Grant’s Getaways: Sitka Sedge

It is hard to argue with Oregon State Park’s Manager, Kirk Barham’s, decree that he has “the best office in the world.” His office is the Sitka Sedge State Natural Area and it is Oregon’s newest State Park!

Prized for its lack of development, Sitka Sedge is just south of Sandlake in Tillamook County.

“The fact that you can come out on a day as nice as today and have the park all to yourself – plus, experience some of the great stuff that the coast has to offer all in one place,” said Barham.

The main trail leading through the new park is where you will find blooming foxglove and salal and wild rose – the beauty of each will leave you spellbound.

So will the abundant bird life! Like the blue herons that hunt across the namesake Sitka Sedge grasses that grow along the wetland edges.

The new park includes four and a half miles of trails across nearly four hundred acres of fresh and saltwater marshes – plus, forested uplands – it is a place where the quiet seems to shout at you.

“Yeah, that’s true,” noted the longtime park ranger. “Except for the chirping birds and the ocean roar.”

Soon you reach the magnificent ocean front that Barham said will remain “undisturbed.”

The view is grand! Cape Kiwanda is easy to spy to the south, while Cape Lookout juts into the ocean to the north.

While in between the two landmarks, the new Sitka Sedge merges with another well-known state natural area called Clay Myers at Whalen Island.

Here, there are two hundred acres of forest, sand and estuary – and even more hiking trails.

The waterway surrounding Whalen Island is called Sandlake and it is shallow throughout; it averages just 2 feet deep at flood tide.

The estuary wraps around the island on the high tide and that is the time you will find paddlers like Marc Hinz launching kayak excursions to explore the parkland.

“I like to bring folks here to enjoy the quiet, serene and secluded nature of the waterway,” said Hinz. “It’s like three getaways for the price of one visit.”

Marc Hinz is a co-owner of Kayak Tillamook and he leads tours for a company that specializes in coastal estuary trips: “You don’t see many people here because it’s too shallow for motorized boats.”

Hinz added that Sandlake’s isolation means paddlers should be prepared to handle any issue that might arise on the water:

“Even though it is a shallow waterway, there are deeper parts and the tide does recede out into the ocean. So, it’s important to wear your PFD, bring an extra paddle, basic first aid and a communication device in case you get into trouble.”

Meanwhile, back at Sitka Sedge, Barham says no camping is allowed and it will always be a low impact park where nature’s touch restores the soul.

“This is such a quiet, beautiful place that we want to make sure it’s there for not only present generations but for our future generations to enjoy.”

Be sure to follow my Oregon adventures via the new Grant’s Getaways Podcast:

Each segment is a story-telling session where I relate behind the scenes stories from four decades of travel and television reporting.

You can also learn more about many of my favorite Oregon travels and adventures in the Grant’s Getaways book series, including:

“Grants Getaways I,” Photography by Steve Terrill

“Grant’s Getaways II,” Photography by Steve Terrill

“Grant’s Getaways: 101 Oregon Adventures,” Photography by Jeff Kastner

“Grant’s Getaways: Guide to Wildlife Watching in Oregon,” Photography by Jeff Kastner

“Grant’s Getaways: Oregon Adventures with the Kids,” Photography by Jeff Kastner

The collection offers hundreds of outdoor activities across Oregon and promises to engage a kid of any age.

My next book, “Grant’s Getaways: Another 101 Oregon Adventures” will be published in 2022.