PUBLIC LAND

The southern Oregon coast is one of those places that has always drawn me in with its moody skies and green shorelines. The dark waves rolling up to crumbling walls of rock, despite scaring the shit out me, are mesmerizing, easily melting away my time. Over the years I have made a handful of trips here, but each time I have been left feeling disappointed.

The seemingly non-existent public land is the primary source of my discontent. Large open spaces accessible by vehicle are what I am drawn to and the southern coast would seem like a good place for this. It’s not. Much of the national forest is so far inland it makes camping in public land impractical. The lack of costal views renders the location moot. 

In August of 2018 Olivia and I set off toward the ocean with a specific goal in mind: explore the coastal range and enjoy the beach without paying to camp. To do this we located the area where the national forest comes closest to the water, from there we set to plotting a route.

This would be our first overland trip and it would teach us invaluable lessons throughout its course. As I began mapping our route through the forest I realized there was a system to these roads, they weren’t simply the wilderness maze I had once thought they were. 

The most valuable lesson I took from this trip was the knowledge that these back roads held a key piece in my enjoyment of being outside. That If I took the time to research and plan I would be rewarded with little known swimming holes, secluded camp sites, and a network allowing me to explore one of our nations greatest assets. Public Land.