We left our hotel in Seaside headed for our next night stay in Rockaway Beach… Along the way we stopped at Short Sand Beach in the Oswald West State Park to explore Smugglers Cove. Local legend claims a pirate treasure is buried near the cove but has never been found.
The trail to the beach is sooooo beautiful as it crosses through an old growth forest along the Short Sand Creek. There was even a wooden hanging bridge crossing the creek!
I tried my skills at doing some woodland photography to capture the lush foliage and large old growth trees covered in moss. I find woodland photography to be difficult to compose in a chaotic forest. For me the best results are usually to get in close to a subject and shoot a more intimate scene. I also loved Short Sand Creek itself which was lined beautiful moss covered rocks.
After we were done exploring the beach we continued south to visit the Cape Meares Lighthouse. A charming little inactive lighthouse built in 1890 with an expansive view of the coastline to the south.
