Coastal Forests

How can I discover coastal forests?

Most CELN sites contain examples of coastal forests, with trails that are usually open to the public from dawn to dusk daily. Roadside stops and rest areas also offer an opportunity to explore the rich variety of the coastal forests that have shaped the cultures and ecology
of Oregon’s South Coast.

Stately conifers define Oregon’s western slopes, with the largest, tallest, and most impressive conifer forests in North America.

Although the Pacific Northwest is home to many record-breaking trees, it's the complexity of the forest environment that surprises many. The amount of available water, soil type, seasonality of sunlight, and time since last catastrophic change -- particularly fire -- play key roles in shaping the biological diversity of a forest.

A look at the canopy above will give a clue to the why of a wood's undergrowth: thick, shrubby underbrush crowds the forest edges and sunlit gaps; the deep shadows beneath denser or older forests are more open.

Rain drops falling from rising clouds bounce and drip through the forest to settle and be soaked up by the duff-rich soil. The fluffy organic material and mat of plant roots help hold soil as the water begins to flow above and below the ground.

The forest is always changing: Flashing, quick fires clean the forest’s ground and ladder fuels while stand-replacing fires burn large swaths. Epidemics of insects or disease include those spread by human activity. From logging to landslides to floods, a range of small and catastrophic events influence forest communities. Such events may even reset the succession from one stage to another, diversifying the patchwork of the whole forest.

While it is the vast blankets of trees that catch our eyes, these diverse forests are also home to many hidden wonders. Fungi thrive in partnership with green plants, wildflowers bloom in the shadows, salamanders hunt in seeps, bats sleep under loose bark. People are in the forest too, harvesting timber, hiking, picking berries, taking photographs, and enjoying the teeming life.

Hike forest trails to examine the various communities of forest life. Plants, and wildlife abound in these woods. For the best interactions with wildlife, plan your trip for the early morning, or just before dusk.

Transition forests of alder and Douglas fir protect watersheds by providing shade and stabilizing soil.