High Water at the Coast

A short trail with a big reward at the end, the path to Munson Falls sidles up to the creek, which is nearly overgrown with salmonberry, elderberry and wildflowers. We made a snack of the dangling salmonberries--not quite ripe, but still yummy in a slightly bitter way.

In spite of a few rolling hills, you'll barely be out of breath by the time you hoof it over the ½ mile trail. Swainson's thrush, Wilson's warblers and winter wren serenade your progress. The tallest waterfall in the coast range does not gush, but trickles over the canyon rim edge, cascading several times before reaching the invisible bottom.

To get there, drive Hwy 101 south of Tillamook and follow the signs to Munson Falls Natural Area near milepost 73. The road turns to gravel, passing some clearcuts, to a small picnic area where the trail begins. Signs guide the way.

Wapiti, Red Deer, Cervus elaphus: An elk by any other name

We needed no zoom lens at the Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area near Reedsport. The big guys easily leaped the fence and seemed only wary rather than afraid of us as they strolled across the grass and into the parking lot.

Elk belong to the same family as deer. Both lose their antlers every year in winter. It seems like deer and elk antlers should be all over the place, but rodents love the calcium and quickly gnaw them to nothing.


I found a single elk antler while hiking near the Clackamas River one winter several years ago. I threw it in the back of the pickup to bring it home as a yard ornament. At some point, I noticed gnaw marks on it. I'm not sure who made them, but the fact that the antler is still around gives me hope that our neighborhood is not overrun with rodents.

Like cattle, elk have several stomach compartments. Elk and deer can swallow in haste, then roam off to a safe place to regurgitate the cud, which is then chewed to a pulp. Four stomach wring every bit of nutrition out of the meal.

We've already mentioned the Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area, but we had a much closer encounter with the elk at Dean Creek. Morning and evening are the best times here; we took these photos in early April between 6 and 6:30 pm.

To get to the Dean Creek Viewing Area, head east from Reedsport (on the Oregon coast) on Highway 38. Start looking south three miles out. You may want to bring that zoom lens, just in case.