Nehalem Bay State Park

Overview
Minutes from endearing beach communities on the Oregon Coast and 30 minutes from Tillamook, Nehalem Bay State Park is a great base of operations for beach-lovers. For the low price of hoofing it across a dune, there is beach access immediately off the campground.

Activities
The activities available are a diverse bunch, virtually guaranteed to whet anyone's appetite. However, not all of them are accessible from the campground, so having some form of transportation is a definite plus. The park itself sports a bike path, paved roads suitable for rollerblades, spendy horse rides, and access to the beach via a short trail over a dune. One note of caution about accessing the beach from these trails: I never saw a sign indicating the way back to the park, so either take a good, long look back at the way you came or bring some flagging. The beach is a sandy beach while is even accessible at high tide. Granted, you have less beach to access, but you still have beach!

Within a brief drive, you have a variety of attractions. Oswald West State Park and others offer the classic opportunity to poke around in tidepools. If you do go tidepooling, simply remember to be courteous to the creatures and their homes, keeping in mind they want to stay. The community of Nehalem and others along Highway 101 offer the charming little beach shops one can go poking around in to find antiques, mass-produced knick-knacks from China, or locally created crafts. Though it was a bit tricky, we located Sarah Jo's Candy in Nehalem and will make it a tradition to pick up some of the delicious peanut brittle they hand-make! Finally, if you're like me and the thought of sand mushing around in your sock is a distasteful side effect of being near the ocean, there are several hikes within a brief drive. My favorite is up Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain - the view at the top is amazing, and the journey is a heart-pumping workout. Activities here earn a 4, considering you do have to leave the park for many of them.

Site Quality
Much to my chagrin, there's not a tent space to be had in the entire park. It's all yurts or hook-ups, which means you pay a premium. Generally speaking, the individual sites tend to be plenty spacious, well-tended, and possessed of some shade, though not full shade. Between the sites, there are a few trees, but you really don't have any expectation of privacy here. It seemed as if selecting a site close to the dune helped in sheltering you from some of the coastal wind. Each site is equipped with a mobile table, firepit, water spigot, and electricity. Bathrooms with flush toilets and warm water are within a short walk. Playgrounds are available within the park for the young ones.

When considering my rating for this section, I referenced my original post and kept in mind that on this blog, we're looking specifically at the value of a park for tent campers. A 1 signifies "no attempt made," which seems to be accurate if you enjoy sequestering yourself in tent sites without electricity. If you're in a trailer, the sites would be lovely, but for those of us tent dwellers, a 1 in this category is representative.

Maintenance
The bathrooms were clean with a constant presence of some sand on the floor. However, comparing this to most day use or overnight bathrooms along the coast, it wasn't the sand pit most of them tend to be. I never spotted any litter, and the grounds were well-kept. Rangers and hosts alike were both helpful and friendly. A strong showing in the category merits a 4.5.

Overall Value
Based on the fact you are forced to pay a premium for electricity or a yurt you're not going to use, this category will also be a place the park is hit hard. Generally speaking, it was well-kept and offered a number of great activities to take part in along the coast. However, considering the price one must pay for a site here, I'd rate the overall value at a 2, given the number of campgrounds the coast has to offer.

Amenities
All sites are equipped with a mobile table, firepit, water, and electricity. Waste water stations are near each site. Centralized garbage disposal is available, along with recycling, but only items you'd be able to put in a typical mixed rollcart. Just down the road, there is a transfer station that provides a greater number of recycling opportunities, including propane canisters. I know this is a bit geeky, but if you'll just bear with my Master Recycler self, I recommend a visit anyway - it's an incredible disposal area, staffed by an army of volunteers that really helps with recycling needs as well as setting aside items that have potential for reuse. Back on topic, Nehalem Bay does accept reservations. Insects with a taste for human flesh were present, though not aggressive. We saw crows, chipmunks, golden eagles, birds I believe were a variety of loon, seagulls, and deer.

Miscellaneous Notes
Visa, Mastercard, check, and cash are accepted forms of payment. As with all Oregon State Parks, reservations can be made through Reserve America. Flush toilets, showers, and hot/cold sinks are available. Everywhere I went, cell phone reception was good.

How hard is it to find?
Finding the State Park was simple enough, though it's slightly more tucked away than your average park. We missed the sign directing us to the campground, so we toured the day use areas prior to arriving at our site. Head to Nehalem on Highway 101 and turn onto Manzanita Avenue. Take a left on Classic Street and follow it south as it turns into Gary Street and it'll plop you right into the park. Just keep an eye out for those sneaky campground signs!

Will you go back?
The annual family camping trip was shifted from Cape Lookout to Nehalem Bay due to concerns over rapidly disappearing beach, so yes. However, left to my own devices, I would not visit a second time, though I must admit the beach is not my favorite biome.

Conclusion
If you're looking for a modern campground to stay at while you explore the Oregon Coast, Nehalem Bay is a sound choice. If you're looking to combine your beach visit with the ability to spend your down time in quiet contemplation of your surroundings, free from the whirring of pumps and overheard re-runs, I would suggest you keep looking. Overall, this park wound up with a composite score of 2.6.

**I believe photos for this one are on my hubby's SLR. I'll get them up as soon as possible!

Ainsworth State Park

Overview
What natural setting do you drag just about every out-of-towner to if you're located in the Portland area? Why, Multnomah Falls, of course! Scenery is abundant within feet of your vehicle and there are also rewarding hiking trails for those who have a mind. Sitting within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area with its well-deserved reputation for spectacular beauty, sits Ainsworth State Park. This modern campground is as gorgeous as one would assume and sits conveniently next to I-84 and the Historic Columbia River Highway.

Activities
If you took your time and a picnic lunch, you could make an entire day out of driving along the Historic Highway, pausing to reflect on each waterfall and following the short, easy trails to falls just off the road. My recommendation, though, would be to follow any network of trails and make a few days out of hiking. The trails are of moderate difficulty, enough to get your heart pumping, but not enough to send the seasonal hiker back to their point of origin in defeat. I would also argue that many of the more spectacular falls are accessible only by hoofing it, giving you regular eye-candy rewards along your trek. The Oneonta Gorge trail has you wading up a creek in the lower-water level days of the summer that ends at the bottom of a waterfall. We were in long pants and my only pair of shoes when we were hiking, so we opted out of that adventure. This time. I just can't praise the hiking in the area enough – you can be gone all day in the woods, or you can find loops that will take you an hour or two, all with dazzling scenery.

Looking at Ponytail Falls from the trail behind it

As the campground is paved, rollerblading is also an option within the campground itself. The pavement tends to be a bit on the rough and rocky side beyond that, making for a hazardous trek. Biking the Historic Highway is also possible, though caution is necessary as there are many narrow spots to negotiate. If you're a family with young ones, I would certainly not suggest this as a route for your beginning bikers. Nearby Multnomah Falls offers a very small interpretive center and gift shop, as well. While the hiking and sight-seeing is out-of-this-world, the area specialized in that alone. Based on the narrow focus, activities gain a 4.

Site Quality
By and large, this campground has hook-up sites that are irritatingly small, slopey, and open, making them poor choices for those of us who love our tents. However, the actual tent area is well done. A parking area is separated from the campsites by a small, plant-covered burm. It blocks out some of the noise of the campground and light from traffic quite effectively. It does demand you carry your supplies from your car to your site, but it's a very short stroll, worth it for the benefits the burm offers. The sites themselves are arranged sporadically across a hill with waist high foliage, though the sites have each been leveled. It's possible to see your neighbors' tents and fires, though you only catch the loudest moments of conversation. Though fellows were close at hand, it certainly felt as though your site was your own. While we camped, clouds dominated the sky, but based on all the trees, I imagine you could expect mottled shade in your site.

Each site had a mobile table, firepit, and water available within a reasonable distance. Interestingly enough, bathrooms were a fair stroll from the sites compared to most well-established campgrounds. The tent sites were generously sized, easily accommodating 1-2 large tents. The only disadvantage that, as the campground is located close to both the freeway and train tracks, muted noise from cars and train horns was audible. However, it wasn't loud enough to be a major distraction, merely present enough that I was never able to envision myself all that far away from civilization. Assuming you secure yourself a tent site, the partial visibility of neighbors along with the freeway noise merits a solid 4.

Maintenance
Everything we attempted to take advantage of was in good, working order. The bathrooms were well cleaned, though I frequently sited bits of toilet paper on the floor. The winding path through the forest to the bathroom was typical of the campground – free of litter and a product of good groundskeeping. I must pause to define "good groundskeeping" as maintaining the area's natural vegetation in order to allow for passage rather than a park that feels expertly groomed and designed. Hosts we interacted with were very businesslike, but we had a wonderful time speaking with the rangers and gathering tidbits about the area. Consistent quality with respect for the habitat the campground was placed in gives this category a 5.

Overall Value
The hiking here is outstanding, among my favorite places to go in spite of it's popularity and increased traffic. The tent sites are well-done and the staff is dedicated to their work. It makes for a beautiful outdoor experience. This park falls pretty firmly into the 4 category.

Amenities
Ainsworth State Park boasts the standard, but well-appreciated complement of services I've come to expect from Oregon State Parks: a mobile table, firepit, water spigots, waste water disposal, garbage, full recycling facilities, and even a place to dispose of empty propane containers. Hook-up and tent sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Day use areas around the park are lackluster, featuring bathrooms and picnic tables designed for driving daytrippers. Most of the activities in the area tend to be hiking- or driving-centric. We saw a variety of insects, banana slugs, chipmunks, eagles, and osprey about the area.

Miscellaneous Notes
Visa, Mastercard, check, or cash are accepted forms of payments. No reservations are made for this park. From the lack of obvious standing water, I wouldn't have guessed it, but the mosquitoes can be rather aggressive. Flush toilets, hot/cold sinks, and showers are all available. Cell phone reception is good at the campground and I forgot to check up into the trail system – I was understandable distracted by nature!

How hard is it to find?
If you ever wished for a park to be easy to find, this one would be it. Hop on I-84 heading toward Multnomah Falls. Whether you elect to travel the Historic Highway or 84, signs will guide you flawlessly.

Will you go back?
Based on this park's proximity to my home, I know I will daytrip out to complete more of the hiking in the area. I may eventually head back to camp, but given the option of trying out a new place or returning to Ainsworth, at this point my wanderlust will certainly get the better of me!

Conclusion
Ainsworth State Park blends seamlessly with the relaxing natural setting that lures so many people out to the area, both locals and out-of-towners. Compromising between creating an outdoor motel, in essence, and a rustic getaway, this modern campground will satisfy car campers and families alike who wish to be able to take a short trip and enjoy the natural abundance Oregon has to offer. Overall, this park earned it's 4.25.

**Either I neglected to take pictures of the campsites themselves, or I need to track them down. I'll update this with pictures eventually, even if I have to go retake them.