A new trail that links Corvallis to the Oregon coast is now open for hikers and bikers.
It’s officially known as the Corvallis to the Sea Trail, and it’s the product of more than 40 years of planning. Volunteers put in thousands of hours to clear a path through remote sections of the Coast Range. The marked route also includes some highway shoulders and logging roads. It runs on both public and private land, and one sectiion requires a free permit.
Te trail is a great way to try out backpacking for people who might not relish the prospect of spending months on the Pacific Crest Trail, for example, said Louise Marquering, who's been involved with the effort for decades, and serves on the board of the nonprofit that oversees it.
“People think ‘60 miles, I might be able to do that.’ And they get kind of excited about thinking ‘this is something I can do. It’s not a 2,000-mile hike that I’d have to put up with. I could do it,’” said Marquering.
The trail can also be used by day-trippers, with several mid-route access points available. And while detailed maps are available on the trail's website, "at every junction we have a marker with an arrow pointing in the direction to go," she said.
There will be a ribbon cutting event for the Corvallis to the Sea Trail this Saturday. Festivities start at 10 a.m. at Ona Beach near Newport, and at 2 p.m. at the Benton County Fairgrounds in Corvallis.
Ona Beach, which is part of Brian Booth State Park, is about halfway between Newport and Waldport and serves as the western end of the trail. The eastern end of the trail is the confluence of Mary's and Willamette Rivers in downtown Corvallis, an area known as Shawala Point.