Guided Netarts Spit Walk--Now Full

Netarts Spit from Anderson's viewpoint.\Photo by Kirt Edblom.

An opportunity to explore the Netarts Spit and learn about its natural history is offered by the Friends of Netarts Spit WEBS and Portland Audubon, along with Oregon State Parks.  The beachwalk begins at 8 a.m. on Friday, July 1, and will last through approximately 3:30 p.m. The event is free, although donations are encouraged.

Participants will discover the dynamic ecosystem supported by this narrow stretch of land, and learn about snowy plover and beachgrass monitoring efforts. Shifting sands, dune grasses, and plovers are part of the story for the day. It is ~6 miles to the end of spit (12 miles round trip) and participants should expect to spend a full day exploring and hiking. If you are unsure whether you wish to commit to the full hike, there will be a few stops and opportunities to hike smaller distances and amounts of time. The difficulty of the hike is moderate due to walking on sand. Volunteers will help lead you back to your cars.

The walk will include Risa Askerooth, who heads up the survey by Oregon State University scientists who are searching for the new, hybrid beachgrass on the Oregon coast.  CoastWatch partners in this survey.

What to bring: Comfortable walking shoes, water, lunch, and snacks. Binoculars are highly encouraged as a strong focus will be placed on birds. The climate can change quickly along the coast, ranging from warm to cool and breezy, so bring the gear you need to stay comfortable.

Registration is required.  After registering you will receive information about the specific location. This event will take place outdoors. If bad weather develops, an alternate plan will be communicated to the registered participants.  To register, go here.

To ask questions, contact director@netartsbaywebs.org.