07/13/2024
Cruise to the Coast and Camping Trip
Saturday, 20 July is the cruise. You do not need to camp, and there are more than two places to leave the cruise and head home if you’re not interested in camping.
We are hoping to be leaving by 10:00 from the Fred Meyer on Imbrie in Hillsboro, right off of 26 and Cornelius Pass.
Even though I’m usually late, by the time everyone finishes shopping and getting fuel, it’s 10:30 before we head out, but by then, traffic to the coast is a nightmare.
Unfortunately, Timber Rd is still closed, so we’ll head west on 26 to the Highway 6 cutoff towards Tillamook, and follow it 2.6 miles to the Banks/Highway 47 off-ramp, where we’ll head north through Banks on 47 for 2.4 miles and onto Highway 26, where we’ll travel 21 miles west to the Sunset Rest stop for a quick restroom and photo break.
From there, it’s another 6.8 miles to turn left onto OR-103 N, Fishhawk Falls Highway, for 9 miles to its T with OR-202 N, Nehalem Highway. We follow it left, 1.4 miles to the Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area Headquarters, for a lunch break.
From here, we’ll continue on OR-202 for 26 miles, until we get into Astoria, where we’ll cut across 5th St and onto US 101 Business. We’ll follow it about 5 miles into Warrenton to US 101 S, where we’ll hang a left, and follow it 3.4 miles to Sunset Beach Rd, where we’ll head west to the beach and enjoy the sand and surf for a while. No need to worry about getting stuck, as it looks like we’ll have at least four 4WD/AWD vehicles this year, and I have two tow straps.
After enjoying the beach, we head south on 101 through Seaside, where we have been know to stop for groceries and/or fuel.
From Seaside, it’s a good opportunity for those not camping to break off at 26 to head east, back to Portland, while the rest of us head up around Neahkanie Mountain, and depending on time and space available, might stop at the big viewpoint for more pic ops. We will continue on S through Manzanita and Nehalem (my mom’s home town) and on down to Highway 53 at Mohler (roughly 32 miles) and hang a left, and onto the Mohler Coop market (1.1 miles) for the last goodies for camping.
This is another good spot for those heading elsewhere to depart. They can either take 53 on back to 26 to Portland, or about a 1/2 mile beyond the Mohler store, turn right onto Miami-Foley Rd which will take you to 101 between Garabaldi and Tillamook, cutting out a lot of sleepy towns (Wheeler, Twin Rocks, Rockaway…), and then head to Salem or wherever from there.
We had an “incident” (a locked gate) with our favorite camping spot last year, but a couple of us have been looking for others. I’ll probably be out there on Thursday, finding a good spot. If anyone knows of somewhere along Highway 53, please let me know ASAP.
