Rascal's Roadshow: Astoria, Oregon - Part Three

 Rascal’s Roadshow

🌲 Fort Stevens State Park 🌲

A quick drive from the KOA campground onto Peter Iredale Road and we—Rascal included—were off to explore Fort Stevens State Park! 🐶🌳 Remember the name “Peter Iredale”… it’ll come up again soon! 😉 This massive park covers 4,300 acres and includes Coffenbury Lake, Clatsop Beach, 15 miles of walking and biking trails (bike rentals in summer! 🚲), a military museum, one of the nation’s largest campgrounds, and so much more!

Fort Stevens was once a military post guarding the Columbia River from the Civil War through WWII 🪖 While we didn’t visit the museum, we did drive through one of the old concrete gun battery areas—so cool! Later, I learned you can take a guided tour while in the back of a restored army truck AND explore an underground battery on a walking tour. Next time for sure! 📞 For info, call the Visitor Center at (503) 861-2000 or visit the Fort Stevens State Park website.

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⚓ Seafarer’s Park ⚓

Named for the brave souls who faced the treacherous waters where the Columbia River meets the Pacific 🌊, Seafarer’s Park offers beautiful views of the (slightly terrifying 😱) Astoria Bridge, plus cruise ships and barges navigating the rough waters.

We strolled a small beach and grassy area, and visited a memorial honoring the Coast Guard crew of the Triumph, who lost their lives helping the fishing boat Mermaid near Peacock Spit. It’s a peaceful spot, perfect for quiet reflection or a picnic 🧺💙 Bonus: it’s wheelchair accessible ♿

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🕱 Shipwreck 🕱

From Seafarer’s Park, we headed to Clatsop Beach—a highlight for both me and Rascal! 🐾💨 First off… we got to drive on the beach! That’s prohibited between May 1–Sept 15, so keep that in mind if visiting during the summer. We cruised toward the South Jetty, passing the ghostly remains of the Peter Iredale… there’s that name I mentioned earlier.

Photograph taken by Portland photographer Leo Simon
on November 13, 1906, nineteen days after the ship ran aground.

This once-grand vessel was a four-masted steel bark ship owned by the British shipping firm Iredale & Porter and built in Maryport, England, in 1890. On September 26, 1906, the ship left Salina Cruz, Mexico, sailing up the coast to Portland. The Peter Iredale was scheduled to pick up a load of wheat and return to the United Kingdom. The following month, on October 25, the Iredale ran aground on Clatsop Spit, just south of the Columbia River entrance. While the crew (and two stowaways) all made it off safely, the ship did not fare as well. It was abandoned on the shores of Clatsop Beach and has remained there, slowly decaying, for the past 118 years.

It has become one of the most accessible and photographed shipwrecks on the West Coast. It’s best viewed at low tide. The rudder and a few interior articles from the ship are on display at the nearby Columbia River Maritime Museum.

While researching the ship's namesake and owner, Thomas Peter Iredale, I found that he lost many ships over the years. I don’t know if it was natural for the time or just his bad luck, but I found this an interesting read. I’ve included a link if you’d like more information, but be aware it says the site isn’t secured… which I didn’t know until I’d opened the page and read the article. I haven’t had any computer glitches…so… 💁
🔗 Iredale Maritime Bio

Another link of interest is from the Oregon History Project:
🔗 The Wreck of the Peter Iredale

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🐕 Beach Zoomies 💨

Our journey continued up the beach with a very happy Rascal checking out the sights. Once we reached the South Jetty and couldn’t go any further, we jumped out… and here was THE BEST part of the day… Rascal got to run free on the beach! He jetted off with a giant smile and had beach zoomies for the next 20 minutes or so! He was one happy doggo! We would call him, and he’d run toward us and then zip around us as fast as he could. Not bad for an 11-year-old! I love seeing him so full of life! 🐶💨

The South Jetty sits at the Columbia River Bar. It’s part of a massive jetty system built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It helps stabilize the extremely dangerous Columbia River Bar… also known as—do you remember?—The Graveyard of the Pacific. 💀 I can’t even imagine trying to build in that area! 😳🌊

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💦 Coffenbury Lake Adventures 🛶

We also visited Coffenbury Lake, another gold star for Fort Stevens! Rascal enjoyed the walk but avoided the water—he’s not a fan of getting his toes wet 😂 Named after George Washington Coffenbury, the area’s first settler and a four-term county judge, the lake is peaceful and scenic. More info here: 🔗 Coffenbury Lake

Todd and I returned later for kayaking. I took photos while he fished. The lake is stocked, but no fish bit that day. Even so, the calm beauty made it worthwhile 🛶🎣 Perfect for paddling, even when the wind picks up. There are picnic areas, a boat ramp, and a two-mile trail around the lake.

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🏕 KOA - Astoria 

Astoria and the surrounding area quickly became one of our favorites ❤️ Our KOA was perfectly located—close to everything, yet quiet and peaceful, with spacious shaded sites. It’s a family-friendly campground with a pool, bounce pillow, mini golf, bike rentals, and a “GAGA pit.”

What’s a GAGA pit? Well, while I did see it in the campground, I had no idea what it was and had to look it up… picture a less-lethal and childhood-scarring version of dodgeball. It’s played in a hexagon-shaped pit where players use a foam dodgeball that they hit with an open hand. You’re out if it hits you below the waist. No more grade-school trauma from someone hurling a lead weight with all their might straight at your head! Until this moment, I wasn’t aware of it, but I may have unresolved dodgeball issues! 😅

The tent area was one of the nicest I’ve seen, with campers parking outside and hiking into secluded sites tucked back in a dense forest. Each site includes wooden tent decks, firepits, and picnic tables 🌲⛺

Our KOA membership may have saved us 10%, but next time… we may just camp right at Fort Stevens 🤫

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Next Stop… Garibaldi, Oregon!

👇But first… more photos below!👇

Fort Stevens State Park

Seafarer's Park

Clatsop Beach

Coffenbury Lake

KOA

Remember...stay tuned as we travel on to Garibaldi, Oregon!

“Life’s a beach and I want to live the beach life! Bring me a dogtini and an umbrella, please!” – Rascal 

🍹🐾🌴