Oregon Waterfalls and Coast

We head south from Cannon Beach, Oregon, to explore the coast and inland waterfalls along rivers heading to the sea.  There are a few scenic spots on the highway along the coast and we stop to view and take pictures.

Along the coast

We turn east from the coast at Oceanside and follow the Wilson River Highway out of Tillamook and along the Wilson River to Bridge Creek Falls.

Wilson River

Bridge Creek Falls

Smaller falls nearby

The trail leads from Bridge Creek Falls, across the river and toward Wilson Falls, about an hour away.

Trailhead signs

Crossing the river, other view of the falls

We follow the trail, crossing other small rivers and falls for about a half hour before we reach a stream that is too large and fast in the spring rains and runoff for us to feel comfortable crossing.  We turn back at that point, returning to the trailhead to read the signs more closely and realize that the trail is washed out only a little further past where we turned around.

Trail along the river

Wilson falls to the right

Continuing through the forest

Along the Wilson River

Returning to the trailhead

We look online to find what we missed at Wilson Falls and read that is it a "narrow, multi-tiered waterfall about 200 feet (61 meters) high," giving ourselves something to look forward to the next time we are in the area (and the water is not running as fast and the path is restored).

Wilson Falls

Tillamook Creamery

The Tillamook County Creamery Association was founded in 1909 as a farmer-owned cooperative and is now known for its dairy products.  Tillamook is the 44th largest dairy processor in North America, with over $1 billion in sales.  The cooperative includes around 60 dairy farms, mostly within Tillamook County, Oregon, selling cheese, ice cream, butter, sour cream, and yogurt, their most famous product being the cheese, particularly Tillamook Cheddar.  

The Tillamook Creamery is about an hour south of Cannon Beach and we head down for a visit to see the process of cheese making.

Entrance to the creamery

History of the creamery

Source of the milk

The creamery has a self-guided tour that circles around an elevated platform viewing and describing the cheese-making process.  The cheese is formed from milk into 40 pound (18 kg) blocks, aged, and then cut into smaller blocks and slices for sale.

Cheese making

The next stop (before leaving) is the gift shop, where we purchase some cheese (6 year aged cheddar) and take a few pictures.

Driving the bus

After shopping, we stop for lunch in the creamery restaurant:  fried cheese curds and a grilled cheese sandwich.

Lunch

What a great, educational (and tasty), stop.

A Few Northern Oregon Beaches

We drive south of Cannon Beach on Highway US101 in Oregon to visit nearby beaches, starting with Arcadia Beach, about two miles south of the Cannon Beach and known for its sandstone bluffs, tidal pools, and rock formations.

Arcadia Beach

Our next stop is at Short Sand Beach in Oswald West State Park, a scenic cove known for surfing, tide pools, and a small waterfall, all bordered by lush, old-growth forest.  We reach the beach by a 1/2 mile (0.8 km) walk from the parking lot.

Walk to the beach

Views of the Short Sand Beach

We head next to Newhalem Bay State Park, then the beach at Neahkahnie, just above the park.

Newhalem Bay

Neahkahnie Beach

Our last beach is located in Oceanside, a small coastal community with a national wildlife refuge just offshore

Oceanside

The beaches are in close proximity, each with its own personality and character, and they are individually unique and fun to walk and explore.