Photo: Oregon State Parks
Ecola State Park is closed until further notice due to a damaged section of the park’s sole entrance road.
The affected section, an old repair made from compacted gravel, was damaged again over the weekend by the sliding hillside beneath the road. Efforts to shore up the section failed, and the gravel surface became uneven and unsafe.
The sliding hillside also disconnected the park’s main water line, which shut off running water in the park.
Ben Cox, park manager, says the closure length is unknown at this time.
“We’re still evaluating the extent of the road damage and forming a plan for repairs,” said Cox. “The land may continue to slide too, so we’re being cautious.”
The park is closed south of Indian Beach Day-use Area.
Park rangers discovered a roughly 100-foot section of the Crescent Beach Trail had slid over the cliff. The hillside may still be susceptible to slides; park rangers will continue to monitor the trail and entrance road over the next several days.
Visitors may still access the park’s Indian Beach Day-use Area via the Tillamook Head Trail, but cannot travel farther south into the park. View a PDF map of Ecola State Park.
Source: Oregon State Parks