SOAPSTONE LAKE
![Picture](/uploads/7/8/4/3/7843889/3042164.jpg?236)
OPEN: all year
FEE: none
AMENITIES: none
The benefits of this hike are that it's close to the coast, it's free, its away from the cars and people and it's a pretty short hike in (1.5 mile or so each way). It would be ideal to seek out when it is peak season out The hike is nice but very similar to other hikes in the coastal forests. Once you reach the lake, a trail circles the lake with no spur trails. Therefore there is not a lot to do in the area without bushwhacking. Also, the lake is dark and murky (it would take a brave/desperate soul to swim in the black water). There's only one real camp site here on the lakeside. When you reach the lake stay to the right on the trail and the site will be shortly on your left perched a bit on a hill. The site is large and could accommodate a few tents, but if it is already claimed, as it was when we were there, then you will have to be creative with a different spot or compromise a bit of privacy. Circumnavigating the lake doesn't off any other obvious options (no flat clearings). There is a lot of growth right along the banks, and it's mostly a hill right down into the lake. The flat areas are a somewhat boggy marshland. We ended up setting up a tent on one of these areas (when you reach the lake go to the left on the trail and once you cross a small bridge look for the flattest area near the lake, that's where we were) and it was fine but difficult to do things like cook or anything in which you might need a flat clear area. However, if you make your way back down the trail away from the lake, right after you cross back over the bridge, you'll find yourself in a meadow. Over to the left and just behind a stand of young alders, you'll find a secluded spot with a fire pit. It's probably big enough for a couple tents. You can't see the site from the trail and it's nestled beneath the branches of a large fir. It looks like a great place to camp. We didn't discover this until we were on our way out and there was no mention of it in the guide book we used.
One thing we did entertain ourselves with in this area was watching the many newts swim and crawl all over the surrounding areas of the lake. They really are quite the nicest to look at! And, according to some men attempting to fish while we were there, the fishing is not good.
Directions: from Portland head West on Hwy. 26 for about 64 miles. Turn left onto OR-53 South / Necanicum Hwy. After milepost 5 you will see a sign for Soapstone lake on the left. Turn here.
Helpful Links: REI Info Page, Oregon DOF Page
Helpful Links: REI Info Page, Oregon DOF Page