Curry County
Humbug Mountain State Park
Humbug Mountain State Park is on Highway 101, six miles south of Port Orford. If you are into geology, it will be important for you to know that the experts think that this mountain was formed in the Cretaceous period when the Klamath Microcontinent collided with the North American Continent creating the uplifting of sandstone and granite that William Tichenor, in 1851, named Humbug Mountain. Tichenor, the founder of Port Orford, had gotten lost and he and his men were disgusted, tired, and generally in a very bad mood, so the name Humbug seemed, at the time, to fit. The logic has always escaped me, but it is a catchy name and I kind of like it. Statisticians point out that, at 1,756 feet, it is the highest mountain in Oregon to rise directly from the sea, and although that is not very high as mountains go, the fact that this solitary chunk of rock comes straight up out of the ocean makes it a dramatic sight. If you are interested in diving in very cold water, the ocean at the base of Humbug will be of interest because it is one of the local deeps. There are some interesting trails on and around Humbug and a campground is located at it's base. If you are into horticulture you will be fascinated with the numerous varieties of plants and trees that grow on the mountain. It is, in reality, something of a rain forest. One cautionary note - if you are looking for a good view, don't bother with the trail to the summit. The forest is so thick that there is only one fairly good view half way up the trail. If you do make the hike, however, you will get local bragging rights. Any time any local talks about hiking, he or she is asked if they have ever been to the top of Humbug. Why, I don't know. It is not that challenging a trail.
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