Shore Acres has hikes along scenic seashore bluffs and formal gardens that, between Thanksgiving and New Years is decked out with over 200,000 lights. The area is rich in history (
http://www.geocities.com/rscarpen/Lb/US/OR/ShoreAcres/history.html), and well worth the visit if you're in the area. There is a small day-use fee at the place.
Directions
To drive there, from Highway 101 in Coos Bay, follow "Shore Acres" signs 9 miles to Charleston, and then continue straight 4 more miles. The Shore Acres entrance is about a mile past Sunset Bay State Park. If you want to avoid the day-use fee, continue past the park about a mile to a pullout and hike into Shore Acres. The trailhead for this well-defined, level trail begins on the paved road just before the pullout.
Clue
Behind the observation building, there's a stone wall to help prevent people from falling into the ocean. Follow this wall south. It'll curve and turn and wind its way through a forest. The wall will become a wooden fence, then a wooden fence with chain-link stapled onto it, and finally just an old-fashioned chain-link fence. Keep following this fence through the shrubbery, over trees that have fallen onto the fence and crushing it, all the way the end.
Now turn around and look back along the fence. It's pretty straight for a short ways until it curves suddenly. Walk back to the post that marks this first turn in the fence, and the letterbox is hidden under debris behind the pole. You'll have to stick your hand under the fence to nab the letterbox behind the pole, but rest assured, you've found the final resting place for this letterbox.
Stamp in and please return the letterbox, well-hidden from view.
Hike Length: 0.3 miles
