Fort Stevens State Park

Coffenbury Lake

Example of a bicycle trail

Lewis & Clark and their Corps of Discovery may have been here, but this is known as a coastal defense site from the Civil War through World War II.  Known as having one of the largest campgrounds of all the Oregon's state parks, Fort Stevens boast over 14 miles of biking, hiking, and horse trails.  It's located at the mouth of the Columbia River and Pacific Ocean.  And as such, this point concludes our trip up the California and Oregon coastlines.  We plan to go further north, but it's basically all east from here.

But back to the fort.  The area is basically in a rain forest setting as is most of the Oregon coastline. Consequently, it's a lush environment and in some places, looks tropical & swampy.  Moss grows everywhere and hangs from the trees.  I keep looking for gators, but the only ones I see are from John Deere.  

 I'm told the driest time to visit the Oregon coastline is July & August (and are also the busiest months to visit.)  So we're here a little early for their season.  The campground was pretty much full for Father's Day.  We continue to see rigs come and go.  Kids are here, now, and the place can get a smokey haze in the evenings from all the campfires. They deliver firewood to your site.  The amphitheater looks nice, though no programs are going on right now.  And in case you didn't know, the sun goes down about 9:00 PM this time of year.

We managed to snag a full-hook up site (with 50A electric), but most sites are water and electric, only.   Sites and interior roads are paved.  We had to change our site after we got here as we just couldn't make the turn necessary to back in due to limited swing room for the truck.  Plus we were backing along a 120-130 degree turn around a tree and then between two trees into the site.  I know people can do it, but I'm not there, yet.  We traded for an overflow site, and it worked out much better for us.   Flush toilets, but no showers in the loops with full hookups.

The historic area is nice and tours are given by volunteers dressed in period uniforms.  Few buildings are still standing, so you're driving or walking around the foundations of all the sites and batteries.  You can also drive on the beach if you choose to do so.  Hours are posted, but basically you're restricted from driving during periods of heavy beach visitation.

Historic area

It's been a great visit.  If all works OK, tomorrow, we move over to a spot just east of Portland (Fairview) for the week to visit some of Donna's cousins and get tires for the truck.  Looks to be a wet week, but we may be close enough to visit the Columbia River Gorge area.  Maybe we can walk between the rains drops?  Keep your fingers crossed!  Later, David

West Batteries (left) and Battery Pratt 

Cape Disappointment from the south jetty

Looking south toward Seaside, OR from the south jetty.