Visiting a Gentle Giant

 A tip from Grant's Getaways on TV led us to take a trip to the Oregon Coast yesterday to seek out this giant cedar tree that is reported to be 800 to 1200 years old.  It's hard to comprehend the years it has stood here and all that it has endured. Giant stumps in the area testify that this tree's family members where cut down and removed probably with-in the last 100 years. Yet here it still stands, perhaps spared because of it twisted gnarly appearance.

  

The Old Growth Cedar Preserve is located in the town of Rockaway Beach.  A board walk of a half a mile leads over the wetlands to the an elevated platform that circles this gentle giant.  Doubly attractive to us is that this preserve is an eBird Hotspot. We had a great time spotting and identifying birds along the walk way. You can see our observation list with photos here.

 

If you want to visit the Old Growth Cedar Preserve, be sure and look for this clue.  Approaching the town of Rockaway Beach from the south, look for this Welcome sign and the parking lot. This is where the boardwalk begins that leads to the Gentle Giant.