OR_NorthCoast_Gnatt Creek Area_2008-08

[Accrete]

Greetings all. This post (& # 2) will include details of a recent camping trip with my wife into Clatsop State Forest 2 miles west of the Knappa light on HWY 30 going out to Astoria Oregon.

Just as an FYI, the CSF website states

Dispersed camping is permitted on the Clatsop State Forest. Such camping is usually associated with big game hunting activities, but is welcome for other purposes. Campers are encouraged to seek sites which have seen previous camping use, to reduce impacts to forest values. Camp at least 100 feet from any stream or lake, be careful with campfires, leave your site clean, avoid damage to trees and shrubs, avoid blocking roadways, and be careful when driving narrow forest roads, realizing that large vehicles often use these roads and sight distances are often limited. Campfires are restricted during periods of high fire danger.

With that out of the way, many of the maintained roads (see map next post) above Gnat Creek turnoff are part of CSF. My Garmin Topo 2008 has the CSF boundary clearly marked, and the local BLM map does also. Google Earth does a pretty good job of keeping up with park boundaries also.

Here is a glimpse of what you will see once "at camp"... (think Lower Columbia River delta area with lots of islands looking North to South West Washington).



The "camp" is located at a not-in-use Forestry Road Service rock pit 2 miles up from hwy 30 and ~800ft elevation. Once you are parked on the outside perimeter road (it is a pull-through/circular roadway) you can set up extra tents or "sunbrellas" on top of either of the 2 rock piles (very stable ~ 50yards long x 10 yards wide). This is a great place for the kid's tent(s) !! What a view:



Here is a shot from camp level to give you an idea of the size of the piles:



There is enough width of the perimeter roadway to allow for parking of rigs, and rigs to pass by around the campers. I would say there is room for at least a half dozen rigs/trailers and that many tents. And that is a conservative estimate.

My wife and i look at this place as a quick getaway (20 to 30 minutes from home) for a great view and chill-time.

: ) Thom

[Accrete]

Here is the data from my gps showing HWY 30 near the Knappa area:
(this is a link to the gbd file from my garmin 60csx):




The area marked in green is part of the Clastop State Forest. It is quite a large area and becomes larger as you move away from HWY 30 up the trails. There is a lot of clear cut areas surrounding CSF, but most of the time you are on nicely shaded trails such as seen below.

Here we are heading up in the TACO-Liner just off HWY 30:



I don't remember which trail we were on but this was a side trip from camp. You can see there is potential for exploration and sightseeing!



Here is a google earth map of the area showing my gps route in magenta. And see all those white squiggly lines? Yup, those are trails to explore.



Here is a link to the "Top Of The Hill" Panorama for another fun view of the area.

And at the end of the day, when you are back at camp with friends and family reflecting on a fun day, you might just get a bonus like we did with a sunset like this!



Happy Trails,
Thom

[LoudMusic]

Maps! You rock! (:

Looks like fun.

[Toy Man]

Thought that area sounded familiar.

I spent quite a bit time mapping the area from the Columbia River down to Hwy 30 to Gnatt Creek several years ago. I then continued down the coast range via the Shingle Mill road.

Eventually mapped a route from the Columbia River to Mary's Peak.

Toy Man

[Jerry]

Were you doing that professionally, Dick? I know you are a man of many talents and interests, so whatever you report would not surprise me!

[Toy Man]

Nah - just mapping out a segment for a future OBCDR route.

Dick - Toy Man

[Jerry]

Originally Posted by Toy Man

Nah - just mapping out a segment for a future OBCDR route.
Dick - Toy Man

Oh, is that all?

It sure is nice country and, Thom, I enjoyed the pics. Thanks!

[Decidion]

Wow, this is very cool!

Any problems with bugs?

[Accrete]

Originally Posted by Decidion

Any problems with bugs?

The following is a true story...and cuz your's truly is posting it i suppose it doesn't matter if i change the names or not to protect the innocent ; )

The morning we broke camp my dearly beloved decided to cook us some tasty brautworst and kraut. Boy did it smell good. I was outside setting up the chairs looking at the morning fog begin to burn off near the islands below...



I go back inside the aliner to chat with the wife while the fixings are just about ready to serve. We then step out of the trailer and i'm thinking that some film crew has set up for some cheap Alfred Hitchcock Birds remix now "Lord of the Flies" ! . .

The entire outside top third of the trailer is covered nearly black with meat files. Up till that moment, there had only been an occasional honey bee fly by.

So yes and no on the bug problemo. Just don't cook up anything that a meat fly would er, fly to...and you should be ok.

; ) Thom