Beaver Creek Wilderness Area, OR, USA
covagabond. wherever it takes us
X.OR.2 Beaver Creek Wilderness Area
NE of the Unincorporated Township of Seal Rock. East from HWY 101 on N Beaver Creek RD – N Elk horn RD – Right on NF-51 – 702 – N Bayview RD – HWY 101.
I decided to take my journeyings down the coast from the Three Rocks neighborhood for a day in the Beaver Creek Wilderness Area, approximately 35 miles south toward Newport and then looping east before returning to the highway in Bayshore.
It was another sunny day as Gypsy Gold and I lit out for the wilderness. Passing through Newport, the views from the Yaquina Bay Bridge were picturesque.
I parked at the southeast end of the bridge and walked back across to the north end to play photographer for a half hour before resuming my rambling.
First and foremost, the Beaver Creek Wilderness area is an outdoor dream come true. I turned onto N Beaver Creek RD from the 101, and for the majority of my drive enjoyed LTE service (I have an AT&T prepaid plan, for reference), with only a few pockets of service interruption in deeper cuts between ridges.
Turnouts were plentiful, with lots of branches and few private property postings. Mountain bikers, tricoss riders, motocrossers, day hikers, and ferret lovers will find ample room to play.
The turnouts were trailer and toy-hauler friendly. They weren’t generally steep climbs from the main road, nor narrow.
Fire pits were plentiful, and one 8′ x 5′ monster bore testament to a legendary past bon-inferno. Overnight campers of all varieties will find spaces to suit their outdoor style.
Thick forest shot with golden spears of sunlight, rocky drop offs, and mountain meadows made for spectacular viewing. The road – intermittently paved and well maintained gravel – is largely single lane, but with plenty of opportunity to pass.
At the N Elk Horn RD, NF-51 junction two friendly motorcycle enthusiasts encouraged me to take a right and head for Alsea Bay near Waldport. I took their advice and wound down toward sea level.
Fewer photo opportunities arose near the river’s outlet into the small bay, but I did find an eagle enjoying the tidal pickings.
In comparison to Old Scenic Highway 101, detailed in my article “Gypsy Gold”, the Beaver Creek area is far wider and wilder.
It offers longer itineraries, a greater variety of elevation challenges, a much larger array of campsites and secondary/tertiary exploration venues, and multiple Coastal Highway access points.
Everyone from x-country motorcycle marathoners to families with small children will enjoy this uncut gem set just back from Oregon’s shoreline.
Beaver Creek is dry camping, so you’ll need to be prepared. Use existing fire pits whenever possible, and come equipped to dig latrines, or pack your own waste out.
I personally use a “Luggable Loo” brand camp toilet, which is simply a five gallon bucket topped with a toilet seat lid. Bags keep everything sealed and smell free, and one of my own biggest hurdles to outdoor living has been, well… hurdled.
In other updates, I spent an hour at Right Repair in Lincoln City and decided that Gypsy Gold deserves a new engine. The shop owner is researching options, and we will proceed accordingly.
Thanks for reading, and as always, writing from Bayshore, OR, this is your covagabond.
~
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” -Lao Tzu
#covagabondtravelblog #pacificnorthwest #beavercreeknaturalarea #beavercreek #yaquinabay #yaquinabaybridge #newport #newportoregon #bayshoreoregon #pacifichighway101 #northbeavercreekroad #sealrock #northelkhornroad #camping #traveltrailer #drycamping #motorcycle #mountainbiking #hiking #horsebackriding #oregon #oregoncoast #oregoncamping #rv #toyhauler #fifthwheel #campertrailer #camper #recreationalvehicle #backpacking #alseariver #alseabay #horsetrailer #dayhike #firepit #oregonstateparks
