The flat area around you in the day use area has been formed over eons by the flooding of Big Creek (and the occasional tsunami) which laid sediment in this small valley.
Salt water has shaped this landscape as well. Millions of years ago most of Oregon was under water and had a thick, sandy sea floor. Part of this sea floor was pushed up and became the Coast Mountain Range, which is sedimentary rock that was uplifted 12 million years ago. Sea waves continually carve the nearby cliffs that are made up of sandstone laid down by the sea 45 million years ago.
Of interest here are the nearby cliffs. Notice, as you look out toward the ocean, that the surrounding cliff tops are level. The reason for this is that the tilted layers of sandstone were worn flat by the ocean when the sea level was higher and the land was lower—between 80,000 and 100,000 years ago. Such wave cut terraces are common along the Oregon Coast Trail.
While here:
- Estimate the distance across for the opening into the inlet in front of you.
- There is a small island seen through the mouth of the inlet. Is its top flat or rounded? Why do you think that is?
- And, to prevent armchair caching, there are two identical field games in front of you at this location: describe the soil that they are played on
The erosion of the Oregon shoreline is still very active, making the cliffs undercut and unstable. Please stay back from them.