All rhodies lead to Lincoln City

Dave’s Detours

By Dave Powell

The 2022 hiking season continues, and I still continue to finds new detours along the coast. In years past, I wrote about the rhododendrons at Gerdemann Botanic Preserve in Yachats. It wasn’t until last fall that I found a better rhodo detour. It is time to share this find as they are in bloom. But I have a question to ask Lincoln City officials: Why is there no rhodo festival like Florence? I can easily picture a small parade using some of the blooms. Some classes taught by some master gardeners; perhaps potted rhodos propagated from cuttings given away or sold at very reduced prices for tourists. I might not be much of a tourist since I live in Newport, but I wouldn’t mind volunteering several hours to plant native rhodos to restore their presence in other Lincoln City parks and purchasing one or two to plant where I live.

To reach the Cutler City Wetlands hike the Oregon Coast Trail, which is on the ocean beach, any-where in Lincoln City heading south until the beach ends (unless you can walk on water) at 51st Street, which you take to Highway 101. Turning right/south head south about half a mile to 63rd street (Builders First Source at corner), turn right/west for about a tenth of a mile to the wetlands. The only return to Highway 101 is 63rd Street, so this detour is a loop. If you are driving, there is another parking area at the southern end on 69th Street but, since it is often filled with multiple piles of wood chips used on the trails, I would use 63rd Street.

There is at the start a good map, and a posted QR code. I will share that the rhodos are on the western side, with an evergreen forest toward the east. Personally, I hear more car noise on the east near Highway 101. So, with two trails named after Frodo Baggins on the western side, enjoy your inner hobbit.

There are various ways to take the paths through the wetlands, covering all the trails requires some retracing, but if rhodos are your goal this is my rhodo-maximizing route. Take the Alder Trail to the right 150 yards, turning left on the North and South Frodo trails for 210 yards. I then head left/east on the South Cross trail 100 yards to the Pond trail (a total of 390 yards, with the pond at roughly 130 yards). I turn left to connect with the West trail for 250 yards, then continue on Alder trail the 250 yards back to the entrance.

The total detour is less than a mile. The beauty is well worth it, and as a bonus there is enough quiet on the western sections to hear bird songs. And if this whets your appetite for the woods just several miles down the road is the Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge with its loop of roughly a mile and one of my favorite “thinking” benches roughly at the midpoint looking over the Siletz River.

Restaurants

Captain Dan’s Pirate Pastry Shoppe at 51st is closed. I not only miss the pastries, but the articles in Oregon Coast TODAY were always a good, funny read. A new food court is available — The Pines Dines, just to the north on Highway 101 before 50th Street. There is a choice from about 10 different vendors for a hot meal before hitting the trail again.

Originally scheduled to open in the spring of this year, the new Pelican Brewing brewpub on Siletz Bay should be opening soon.