Clean-Up Challenge

Over Memorial Day Weekend, I went camping with a large group of people and one of them suggested going on a beach clean-up. In only about an hour, we had gathered four huge bags of trash and an enormous brick of styrofoam. I also learned that our state parks run off of lottery money, fees, and any donations they may recieve. There is no steady income from taxpayers. I'm amazed at what Oregon State Parks manages to provide with such limited resources.

Therefore, I am issuing a challenge and making a personal commitment. Each time you go camp, hike, or otherwise enjoy a park, make an effort pick up trash at some point on your trip. It saves rangers and hosts time, creates a more consistantly beautiful and environmentally sound experience, and gives us a sense of ownership for the places we love! I'll be looking for little ways to make our parks a little nicer. Will you join me?

Cape Lookout State Park

Overview
Cape Lookout State Park is a fully loaded day use and overnight park on the Oregon Coast, just southwest of Tillamook. My occasion for visiting was an annual family reunion camping trip over Memorial Day Weekend. Accordingly, the park was packed but fared well under the deluge of humanity. I consistantly enjoy my visits to Cape Lookout.

Activities
What you expect from a coastal park is pretty much what Cape Lookout delivers. Lots of beach and a few hiking trails were the traditional activities offered. The trails were footpaths only, with an easy, moderate, and tough trail. They had a short, but informative loop close to the campground. I'd highly recommend this one for those of you with kiddos or anyone who's interested to see all the fascinating things trees can do over time. The only other trail in the immediate park goes from the day use area to the trailhead to a viewpoint. The stretch from the day use area to the trailhead is pretty grueling, so if you're not up for a workout, just drive to the trailhead. The last half is manageable and the viewpoint is worth every step.

The beach is an interesting story. On the surface, it's what you expect from an Oregon beach - typically chilly, windy, and sandy. However, the history (and future) of the park is much more interesting. Due to a combination of natural erosion and human activity, there is much more beach around low tide. At points during high tide, a great deal of the beach disappears entirely, so definitely check the tide charts before departing on your sandy excursion. Cape Lookout offers a number of activities, though few in great variety. Overall, I give the activities a 3.5.

Site Quality
This is where the park definitely shines. If you like to spend time hanging around your campsite, this is a place for you. Almost all of the traditional/hook-up sites have lots of privacy provided by tall native plants such as salal. Tables and firepits were in each, with water and restrooms close. In a few sites, it seemed as though large tents were a bit of a squeeze, but almost all sites were very spacious. All the roads were paved and well maintained, though I wouldn't recommend rollerblades due to gravel.

The group sites were fairly open and close to the road, but there was a plethora of space for tents and living. Group sites came with fire pits and stand-up grills, though the bars are rusty and too large to use for anything short of a small animal. I recommend bringing your own grates for the top. Flush toilets and showers are a bit of a walk from here. The group sites also have a great view of the ocean.

Group Site B's "Kitchen"

Group Site B's "Bedroom"

The hike-in/bike-in camps definitely felt like they were in a coastal forest, though there wasn't all the tall shrubbery separating each site. Some were close together, but they all had tables, firepits, and a place to put a small tent. Outhouses and water were close by. It's an easy walk from the day use area and all features of the park are accessible. The site quality is a resounding 5.

Maintenance
I never had any direct interaction with the hosts, though I did see them cruising around frequently in their golf cart. Park rangers were both accessible and friendly. Everything was in good working order. There was some litter in public places, but I would not categorize it as a large problem. Overall, maintenance scores at a 4.5.

Overall Value
Cape Lookout State Park is moderately priced compared to other state campgrounds. You're likely to love your site and enjoy the activities it has to offer, particularly on your first trip out. If you like to see something new each time you camp, this park may not bear many repeat trips. Considering the park offers a little something for everyone, the value is a 4.5.

Amenities
Picnic tables, flush toilets, showers, pit toilets, drinkable water, and fire pits are available in various locations throughout the park. Rental cabins and yurts are also available. Garbage is only available across from the check-in booth as a compactor. I didn't notice any recycling facilities. I'm wondering if Oregon State Parks are simply going to a single, centrally located trash facility to avoid the overflowing dumpster problem. I'll report back if I hear anything definite. The park features a day use area with convenient access to trails, restrooms, picnic tables, and a covered shelter if it's not reserved. There's also a meeting hall with a stove, heat, and lights available to rent. Sufficient parking was available at the day use area. This lot also acts as the overnight overflow lot. Firewood was available from the hosts.

Miscellaneous Notes
As I went as part of a group, I didn't have a hand in the payment, but I will post more details here within a week or so on payment options. Cell reception was clearly quite good, as some of the campers in my party communicated through text messaging. I noticed a few bugs and a few places where standing water was present in the park. Conditions are ripe for bad late season bugs, but the ocean breezes may be discouraging.

Since it's beginning, geology has had a huge effect on Cape Lookout. The campground has changed and matured around the ocean. Especially after the hard storms of last winter, their attempts to combat erosion with a Dune Restoration Project are failing. The campground shifts every 5-10 years. In fact, the park rangers think that as early as next season, the entire A Loop may washed away.

How hard is it to find?
Head to Tillamook and follow the signs. As long as you trust them, it's quite easy to find. There are a lot of turns and, at one point, it looks like you're going through someone's neighborhood, but the signs to Cape Lookout State Park really are accurate and visible. Keep the faith!

Will you go back?
Considering it's become a Memorial Day tradition, yes! Beyond that, though, I will return. Camping along the coast is always a good choice on those miserably hot weekends.

Conclusion
Cape Lookout really is a gem. Check out this park before it's gone. Considering an always uncertain monetary future, it's possible that the ocean may consume this park within the next 15-20 years. It's also possible they'll continue developing loops backward. While the campsites are perhaps not as primitive as I prefer, it is a very enjoyable experience worth a 4.4. This is the perfect place for your reluctant camper - tents, RVs, yurts, and cabins are all viable option with the beach right there to tempt them. Enjoy this site, and remember, the delicious Tillamook Cheese Factory is on your way out, so don't forget to stop for some ice cream!

Stub Stewart State Park

Overview
Last summer, I heard a lot of hype about L.L. Stub Stewart State Park being the "outdoor playground in your backyard" or some similar business. Consequently, I arrived on the weekend of May 3-4, 2008 with high hopes and great expectations. Overall, I was disappointed with the park, though it did have its positive points. (As a side note, this is my first review and I may change the format. I'd appreciate any feedback on how to make this more helpful for you or on what was particularly meaningful. I realize there are endless factor to consider when choosing a campsite and I may have missed something!)

Activities
Versatility in activities seemed to be the park's main selling point. It boasts close to 15 miles of trails, of which almost all are open to hiking, biking, and horseback riding. This has its advantages and disadvantages. Bikes, and moreover horses, tend to be harder on trails. Horses, or organic ATVs as I affectionately call them, tend to make for muddier trails in the rainy season and dusty trails in the spring.

This was definitely the case here. A three and a half mile bike ride ended up turning into what felt like 10 miles. Between rough surfaces, mud holes, and some fairly steep slopes, a trip on a wheeled apparatus can become quite a challenge. However, there were several gorgeous views of nature as a reward for the efforts. In reality, unless you're a rather experienced mountain biker, I'd recommend sticking to foot power on these trails. Considering the balance between promised usability, variety, and scenic potential, I rate the activities as a 3.

Site Quality
Personally, I am a big proponent of national and state parks. I appreciate all the hard work that goes in to creating, maintaining, and funding them so they are affordable and accessible to the general public. I loathe to criticise them and it's therefore somewhat difficult for me to write this section, as I don't have much that's positive to say in this section. At a glance, the full sites and walk-in tent sites appear to be little gravel rectangles in a swath of unforested, unshrubbed meadow. The potential of having some degree of privacy at a camp site is a large consideration for me and there was no hope in any site. Tiny starts of ferns and Oregon grapes dot the "great plains" perhaps to someday offer definition for individual sites, but serve more as an annoyance at this point. Especially in the walk-in sites, it's hard to find a place to pitch a tent that's not on gravel, next to the fire pit, or on top of one of these starts. There were only two of twelve walk-ins that offered this possibility. There was definitely no hope of finding flat ground, so plan on bringing an air mattress or waking up stiff. Following the current trend in suburban building, the camp sites were snuggled right next to one another, giving neighbors very little breathing room. On the plus side, the walk-in sites were all close to parking, so it was no great hardship to transport gear to the site. There also seemed to be ample parking for whatever you choose to drive. Happily, water and restrooms were easily accessible from any given site. In my mind, the full and walk-in sites were like fraternal twins, except one was born slightly larger and with hookups.

Two walk-in sites with typical scenery for any given site

The hike-in tent sites deserve their own section. They, above any of the other site designs, boggle my mind. There is about a quarter of a mile gravelled hike in with a decent hill to scale. Typically, this is a good distance to get yourself away from vehicles and other sounds. However, no wheelbarrows or other handy methods of gear transportation are provided, so plan on bringing your own or camping very light, as lugging a typical setup would be grueling for your average camper. The sites are also considered primitive, having no individual fire ring and simply having brush cleared to bare dirt. Most of the sites did have a fair amount of distance between each other as well as ample underbrush. Each site had a picnic table, but a fair number of sites only had room to pitch a one-man backpacking tent next to the table.

A pair of pit toilets and two communal fire rings were available, but there was no water access. While I enjoy the idea of sitting around a fire and getting to know your fellow campers, I'm not sure if the occupants of 23 sites could comfortably cluster around them on a cold night. More than anything else, the issue of distance versus available resources drives me crazy. The sites would be very nice if you were backpacking, but who "backpacks" for only one-fourth a mile, stretches, and thinks, "What a nice place to set up camp?" Ultimately, the distance is too short for backpackers and too far for car campers. Between, in my opinion, utterly disappointing hike-in sites and traditional sites that I would call "a place to sleep," I can only give the site quality a 2.

Maintenance
This was definitely the park's strong point. The roads were impressively smooth and the signs were all visible, though due to gravel I would recommend against rollerblades. Every site was manicured and I was at a loss to find even a single piece of garbage on the ground. The bathrooms were extremely clean and didn't even have a faint suggestion of a smell. Even the fire pits were recently scooped out. The hosts were outstandingly friendly and helpful. I cannot say enough nice things about them. I believe the park has earned a 5 in this category.

Overall Value
Stub Stewart is actually at the high end of the price range as far as Oregon State Parks are concerned. Operating on the assumption that the average user is a resident of the Portland-Metropolitan area, it is highly convenient. However, it's not a park I would feel comfortable recommending to a friend for a heartily enjoyable night's stay. The trails are certainly enjoyable as hikes, but are unnecessarily challenging for casual bikers. The value of an overnight stay here is a 2.

Amenities
Picnic tables are available at all sites. Flush toilets, drinkable water, and fire pits are available at the walk-in and traditional sites. Garbage and expansive recycling is only available across from the visitor's center. The park features a day use(shown below) area with convenient access to trails, restrooms, and picnic tables. There was no hope of having a shaded table, though. The tables are spaced across a grassy area. Parking was ample at the visitors center and camp sites, though there seemed to be limited parking for the day use area. The park also features cabins and a horse camp.

Miscellaneous Notes
Checks, credit cards, and cash were all accepted forms of payment. I really didn't check thoroughly, but at a glance, I didn't notice any cell phone reception. (If someone notices differently, please let me know!) There was no sign of pesky insects, though it is early May. The camping areas seemed clear of standing water, though, so I would guess the bugs won't be too bad here.

How hard is it to find?
The park is clearly signed, right off of highway 47. It's really hard to miss.

Will you go back?
For day hikes, absolutely. It is close to home and featured varying terrain(deciduous forests, mixed forests, coniferous forests, and marshland). However, I don't plan on going back to camp or to bike.

Conclusion
I am truly glad the state decided to reclaim these once disintegrating logging roads and morph them into a fun getaway near Portland. Especially if you hold loggers in contempt, the information about Mr. Stewart, the park's namesake, at the visitor's center is worth a healthy read. However, I have the distinct impression someone got a good idea for a state park, cleared out the space for campgrounds, then asked the question, "So how do we want to design this?" As is the case with many natural areas, with time there is room for improvement. I have heard speculation that as the foliage in the park grows, it will be fantastic in 5 to 10 years. I'm not quite that optimistic unless directed, specific effort is put into establishing a bit more of a forested, private campground. Considering this, my current rating is 3. Stub Stewart is a fun place to go for a day hike and I am looking forward to seeing it grow and mature over the years.

Rating Overview

This is my first blog and my first attempt at systematically rating anything. I am presenting my explanation for various categories and what ratings mean to me. Please keep in mind this is completely subjective and we may have a different set of values surrounding camping. I will always try to elaborate on my reasons, so hunt down the pertinent information if the rating scale doesn't resound with you. This may be revised and I always welcome reader feedback!

What exactly are you rating?
I am a tent camper, through and through. I will evaluate sites with tents in mind, though I will specify whether it is "car camping" or backpacking. I like to hike and I'm a beginning mountain biker, therefore I will look at surrounding activities through this lens. I want my sites to be as visually stunning and natural as possible, with a reasonable degree of privacy. I will not rate based on camping in an RV, trailer, or cabin. I also know nothing about horses, so I can't tell you if it's a good idea to take them on a trail, only if they are allowed or not. I have tried my best to rate solely on fairly universally smiled-upon features by tent campers. For this reason, some details go in the amenities section. (For example, I would rather camp with pit toilets and no showers, but I know this isn't a view shared widely.)

Ratings and what they mean
1 - No attempt made or miserable failure
2 - Some amount of effort was put forth, but largely lacking
3 - Adequate, but nothing spectacular
4 - Very good, effort was made and paid off admirably
5 - Unrivaled, perfect or nearly so

Activities
Any diversion the park itself provides, from biking to swimming to hiking to canoeing. I may mention nearby activities, but this won't affect the rating. The factors I will keep in mind while rating will be diversity and upkeep. Basically, what is present and what is the quality? If the campsite has a dock to fish off, but the water is polluted, it's not really accessible.

Site Quality
A myriad of factors goes into consideration for this category. I'll be thinking about things like the size of the sites, ease of finding a flat place to put up a tent, privacy, enjoyable features (shade, rivers, etc.), and the accessibility of resources. Resources, especially, will be based on what is realistically expected. I'm not going to knock a backpacking site for not having running water. However, a traditional tent site should have this, even if it is only provided through a pump.

Maintenance
The park's relative cleanliness is the biggest factor. I don't like litter, but I'm understanding if a pit toilet doesn't smell exactly like a spring day. I'll also let you know if there seems to be an unreasonable amount of repairs needed. Finally, I consider the availability and friendliness of camp hosts (when applicable) in this category, as they are a camper's maintenance resource.

Overall Value
I'll consider the relative cost of other state parks or privately owned parks and weigh it against my impression of the park. This category is both a good quick look at the park, but also serves to balance out the rating.

Amenities
I will list the exact nature of facilities available, yet weren't applicable to a rating. Pit versus flush toilets, showers, water. Garbage and recycling convenience will be here as well as more information on day use areas, visitor's centers, and parking.

Miscellaneous Notes
Random things I think are worth noting but don't fit anywhere else go here. This includes, but is not limited to, payment methods, bugs, and cell phone reception. A quick disclaimer on the cell reception. I grew up before everyone had cell phones and camping was a time you stepped away from civilization and just returned to countless messages. I still adhere to this. Honestly, camping is my escape. For the sake of the information in this blog, I'll actually carry it around and turn it on from time to time just to check, but don't expect a thorough coverage map and painstakingly accurate information here.

Conclusion
I'll try to present fun facts and wrap up some of the stronger impressions here. I'm a chronic optimist, so don't be surprised if each posts ends with a positive or hopeful note.