Evergreen Huckleberries and Wave Watching: Barview Jetty
Details
***SEE DIRECTIONS AT BOTTOM***
The surf's up and the evergreen huckleberries are ripe!
Imagine the flavor of a tiny blueberry crossed with a huckleberry with a slight cherry finish at the end. They're EVERYWHERE at Barview Jetty County Campground, just find a bush and start pickin'! Or eating....
Big waves are predicted, too, so we can trek the jetty and watch them detonate into towers of pure white froth against the beacon at the end. Black turnstones, dunlins, pigeon guillemots, pelicans, and other cute sea birds are usually around and harbor seals like to play in the waves. We might spot something unique as the migration is on.
We'll meet by the playground in Section V (see map) and fill our containers with berries for an hour on the edges of the campground. Restrooms on site.
Then, we'll drive out to the jetty and walk carefully down the rocks as far as everyone wants to go (maybe 0.25 - 0.3 mi. of slow going on massive riprap) to find a good boulder to sit on and enjoy the wave action. The sound of the surf smoothes everything out and meditation is easy. You gotta have good knees and balance for this one--bring the trekking poles--but you can also skip the hike and just find a spot to sit closer to the parking area. Lots of good birding. Restroom on site.
Bring $10 cash, $10 for park pass (available at kiosks), sturdy hiking boots, WEATHER appropriate clothing with extra layers, trekking poles/walking stick, water, snacks, binoculars, camera equipment, and something to put your berries in (I like rigid plastic containers to prevent smushing). Restrooms on site. Adults only, please, and no pets, thanks.
DIRECTIONS: Barview Jetty County Campground at 8000 Cedar St,
Rockaway Beach, OR, 97136. (About 2 hours drive from Portland)
Head out to the coast on Highway 6 and turn north on Highway 101.
Go past Garibaldi and take a left on Cedar Street.
Turn right at the end and stop at the fee pay station to buy a pass. (Kiosk available just south of it, too, in gravel parking area by the water's edge.)
Bear left after the fee station onto main park road and go 0.3 mi.
Turn right into RV campground and go about 500 ft to the end.
Park by the playground, look for my deep blue Honda CRV.