Kayaking Oregon's newest State Park

Like most salt-water-starved Central Oregonians, we make periodic forays to Oregon's magnificent coast. On one such recent trip, we discovered Oregon's newest state park and some great kayaking in the Beaver Creek State Natural Area.

Just south of Newport, Beaver Creek State Natural Area opened last fall. A state natural area differs from other state parks in that a natural area is designed to stay, well, natural. Development is kept to an absolute minimum so that visitors can best experience this unique ecosystem.

Park Manager Dennis Comfort says, "Our goal is for people to see this unique habitat and how it's connected to the ocean." Comfort manages the state park unit that includes South Beach State Park, Beaver Creek, and Ona State Park, through which Beaver Creek flows on its way to the Pacific Ocean.

Beaver Creek is a quiet stream, ideal for easy paddling through a surprising network of channels rich in wildlife. The launch ramp near the highway is not actually inside the State Natural Area, but is open to the public under the auspices of the Wetlands Conservancy. There are no fees associated with the use of this area, and parking is free.

We launched our kayaks just as a state-park-sponsored kayak tour was winding up. If you don't have your own kayak, this is a great way to become acquainted with the area. Five days a week, between the first weeks of July and September, the State Park System offers guided tours of the region for only $15 per person. The cost covers the use of kayaks, safety equipment, and the guide. "All people have to do is paddle, listen to the guide, and follow the safety rules," said Comfort.

Comfort explained that the guided tours will be ending soon. Also, tours after Labor Day are on weekends only and will soon be discontinued due to dwindling demand at this time of year. At present, tours are scheduled for this coming weekend. Reservations can be made by calling 541-867-6590. Tours are limited to 12 persons.

For the owners of private watercraft, however, the area is open to the public at any time. If paddling the area on your own, early morning may be the best time. "Mornings are usually calm," Comfort said, "but a pretty stiff breeze comes up later." That "breeze" blows right up the creek.

We put our kayaks in at the launch site and first paddled toward the ocean. Even by late morning, the prevailing onshore winds made paddling downstream a chore. We paddled through Ona State Park, under a footbridge and out among beach sand dunes before the creek became so shallow that further progress was not possible. The ocean is visible from this point.

Having explored the mouth of the creek, we headed back upstream past the launch ramp and toward a road bridge about two miles upstream. This bridge is near the official boundary of the natural area. The creek is still and deep through the whole marshland area. Paddling upstream is not at all difficult, and the primary concern is facing the wind when headed back downstream. Although the downstream paddling was more of a workout, it was not especially difficult.

A visitor center is located a short distance farther up North Beaver Creek Road, where maps and other information, including birding checklists, are available. The birding checklist shows 76 species. Elk, black-tailed deer, coyote, bear, cougar, river otter, nutria, muskrat and, of course, beaver are also found within the Beaver Creek Natural Area.

If you would prefer to start inside the natural area and head into the wind first, an alternate kayak launching site is located near the visitor center. Several miles of hiking trails are also accessible from the visitor center and from an all-year service road on the south side of the park.

Trail access from the visitor center is difficult during the wet season, although there are future plans to create a raised all-season access trail from the center. "That's the dream," said Comfort. "I'd love to have year-round access that would let people explore this unique coastal habitat where the salt water meets the fresh water. It creates incredible wildlife habitat."

Getting there is easy. Since U.S. Highway 20 passes right through the middle of Sisters, just head west and stay on it until it ends. According to AAA, U.S. Highway 20 - at 3,365 miles - is the longest highway in the nation; so, if you turn east and follow it the wrong way, you will wind up in Boston. Assuming that you arrive at the western terminus of Highway 20, just turn left on Highway 101 for 8.1 miles, then turn left onto North Beaver Creek Road at milepost 149. The parking lot and launching area will be on your immediate right.