Located in Oregon’s Coast Range, approximately nine miles from Nehalem, the retreat stands on 22 acres near the confluence of two fresh water creeks fed by a spring water lake. The combined stream flows as Soapstone Creek for half of a mile through the property. The land is densely forested with cedar, Western hemlock, bigleaf maple, cascara, red alder, and Douglas fir. In spring wildflowers carpet the forest; in summer red huckleberry and elderberry bushes flower and fruit; in fall the red and burnt umber of vine maple and Oregon grape stand out against the many rich greens of fern and moss. We have cut out trails and a small meadow, but otherwise have left the property in its natural state.

The stream is a spawning ground for annual runs of wild salmon. During the fall and early winter, you can see coho, chinook and steelhead as they swim up Soapstone Creek to lay their eggs. You can watch the females create a redd (nest) with much splashing of their tails, and see the males chase one another away. Just downstream from the cabin, Soapstone Creek widens to form a swimming hole.

It is not unusual to see deer, coyote or beaver tracks or to hear the coyotes at night. Occasionally river otters have been spotted playing in the creek. Other animals that visit the land but are not likely to be seen are elk, mink, black bears, nutria, voles, ground squirrels, beavers, moles, raccoons, muskrats, skunks, shrews and chipmunks.

Many birds make their home here including kingfishers, woodpeckers, barred owls, and water ouzels; great blue herons, bald eagles and osprey are often seen.

Although you cannot see any other building from Soapstone, you are actually not far from several neighbors. It feels isolated and wild, but is not wilderness. It would be more accurate to describe it as “rural.”

The view above includes the Soapstone property seen from a hiking trail.

For those who would like to read more:
• about Soapstone Lake, the source for Soapstone Creek
• about the Salmon in Soapstone Creek