Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Natural Bridges & Thunder Rock Cove - Boardman Scenic Corridor

Natural Bridges & Thunder Rock Cove
The parking area for Natural Bridges is well marked on Rt. 101, about 12-14 mi N of Brookings, OR.  Exiting the parking south end of the parking lot, a short walk, mostly on a boardwalk, will take you to the best view of Natural Bridges.  There isn’t much beyond the end of the boardwalk of interest, unless you want to scramble down the hill & climb on the rocks.  The boardwalk trail, the short trail linkling  & the trail down to Thunder Rock Cove & Secret Beach, are sections of the Oregon Coast Trail.  Bring a picnic or lunch.
Just beyond the Natural Bridges parking area is another parking area.  The area north of this parking lot is my favorite of the whole lower 48 west coast.  The trail leaving the north end of the parking lot will take you down to Thunder Rock Cove.  Shortly after you cross a very small stream by parking lot, the trail forks.  The trail to the left takes you down to Thunder Rock Cove, then loops back up the hill, crosses the upper part of a shallow coast valley, then drops down to Secret Beach.  The right trail is just a short cut, to cut out Thunder Cove & joins the OCT going north.


Thunder Cove
It is about .3 mi down to Thunder Rock Cove, with some switch backs near the bottom.  Near a big tree on the left you can go as close to the edge of the cove as you want.  You’ll see cliffs about 70 ft. high enclosing a small cove. The cliffs sea ward side are pierced with several natural tunnels.  Check them out!  You won’t be able to see the large tunnel that pierces the cliff to the right unless you want to risk falling into the cove.  It is from this tunnel that you hear the thunder during big storms that gives Thunder Rock Cove its name.


Large Sea Arch w/ table land to right
From there the trail drops down a short distance to a nice wide cliff top table land.  Check out he beaches to the north (R/N).  You will be able to see the 3rd & 4th Secret Beaches.  Note: if you look carefully, you can see a dark natural tunnel in the big rock just beyond the 1st rock abutment. You can see water gust thru it during storms & you can access it from Secret Beach.


Secret Beaches
The views from the Thunder Cove table land are all great, in almost any weather.  I’ve been out here in all kinds of storms, except thunder storms.  There is a narrow water fall on the cove wall dropping aprox 60 ft onto a beach during spring & early summer.  This is a great place for a picnic during good weather.

Goat Rock
I’ve see Mt. Goats on the big pointly rock jutting out from the shore due south of the open side of the cove 5 or 6 times.  In 2010 there was 1 Billy with horns the length of his body, approx. 3 feet, & 3 Nanneys with little horns.  It is amazing they can walk on this rock, but that is why they are called Mt Goats.
Leaving the table land, the Oregon Coast Trail takes off on the left, where it loops back up the hill, crosses the upper part of a shallow coast valley, then drops down to Secret Beach. This is a pleasant hike of approx. .6 mi.  The short cut trail joins the OCT near the top of the hill.
Enjoy Secret Beach the next post in this series.

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