HIGHWAY 103
Highway 103, the Fishhawk Falls Highway is a nine mile long road that joins Hwy 26 to Highway 202, the Nehalem River Highway. This pair of highways is the "shortcut" from the Sunset Highway to Astoria. Use the Jewell exit from Hwy 26. The miles are shorter, but the narrow, winding road, with frequent damage can be challenging. It's great for driving slowly to view the scenery. Hwy 103 travels through the Nehalem River Valley makes a big jog at Pope Corner; crosses Cow Creek and heads into the former town of Vine Maple, crosses the Nehalem River, turns a sharp corner around Tideport, and continues on through downtown Jewell. Just north of Jewell it crosses the Nehalem again and joins Hwy 202.

HIGHWAY 202
Shortly after you pass through Jewell, Hwy 103 ends at the junction with Hwy 202.

Turn right to go through the valley of the Nehalem to Vesper, Birkenfeld, and to Mist where you can take Hwy 47 to Clatskanie on Hwy 30.

Turn left on Hwy 202 to go to Astoria.

On the way to Astoria you will pass the Jewell Elk Refuge and move from populated areas to wilderness areas of forest. You will go over a Coast Range mountain pass traveling through an area that feels almost as remote as a high mountain range. This is the place to slow down and enjoy the wilderness. The highway bounds the Clatsop State Forest for a large portion of this stretch.

VINE MAPLE
In the early days the town was called Mishawawka, probably the Indian name for the area. The current name came from the Post Office operated in the area from May, 1891 to May, 1902. Vine Maple is located just a few miles north of Hwy 26 (use the Jewell exit) in the Nehalem River Valley. The area around Vine Maple is mostly rural homes and dairy farms. The Elsie-Vine Maple Rural Fire Department is well-known for its rescues on Highway 26.

NORTHRUP CREEK HORSE CAMP
This special campground was designed for people to camp with horses. There are 8 tent or trailer sites with parking for horse trailers, a picnic area with a large parking lot, water, a corral, manure, bins, and vault toilets. There are 3 tent sites without horse facilities. The picnic area is situated at the trailhead for a network of horse trails through the area.

The campground is located east of Jewell on Hwy 202 near milepost 35, 4 miles north on Northrup Creek Road.

JEWELL
Jewell is a state of mind as well as a location. This tiny town in the middle of nowhere has its own K-12 school district supported by its own timber revenues, which insulates it from the vagaries of state financing. The most noticeable structure when you drive through the town is the school. An independent spirit is a hallmark of the residents. This is the place for people who want to get away from the strictures of city life, and have the freedom to be themselves, grow a garden, raise a few animals, and be a part of a community

Jewell was named in 1874 by its first Postmaster, W.H. Kirkpatrick, for the Postmaster General, Marshall Jewell. It is located almost 9 miles from Hwy 26. With easy access to Portland and Seaside, this is a populated rural area that has traditionally depended on dairy farming and logging for employment.

Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area and Jewell Elk Refuge
The highlight of a trip on Hwy 202 is seeing the Jewell Elk Refuge, which is managed by the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. The meadows on the south side of the road have parking and a picnic area where you can stop to spend time watching the elk and taking photos. Winter is a good time to see elk, because at times when forage is scarce the elk are fed here. They know a good thing and take advantage of it. This regular destination for local family outings is 22 miles east of Astoria.

LEE WOODEN COUNTY PARK
This is one of the secrets of Clatsop County. Located at milepost 25, five miles west of Jewell, the park was named for a Jewell homesteader. Watch for the sign, or it will take you by surprise. When you drive into the park you will find yourself in the midst of the forest with Fishhawk Creek burbling past the parking area. Take the stairs down to lush greenery, cross the footbridge over tiny rivulets flowing down from below the highway, and there in front of you is Fishhawk Falls. This is the perfect location for a photo, or step onto a sandbar in the creek for a different view. Notice the basalt flow visible at the falls; it is part of one of the longest on earth.

You will understand why local people have weddings at the site, even though the picnic tables look like they are fading back into the forest and there are no facilities.

KLASKANIE HATCHERY
Located 17 miles west of Jewell and 12 miles east of Astoria on the Klaskanine River, the hatchery raises Chinook salmon and steelhead (rainbow trout that spend part of their life in the ocean). The fish are raised to be planted in Youngs Bay near Astoria. The salmon and steelhead in the river are mainly from the hatcheries. The river empties into the Yourngs River and thence to Youngs Bay. The best time to see Chinook salmon adults is in September and October when they are spawning in the holding ponds. Steelhead generally spawn in late winter. This hatchery, in the general Olney area, is located upstream of Sigfridson County Park.

SIGFRIDSON COUNTY PARK
Located at milepost 11 near Olney, this park exists because local residents raised a large portion of the funds to option the property. They wanted to maintain access to the North Fork Klaskanine River for fishing. Spurred by the local residents, the county purchased the old Sigfridson Farm in 1969 and created a park. The park is used for picnics in the summer, but it is heavily used during the winter steelhead season and the summer trout season. Chinook are available from late to July to December, with the best run usually in September. The steelhead run is from November to February, with the peak in December. Sometimes Coho salmon are found in the river. Located downstream of the Klaskanine Fish Hatchery, the park is known for its excellent fishing.

When you find yourself in a more populated region, you will have found the town of Olney

OLNEY
The town of Olney was named for Cyrus Olney. He practiced law in Ohio then served as a circuit court judge in Iowa before moving to Oregon in 1851. President Pierce appointed him to the Supreme Court of the Oregon Territory where he served Clatsop, Clackamas, Washington, and Yamhill Counties until 1858. He served as a private in the Indian wars in 1855, was a state senator in 1866, and served in the House of Representatives in 1870. He had a donation land claim on Clatsop Plains and bought one in Astoria that covered 1st-13th Streets. Judge Olney died in Astoria in 1870 and is buried in the Astoria Pioneer Cemetery.

Olney is a rural community with a special personality. It used to be a large logging community, and even had a hotel. Olney had electricity as early as 1937. Most residents have lived here a long time (descendents of loggers live here), and family members who move away still think of it as home. Neighbors know each other, and there is a sense of community. The annual pit-barbequed beef dinner is community event that welcomes people from the surrounding area.

The tiny town has a Grange Hall; an old Community Church; the Olney Mill, which makes alder 2x4's; and next to the mill, the former school building, The only store in Olney is housed in an old-fashioned general store with worn wooden floors, assorted goods, and the surprise of an attached house turned into a popular restaurant and bar with a pool table. Stop by for a sandwich at the fast-food counter and you will meet a constant stream of friendly neighbors with the same idea.

The Olney climate is a little warmer in summer and colder in winter than areas closer to the coast, and there are more sunny days. This makes the area a good place for gardeners. Most parcels are 5 acres, so there is plenty of room for a garden, and many people raise chickens, cows, sheep, or horses. Because this was a logging area, you can still find old growth tree stumps with spring board slots on many properties. Since neighbors can be a half mile or more away, there is privacy, and wildlife abounds. With the nearby Klaskanine River and mountains, the area is peaceful and feels like a different world. It is the perfect, nightly retreat for professionals who work in Astoria.

The Wildlife Center of the North Coast, a non-profit center that rescues and rehabilitates all kinds of wildlife, is located near Olney. It is the only hospital on the central and north coasts that cares for native wild birds and animals. The Center exists because of the dream of its director, Sharnelle Fee, who purchased the property and created the center with her life savings. The Center is run on donations and with the dedicated help of volunteers. One of the volunteers could be you.

HIGHWAY 202
From Olney to Astoria, the area becomes more populated, and there are many homes along the highway: old farmhouses, bungalows, and new homes. If you want to live in the country, but still close to town, the area west of Olney has many opportunities to find just the right home.

ARCHERY RANGE
On State Forest land east of Astoria on Hwy 202, less than a mile south of the Oregon State Forestry headquarters, is an archery range maintained by the Saddle Mt. Archers Club. Cross the Wallooskee River Bridge, pass Riverpoint Drive, and shortly after, turn north on Christian?s Road. Drive about a mile to reach this forest range. The Saddle Mt. Archers Club sets up targets, holds shoots, and maintains the range.

WALLUSKI LOOP
Three and a half miles east of Astoria is a pretty area to the east of Hwy 202. The road circles around a Clatsop forest area through the Wallooskee River Valley. It is a farming area with a large horse stable and the Clatsop County Fairgrounds. The road rejoins Hwy 202 at the Oregon State Forestry Department office

Riverpoint is located on the site of the old Navy Hospital, on the west side of Hwy 202, opposite the Walluski area. It is a new development of custom homes on a point of land where the Wallooskee River empties into the Youngs River. Imagine the views: mountains, river, bay, Astoria hillsides.

C. J. REED ARBORETUM
The C. J. Reed Arboretum was started in 1967 and has been maintained by district staff. It was revamped in 2006 with the addition of more native trees and shrubs. Visitors can walk along a 1/5 mile path to see the plants with identifying markers.

ASTORIA DEMONSTRATION FOREST
The Astoria Demonstration Forest was opened to the public in 2006 to give visitors an example of an ecologically sound native forest. Planted in 1993, the forest demonstrates and explains standard forest management practices. The seven acre site has gravel paths that make it a popular site for walking.

HIGHWAY 202
As you approach Astoria, suddenly, vistas of water and sky open up, as the highway skirts Youngs Bay and becomes Olney Avenue. This approach to Astoria takes you into its residential area with Bay views. You can circle to the left along the Bay and past the Astoria High School and to the roundabout. From the roundabout you can go south to Hwy 101 or north toward the commercial sector of Astoria.

Your other choice is to turn right on 7th Street, go up the hill past a nice neighborhood with a mixture of older and newer houses, turn right on Niagara, and a block later, turn left on 8th Street. (No one visiting Astoria should miss 8th Street!) This will take you toward the Flavel House, the Clatsop County Court House, and into Downtown (on your right).

Instead of turning down 8th Street, you can continue on Niagara to 15th Street and follow the signs to the Astoria Column.