Boating

Devil's Lake State Recreation Area. Canoeing and kayaking are popular on this small lake just inland from the coast, also loved by coots, loons, ducks, cormorants, bald eagles, and grebes. Visitors can sign up in advance for popular kayaking tours in the summer, for which bird guides are provided. A campground has tent and RV sites as well as yurts. N.E. 6th St., just east of U.S. 101, Lincoln City, Oregon, 97368. 541/994–2002; 800/551–6949; www.oregonstateparks.org. Credit cards accepted. Daily.

Nature Conservancy Cascade Head Preserve and trail. This dense, green trail winds through a rain forest where 100-inch annual rainfalls nourish 250-year-old Sitka spruces, mosses, and ferns. Emerging from the forest, hikers come upon grassy and treeless Cascade Head, an undulating maritime prairie. There are magnificent views down to the Salmon River and east to the Coast Range. Continuing along the headland, black-tailed deer often graze and turkey vultures soar in the strong winds. You need to be in fairly good shape for the first and steepest part of the hike, which can be done in about an hour (it's a little over 4 miles round-trip). The 270-acre area has been named a United Nations Biosphere Reserve. Savage Rd. at Headland Circle, 9 miles north of Lincoln City via U.S. 101, Otis, Oregon, 97368. www.nature.org. Free. Upper trail closed Jan.–mid-July.