Angora Hiking Club

10/14/2026

Dear Angora friends,
This Saturday, Oct. 17, we will be doing one of our favorite hikes in the area - Willapa Wildlife Refuge and the Teal Slough old-growth cedar trees. Willapa National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge located on the shores of Willapa Bay in Washington, United States. It comprises 11,000 acres of sand dunes, sand beaches, mudflats, grasslands, saltwater and freshwater marshes, and coniferous forest.

Meeting spot: 9am at the east end of Burger King in Astoria or meet us at 9:30 at the old Willapa National Wildlife Refuge parking lot, just after mile marker 24.

Distance & Difficulty: The Art Walk will take us on a 1/4 mile boardwalk that passes several art pieces created by students in the University of Washington Public Arts Program. Then we'll head up the Cutthroat Trail which will take us by several kiosks which will test your knowledge of flora and fauna in the area. This is steep in places but is only a one-mile loop. Next we'll drive about ½ mile to the Teal Slough old-growth cedars walk which is only about a mile as well. So, I would rate the walks as moderate for steep climbs and rough terrain.

Walking sticks are advised, and bring plenty of water.

RSVP: Arline LaMear - 503-338-6883 or [email protected]

Hope to see you on the trail.

Arline LaMear, President
Angora Hiking Club

10/02/2026

Hike reminder for Oct 3

The walk for Saturday, October 3 has been changed to a walk in Manzanita and Nehalem Bay State Park. We'll walk through the business district and then walk on the bike path to Nehalem Bay State Park, enjoying ocean, mountain, bay and wetland views of this coastal town nestled beneath Neahkahnie Mountain.

Meet at 9am at the east end of Burger King Parking lot to carpool or, if you want to drive on your own, meet in the parking lot behind Manzanita News & Espresso, 500 Laneda Ave., Manzanita, at 10am.

Route is mostly flat with paved, dirt, and sand surfaces. There's virtually no elevation gain. It's about a 5-mile route.

Restrooms are available at the start (across 5th St. from the parking lot where we're starting) and in the State Park.

Manzanita has a lot of places to eat, so we may have lunch there after the hike. Make sure your driver and car-mates are all planning to stay for lunch, tho. It's a long walk from Manzanita to Astoria!

RSVP to walk leader, Arline LaMear - 503-338-6883 or [email protected]

David Gray
Chief Guide
[email protected]

09/30/2026

The walk for Saturday, October 3 has been changed to a walk in Manzanita and Nehalem Bay State Park. We'll walk through the business district and then walk on the bike path to Nehalem Bay State Park, enjoying ocean, mountain, bay and wetland views of this coastal town nestled beneath Neahkahnie Mountain.

Meet at 9am at the east end of Burger King Parking lot to carpool or, if you want to drive on your own, meet in the parking lot behind Manzanita News & Espresso, 500 Laneda Ave., Manzanita, at 10am.

Route is mostly flat with paved, dirt, and sand surfaces. There's virtually no elevation gain. It's about a 5-mile route.

Restrooms are available at the start (across 5th St. from the parking lot where we're starting) and in the State Park.

Manzanita has a lot of places to eat, so we may have lunch there after the hike. Make sure your driver and car-mates are all planning to stay for lunch, tho. It's a long walk from Manzanita to Astoria!

RSVP to walk leader, Arline LaMear - 503-338-6883 or [email protected]

Thank you,

David Gray
Chief Guide
[email protected]

09/17/2026

Reminder - Angora Club Outing, September 19, 9:00am

Hello Everyone,

The planned event for this date was to hike the Clatsop loop trail from Indian Beach at Ecola Park to the hiker's camp. Due to a slide in April, the west side portion of the trail is closed until further notice. Rather than walk up and down the access road we have decided to change the outing and do the Gearhart walk that was planned in May.

This walk is about 4 miles and is rated easy. We plan to leave from Gearhart city hall at 9:30, walk out on the ridge path to Gearhart Avenue, walk up past McMenamin's onto Marion and then do a short walk on the beach starting on 10th. We head to Pacific Ave for a restroom stop if necessary, then head out Ocean to Little Beach and wend our way back to City Hall along the Ridge Path.

Those leaving from Astoria please carpool from the east side of Burger King leaving at 9:00.

Please RSVP to [email protected].

Thank you,
David Gray
Chief Guide
[email protected]

09/15/2026

Angora Club Reminder - Bayfront D**e and Skipanon River Trails, September 16, 9 am.

This outing combines the Bayfront D**e and Skipanon River Trails. The route takes us past beautiful views of Astoria and Youngs Bay. When we get close to the Skipanon River, we will see Warrenton's industrial area and then pass through the marina. We will cross East Harbor Drive and then make our way along the river. We will do a little walking on sidewalks and under and over a bridge.

This is a six-mile hike with little elevation gain (all of 36') which we should be able to complete in three hours. The biggest challenge is getting up onto the d**e. We will provided trekking poles for those who need help getting up the short but steep slope. Most of the trail is gravel; there are a lot of geese in the area, so you are forewarned!

This hike is scheduled for 9 am on Wednesday, September 16th. We will meet at our regular spot on the east side of Burger King to arrange carpools. Those coming from the west can meet us at the trailhead on the east side of the Premarq Center at 9:15 am.

Please RSVP to Deborah Howe by text at 503-432-1255 or email at [email protected]. Please indicate whether you will meet us at Burger King or the Premarq Center.

David Gray
[email protected]

09/14/2026

Angora Club Outing, September 19

Hello Everyone,

The planned event for this date was to hike the Clatsop loop trail from Indian Beach at Ecola Park to the hiker's camp. Due to a slide in April, the west side portion of the trail is closed until further notice. Rather than walk up and down the access road we have decided to change the outing and do the Gearhart walk that was planned in May.

This walk is about 4 miles and is rated easy. We plan to leave from Gearhart city hall at 9:30, walk out on the ridge path to Gearhart Avenue, walk up past McMenamin's onto Marion and then do a short walk on the beach starting on 10th. We head to Pacific Ave for a restroom stop if necessary, then head out Ocean to Little Beach and wend our way back to City Hall along the Ridge Path.

Those leaving from Astoria please carpool from the east side of Burger King leaving at 9:00.

RSVP to [email protected].

Thank you,
David Gray
Chief Guide
[email protected].

09/11/2026

Angora Club - Bayfront D**e and Skipanon River Trails, Wednesday September 16th 9am

This outing combines the Bayfront D**e and Skipanon River Trails. The route takes us past beautiful views of Astoria and Youngs Bay. When we get close to the Skipanon River, we will see Warrenton's industrial area and then pass through the marina. We will cross East Harbor Drive and then make our way along the river. We will do a little walking on sidewalks and under and over a bridge.

This is a six-mile hike with little elevation gain (all of 36') which we should be able to complete in three hours. The biggest challenge is getting up onto the d**e. We will provided trekking poles for those who need help getting up the short but steep slope. Most of the trail is gravel; there are a lot of geese in the area, so you are forewarned!

This hike is scheduled for 9 am on Wednesday, September 16th. We will meet at our regular spot on the east side of Burger King to arrange carpools. Those coming from the west can meet us at the trailhead on the east side of the Premarq Center at 9:15 am.

Please RSVP to Deborah Howe by text at 503-432-1255 or email at [email protected]. Please indicate whether you will meet us at Burger King or the Premarq Center.

David Gray
Chief Guide
[email protected]

09/08/2026

Angora Club - Gnat Creek Hatchery hike September 12
Join Arline LaMear on one of her favorite local hikes at Gnat Creek Fish Hatchery. This 3 mile hike is out and back between the picnic shelter and the campground, then along trails near the hatchery to view the falls and creek. Very peaceful with lots of ferns.

Date: Saturday, Sept. 12

Start Point: Meet at 9 am at the east end of Burger King to carpool.

Distance: 3 miles; 2 hours

Elevation gain: 200'

Trail type: Natural terrain

Difficulty: Moderate due to tree roots; walking sticks recommended.

Restroom facilities available at the campground

Bring a snack or bag lunch to eat at the picnic shelter following the hike.

RSVP: Arline LaMear at 503-338-6883 or [email protected]

David Gray
Chief Guide
[email protected]

08/30/2026

Hello Everyone,

There have been some changes to the schedule that you may want to know about.

The Neahkahnie Mountain hike, which was rescheduled for September 2nd, has been cancelled.

The Warrenton d**e walk has been moved to September 16.

Currently the calendar for September is:

Saturday
12 September
9:00 a.m.
Gnat Creek Fish Hatchery,
led by Arline LaMear . .
Wednesday
16 September
9:00 a.m.
Warrenton D**e Hike,
led by Deb Howe . .
Saturday
19 September
9:00 a.m.
Indian Beach,
led by Debbie & David Gray . .
Thurs - Sun
24 - 27 Sept.
all day
Oregon Trails State Volkssport Assn.
regional conference in Astoria.

Regards,
David Gray
Chief Guide
[email protected]

08/19/2026

Hi Angoras,

Just a reminder of the upcoming hike. Here is the description. If you tried to rsvp to Eric and your email bounced please note that his correct email is [email protected], not .com as noted in the original email.

Soapstone Lake Loop Angora hike

Hi folks, Please join us for the Soapstone Lake hike on Saturday, August 22. We'll meet at the Burger King parking lot in Astoria to arrange carpools at 9:00 AM. This is a relatively easy three mile loop hike with about 300 feet of elevation gain. Considering an hour drive to the trailhead and maybe 1 1/2 to 2 hours on the trail; we should return to Astoria around 1:00 PM. This traditional Angora hike is led by Deb Howe and Eric Wheeler. For a very personal, almost poetic description of the hike follow this link: https://tillamookcoast.com/stories/blog/soapstone-lake-trail/

Please RSVP to: Eric Wheeler - [email protected] - 608-797-7753

Thank you,

David Gray
Chief Guide
[email protected]

Recently, I celebrated the official end of summer by hiking Soapstone Lake Trail. Located along the winding, twisting roller coaster that is Highway 53 (northeast of Nehalem), it requires an iron will and a bit of an iron stomach to reach.