Please do NOT post your answers in your log.
There is parking at GZ.
Face Rock and the other sea stacks and onshore rocks before you are considered some of the oldest rocks on the Oregon Coast. They are part of the erosion-resistant Jurassic Otter Point Formation. The Otter Point Formation consists of folded and sheared sandstone, mudstone, conglomerate, volcanic material, blocks of greenstone and blue schist, and some red chert. The volcanic material is considered some of the most erosion-resistant material of the Otter Point Formation. Some of the formation has undergone metamorphism. These rocks are believed to have once been part of an offshore island chain similar to the Hawaiian islands. It is believed that through plate tectonics the islands were jammed together repeatedly and accompanying volcanic activity welded them to each other creating the Klamath mirco continent. Eventually the Klamath mirco continent was carried along on the Pacific Plate to the subduction zone where it subducted and collided with the North American Plate. It is believed that because of their large size the rocks and sea stacks before you did not subduct.
According to Native American legend Face Rock is the face of a Native American girl that having never seen the ocean before decided to go for a moonlight swim and was never seen again. Now in rock form she gazes into the distance.
Puffins may be seen from spring to the end of July on Face Rock.
This earthcache does not require any hiking. Information boards at or near the parking lot will give you the full Native American legend behind Face Rock. Please do not post any spoiler pictures.
Please send a message with answers to the following questions:
1. Do all the rock formations in front of you have a similar shape? If not, describe their shapes.
2. What compass direction is the rock face profile of Face Rock gazing?
Information for this earthcache was gathered from the following sources:
Roadside Geology of Oregon by Marli B. Miller
In Search of Ancient Oregon by Ellen Morris Bishop
The Ore Bin, State of Oregon, Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Ernest H. Lund