CAPE FALCON LETTERBOX

Thanks to a beautiful, clear, sunny 60-degree day on the Oregon
Coast, the Cape Falcon letterbox was placed by Amanda Briles (The
Paisley Orca) and John on 1/22/2001.

NOTE: This letterbox is located at Oswald West State Park.
Neahkahnie Mountain is nearby, which also has a letterbox, but be
sure to follow that box's instructions so you go to the right
trailhead. Trailheads to Neahkahnie Mountain from within the park
will not guide you in the direction those clues lead you to.

DIRECTIONS: The Cape Falcon trailhead is located in Oswald West
State Park on the Oregon Coast. It is on Hwy 101 between Cannon
Beach and Manzanita, Oregon. Go to the parking area for the
campground.

CLUES: Easy to Moderate.

DIFFICULTY: Moderate. This is a four-mile round trip on a trail
with lots of ups and downs, a couple of bridges, and frequently muddy
conditions. This is a half-day adventure once you park and hit the
trail.

CAPE FALCON LETTERBOX: From the campground parking area, follow the
signs for Beach Access and Cape Falcon. When you reach the beach
picnic area go toward your right where the big rules and regulations
sign is. This is the trailhead for Cape Falcon. Follow this trail
with the huge ancient trees, chirping of birds, and song of the surf
to keep you company along the way through this up and down hike to
paradise. Great majestic forest and (if you're lucky enough to do
this on a clear day) views of the ocean, Smuggler's Cove, Short Sand
Beach, and Neahkahnie Mountain will forever be etched in your
memory. There is a little side path after a small bridge, not too
far along this trail where you can see Short Sand Creek and its small
waterfall. Keep heading forward. It's quite a ways going uphill for
a while with a few downhills here and there. You're coming close to
the top when the path is less in the forest and more exposed. You'll
be up quite a ways by then. Keep going and you'll kind of go down
again and into an area with more trees. There will be a very
distinct fork in the trail here. Go left and through the bushes on
up this trail up to where the trees shelter you and go all the way to
the end at the top of Cape Falcon. There will be a metal fence post
on your left with a trail going down into the tree area. Go all the
way down this trail until you see the twin "fallen soldiers" side by
side at an angle of 90 degrees on your left-hand side. Now turn and
look up the way you came. Take the small path that goes right up 8
paces and then turn to your right. A "soldier" similar to those
downed stands at attention to guard the Cape Falcon letterbox at its
feet.

While you do this hike, please give thanks to your higher power for
this wonderful landscape! Also, be grateful to Oswald West, whom this
park was named after. He was the governor who served Oregon in the
early 1900's who made sure the Oregon Coast was designated as a State
Highway (public right of way) so that this land cannot be
privatized. Because of Oswald West the Oregon Coast will be
protected and can be enjoyed by generations going forward. When you
check out the forest in this park, you'll know what I mean. You will
be among giants.