---

Hiking at Shore Acres

One of the best features of Shore Acres State Park is the 5-or-so-mile loop trail that heads south from the formal gardens, right along the coast, to Cape Arago and then loops back through a forested hillside. You are serenaded for much of the way by the huge sea lion colony on the rocks at Cape Arago, a separate park that's the southern end of the walk.

The trail is sketchy in places and at one point you've got to walk a bit on the highway, but is generally easy except for a couple slightly steep stretches coming back on the hillside.

One highlight, just before you get all the way back to Shore Acres, is the ruins of a World War coastal defense bunker. Oregon was actually attacked by the Japanese in the war and even suffered several civilian casualties.

You can add a mile or so to the loop by beginning your walk from the observation deck and heading north along the obvious trail, which passes through old tennis courts from the ruined estate and then loops back through dark forest and past a pair of old concrete gate posts. .

all text and images © 2005-06 by Bob Keefer
no reproduction allowed in any form without written permission