The dramatic beauty of the Oregon coast is hardly news, but it’s nice to see our local scenic destinations named among the country’s very best.
Last month, Outside magazine picked the 18 best state parks in the U.S., and Oregon’s very own Ecola State Park made the lineup. Outside called the popular destination “moody and dramatic and drop-dead gorgeous.”
Found on the north Oregon coast near Cannon Beach, Ecola is known for its dramatic cliffside views, as well as its beach access points and dense coastal forest.
In its unranked list, Outside lauded the park’s “prime real estate” and said it features “the moody atmosphere and lush terrain of Washington’s Olympic National Park, but in a condensed space that you can easily explore in a couple of days.”
The magazine also noted the good surfing at Ecola, with conditions ideal for beginners.
Ecola was the only Pacific Northwest park to make the cut, joining 17 other state parks from Alaska to Maine. Outside said the list was generated by asking local experts to select spots that offered wildlife, flora, wilderness, solitude, dramatic landscapes and national-park-like experiences.
If you want to go see the park for yourself, you might want to try the recently reopened Indian Beach Trail, the classic Clatsop Loop Hike, or the more adventurous Tillamook Head Hike on the rugged north end of the park. Of course, you can always just enjoy the scenery from the parking lot viewpoints – the Goonies sure did.
Source: oregonlive
