After our adventures on the Olympic Peninsula we crossed the mouth of the mighty Columbia River into Oregon via the Astoria Megler Bridge (have done a post about it more than a year ago, which you can read here). While new for the family, this brought me back into familiar territory, as I have visited the Oregon coast numerous times while working my project in Portland. We stayed two nights, one in Garibaldi and the second one in Florence. To see a few photos from this stretch of our summer PNW tour, continue after the jump….
Already while traveling the Olympic Peninsula we were confronted with the sea fog phenomenon that is quite common all along the US west coast during summer, when the hot inland air meets the frigid waters of the great Pacific Ocean. While the fog banks cover the shoreline, often all day, just half a mile inland it is all sunshine.
This phenomenon was all too visible when entering Oregon. We crossed the huge Astoria-Megler-Bridge in bright sunshine, while just a few miles back out on the beach in Fort Stevens State Park, the fog covered the beach and the dunes. Which allowed me to capture another moody shot of the wreck of the Peter Iredale, a big sailing ship that run ashore on October 25, 1906 on Clatsop Spit near Fort Stevens, about four miles south of the Columbia River channel.
Continuing our late afternoon drive down the coast towards Garibaldi, we had numerous great views of the Oregon coastline with the mix of sea fog and sunshine on display.
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. True to this saying, we started early morning a hike up Cascade Head, just south of Lincoln City. While starting the hike, the coastal rainforest was still covered by dense fog, but while ascending, the sun started to break through to turn this lush vegetation into a true fairytale forest.
On top of Cascade Head (I described a previous hike up here in more detail in an earlier post) we were in bright sunshine, with views of the Salmon River mouth and the fog covered coastline below.
Even in fog, the Oregon coast has plenty to offer, like extensive dune hiking or comfortable whale watching from shore. There is a resident population of Grey Whales living on the coast around Lincoln City. I never missed out on whales while visiting this stretch of the coast, and also this time we were treated with some beautiful vistas of the whales watching comfortably from the shore, while the tourist whale watch boats were dancing on the big ocean’s swell.
It was already pretty late when getting into Florence, which has a beautiful redone historic old town, with some nice shops and restaurants. From there we visited the Hecata Head Lighthouse, which I also blogged about in a post last year.
We all loved our two days on the Oregon Coast. Hindsight, I should have extended the stay by another day, to leave more room for ad-hoc explorations and a few beach rests. From here on we will cross inland, with Crater Lake our next destination.
All photos taken with my Olympus OM-D E-M1 with the 12-100mm F/4 – the images with the long zoom focal length with the PEN-F and the 40-150mm F/2.8.
RAW conversion and post-processing in Lightroom Classic CC.
Wish you all a great weekend!
Marcus
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These photos are amazing!
The Oregon coast is by far my favorite 🙂
Thanks, Shawntelle, it means a lot! And yes, the Oregon coast is so stunning! Can’t wait to go there again! Marcus
Wow! Superb pictures. That Siletz Bay shot, just amazing!
Thanks, Raj, so much appreciated! The Siletz Bay Sunset was so special!
Now those are my kind of photos. Well done!
Bruce
Thanks, Bruce, this coming from you means a lot! Marcus
Stunning light and Forrest. Definitely my favorites, although all are brilliant.
The forest hike was pure magic! Thanks for your kind words!
Always and you are very welcome dear friend.
The Oregon coast looks beautiful. I really need to get out that way. Your captures are stunning!
Thank you Amy, glad you like the photographs! I really hope you make it to the Oregon coast soon, it is so beautiful! Marcus
Great photos Marcus. I’m always amazed on how similar the US northwestern and Portuguese coastlines are!
– Verne
Thanks, Verne, you’re kind words are so much appreciated! I have not seen much of the Portuguese coastline, but from what I’ve seen you are right! Marcus
Marcus, I’m so pleased that you and your family really enjoyed the Oregon coast. Traveling up to the Cascade Head is inspirational. Seeing the Head, Salmon River, and coastline is fantastic.
Thanks, Tim, for your kind words, they mean so much! We really love our summer tour through the Pacific Northwest! I am so glad I can share these marvels finally with the family! Too bad that it’s coming already to an end! Marcus
Marcus, you’re welcome. Hopefully you and your family will be able to return.
Marcus, I always wanted to see the Oregon coast. Some day I hope I would see it.
The photographs are so beautiful that you can look at them forever!
I wish you a nice week and peaceful!
Thank you, Kaya, for your beautiful words, they mean so much! I really wish you that you make it to the Oregon coast soon! The nature here is so beautiful! Hope you are having a good week! Marcus
So stunning photographs! Florence Sand Dunes is my favourite! Wow!! 😊
Thank you for your kind words, they are so much appreciated! That dunes were incredible!Marcus
These are wonderful. The photos of the forest are pure magic.
Thanks, Suzanne, your kind words mean so much! The forest was pure magic! Like in a fantasy movie!Marcus
Every time I come back to your blog, I am absolutely amazed at your photos!
Thank you so much, Aixa, for your very kind words! This means so much! Marcus
Reblogged this on From 1 Blogger 2 Another.
These photos of the Oregon coast are expertly taken, and I enjoy reading your narrative about each place.
Thank you so much, Hien! Marcus
Lovely shots… and some of them … WoW!
Thanks so much 🙂 !
Looks like an amazing journey. Stunning photos Marcus.
Thanks, Miriam, glad you like the photos! Marcus
The forest photos are SURREAL.
Exactly!
Thanks, Jess, it means so much! It was a surreal experience, like walking through some kind of phantasy movie. Have a great weekend! Marcus
Beautiful images, Marcus. One of my favorite places- driving the coast this week but won’t be stopping as much as I’d like!
Thanks, Jane, so much appreciated! Wish you a great trip along the coast! Stay there, because inland all is smoked up! Badly! Marcus
Yeah….just spent a week in Banff and it was sadly smoky. 😢
Oh no! I hope you still had a good time, and were able to do some of your magic photography!Marcus
The Oregon Coast is amazing! Cape Meares, Cape Perpetua, and the Three Capes Lookout are some of my favourites places on the coast.
Thank so much for commenting, and all those capes are mesmerizing places to hike and enjoy the scenery! Marcus
Breathtaking…thank you
Thanks for commenting, Alice! Marcus