The Wilson River flows from the Oregon Coast Range, westward to Tillamook Bay. The Wilson River Trail follows the river for over 20 miles, sometimes along the river’s edge, other times a thousand feet up.
This visit was to the western end of the Wilson River Trail, from the Footbridge Trailhead to Keenig Creek.
As this was the middle of spring, many types of flowers were emerging, like this Corydalis, which likes shady wet places.
Hermit Thrushes dart silently and mostly unseen through the forest midstory, and along the floor.
Most mushrooms in this area emerge in the fall, but there are plenty of exceptions. I’m not sure the name of this particular variety.
Along the way, the trail passes scenes like this, of moss draping over Bigleaf Maple and other trees of the Oregon coast range.
Native Pacific Dogwood blooms on the hillsides above the Wilson River.
This trail doesn’t get a lot of visitor, so the usually curious and friendly Canada Jays are more cautious around humans.
Some of the steeper slopes are comprised of looser rock, that might see regular slides and other disruptions. Alders like these are the first trees to establish in disturbed areas. The larger ones here are nearing maturity. It’s possible this area will be dominated by conifers in years to come, unless additional disruptions wipe everything out and the succession of growth starts anew.
Mats of Western Bleeding Hearts were at their peak all along the trail.
The Varied Thrush contributes an iconic sonic element to this landscape. The males whistle solitary notes of varying tones, which echo through the forest with a vibrato quality. This female was making soft, barely-audible calls echoing the male’s song.
I believe this lichen is a type of Lungwort, or Loberia. I’m not sure if the darker color is normal, or due to this lichen having fallen from a much higher spot nearer the canopy, where it grows epiphytically along the branches of host trees.
Fringecup is a common flower of the forest floor. There are many varieties of it, these being a bit more fringy than many of their cousins.
I’m not sure which forest creature created this monument. But it was impressive enough to marvel at for more than a moment. After crouching down next to it, trying too long to get the focus in my camera to lock-in, I had a moment of introspection, asking myself “what the hell am I doing?” I guess I’ll let the viewer be the judge here. Is this shit? or “the shit”?
Just in case you were reading this, and saying “hey, that looks like a great hike, tell me where can I go do this???” well, I originally planned to make this a loop; starting at Footbridge Trailhead, along the Wilson River Trail to Keenig Creek, then back along a road to make a loop. It turns out the road I wished to use was private. Not wishing to risk whatever drama was past the gate and the barking dogs beyond it, I turned around, and walked unceremoniously about 3 miles along Hwy 6 to my starting point. It was not a very glorious end to what was otherwise a wonderful little hike. Still, I recommend exploring the area, this part of the Wilson River Trail has a lot of solitude this time of year, and as long as you work out the logistics, is a great little hike.