Yesterday morning we were all set for an all-morning AARP Safe Driving Class here at the Dallas Retirement Village, then we got a call that the class had been cancelled! Our immediate response was to escape to the coast for the day. We threw together a lunch, day packs, and birding gear and headed out. A destination of The Knoll, a Lincoln City Open Space Park, popped into my mind. It was one of the Lincoln City Parks that we had not been to yet, and based on the map, it would take some exploration to find. It turned out that my assumption was correct, it did take some searching, perseverance, and luck to find the traihead, and the trail route.
Jim at the Cul De Sac Trailhead
Based on a Google aerial view, I picked out what looked like a parking lot. Luckily it was the Cul De Sac Trailhead, the primary trailhead. Street signage gave no clue, so I had to go from the "seat of my pants" kind of navigation. Jeanette noticed a bar code at the trailhead sign from which we were able to download a trail map on my phone. We sought advice from a local hiker, and as we had learned from years of bike touring, "never trust directions from a local", turned out to be true once again. The trail we wanted to The Knoll via the other two trailheads, was not from this sign where I am pictured, but from an unmarked trail back by our parked car.
Jeanette at the Sal La Sea Trailhead
After a circular route that brought us back to our parked car, we took off on the unmarked trail and arrived at our hoped for second trailhead, Sal-La-Sea Trailhead, where Jeannette is pictured.
Jeanette and Jim at the Port Drive Trailhead
The third trailhead, Port Drive Trailhead, is actually a "Dead End" for car traffic. But is possibly the trailhead you would want to use for the shortest hiking route to The Knoll.
Jeanette at The Knoll
The Knoll has an open meadow at the summit and provides a spectacular view past Lincoln City to Government Point. Here is the link to the Lincoln City Parks and Recreation page for The Knoll:
Another location I need to visit! Thanks for the post.
ReplyDelete