Calendar

Past Activity

Canceled: Cummins Creek Loop

  • Start date: 12/10/2017

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 12/10/2017

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

WEATHER NOTE: MAY BE FOG. TRULY 0% PROBABILITY OF RAIN. Cummins Creek Loop climbs right from the Cape Perpetua visitor center for about 3 miles, gaining about 1000' to the junction with Gwynn Creek Trail. Continuing past Gwynn Creek, we climb a little more and then start a long, gentle descent back to the Oregon Coast Trail, taking the OCT back to the Center. Lunch is on an overlook at the beginning of the descent.

  • Event Leader: Mike Smith

  • Event Leader Phone: 520-488-9569

  • Event Leader Email: mssq@comcast.net

  • Assistant Leader:

  • Event category: Trips

  • Area Type: Coastal

  • Departure Location: Eugene Target, W11th, parking lot closest to W11th

  • Rating: Moderate

  • Roundtrip total drive miles: 156

  • Season: 2018

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required: The usual. Have good rain gear. Gaiters aren't a bad idea, but they aren't required. Many creek crossings, which aren't deep but can be wide. The place is wet. Wear appropriate clothing. Consider a hat and gloves, and there can be wind at the lunch site, so a neck warmer might also be useful.

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 9.8

  • Member Fees: 1

  • Elevation Gain: 1400

  • Non-Member Fees: 5

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

We had thirteen on this trip--10 in Eugene, one pick up in Florence and two from Corvallis, and we all got to the trailhead about the same time. It was a sunny, cool, somewhat windy day, as we did Cummins Creek Loop clockwise from Cape Perpetua. The trail climbs steadily until just before the Gwynn Creek turn, and then climbs again to the junction near the FS road. We had lunch on the overlook at the beginning of the long downhill stretch, then came back on the Oregon Coast Trail to the Visitor's Center. I always enjoy seeing the gradual decrease in Sitka Spruce and the rather sudden onset of Douglas firs as we go further from the ocean. On the way back, we got to see Spouting Horn, although we were in middle of the outgoing tide, and it was a neap tide (last quarter Moon) besides. There were few others on the trail, and I found as leader I could occasionally position myself where I heard nothing at all, or just the light wind and a few sounds from the woods. It is a delightful place!