking areas are provided at strategic points to aid viewing. 

 

     

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destinations: amity daffodil festival

Where: Amity Elementary School, 300 Rice Lane, Amity, Oregon

Dates: March 21-22, 2015

Time:  10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Festivities include a Daffodil Show sponsored by the Oregon Daffodil Society, a student and community Art Show, Plant Sales, a Buffet,  and a Driving Tour to local points of interest.

The Mac Trackers also sponsor a Volkswalk through the countryside to a daffodil farm on both days.

The Amity Daffodil Festival is produced by the Hospitality, Tourism and Management class of Amity High School in cooperation with the Oregon Daffodil Society, and the Mac Trackers Walking Club. The Festival started in the spring of 1995 and allows students to survey all of the hospitality field's areas such as food and beverage, lodging and travel. Proceeds go toward Festival projects and the Amity Daffodil Festival Scholarship Fund

For more information, click here:

 Amity Daffodil Festival