Neskowin, Oregon is a small town along the Pacific coast. This small town is home to an ancient forest that today is known as a ghost forest. During low tide, remains of ancient tree stumps are exposed from beneath the sand.
The Forests History
The Neskowin Ghost Forest is the remnants of a Sitka spruce forest. The stumps were most likely created when an earthquake abruptly lowered the trees that were previously covered by mud from landslides or debris from a tsunami. Most of the stumps are over 2,000 years old. The stumps resurfaced when turbulent storms swept away sand during the winter of 1998. This forest is so eerily unique that it is hard to believe it is one of thirty similar like it along the Oregon and Washington Coast. Though, most of the other ghost forests along this coast are roots, not stumps. While living, the trees that made up the Neskowin Ghost Forest were similar to present day rainforests, standing 150-200 feet high.
How to see the Forest
The best time to see the ghost forest stumps is during low tide, during winter months. Along this part of the Oregon coast, the tide will be the lowest during the months of January, February, and March. To access the beach park in a public lot at the Neskowin turnoff and enter onto the beach directly in front of Proposal Rock (An attraction located on the same beach as the ghost forest). You can navigate the beach by yourself and spend as much or as little time as you want.
What you'll see
When the stumps are unearthed, roughly 100 ancient tree remains come into view and can be seen covered in barnacles, mussels, and other sea life. Some of the larger stump's center have eroded away, creating shallow pools which causes sea life to get trapped when the tide goes out. Occasionally, fish and crabs get stuck in the pools while they wait for the tide to release them back into the ocean.
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