{"id":554,"date":"2020-03-16T18:16:23","date_gmt":"2020-03-16T15:16:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/100steps.info\/?p=554"},"modified":"2020-03-16T18:16:23","modified_gmt":"2020-03-16T15:16:23","slug":"muriel-o-ponsler-memorial-state-scenic-viewpoint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thisamericandream.com\/muriel-o-ponsler-memorial-state-scenic-viewpoint\/","title":{"rendered":"Muriel O. Ponsler Memorial State Scenic Viewpoint"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Although the sign names this beach turn out between Florence and Yachats a wayside, Oregon State Parks calls it Muriel O. Ponsler Memorial State Scenic Viewpoint. The State Park designation must have changed at some point between its inception in 1939 and the present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While working on this write up, I asked the natural question: Who was Muriel O. Ponsler? According to a plaque on site, the park is named for a loved one of Jack C. Ponsler, who donated the land to the State Parks in dedication to his wife Muriel after her death. That\u2019s certainly interesting\u2026but I wanted to know more.\u00a0 So much so, I ended up researching her and writing a separate article on the topic:\u00a0Muriel O. Ponsler: The Woman Behind the Wayside<\/a>.\u00a0 If you, too, want to know more about her, the article will likely satiate your curiosity (and then some!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See\u00a0Beach Roundup: Between Florence and Yachats<\/a>\u00a0for a summary of beaches in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

View picnic table<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

50 Steps<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"muriel-o-ponsler-memorial-state-scenic-viewpoint-3420431\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

A path-side picnic table allows lunching with the sea and shore in view. Slightly elevated above sea level, with no fence to obscure the panorama, this is a fantastic spot to rest after strolling the lengthy stretch of beach. If your goal is a short walk, the table is also a lovely destination on its own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Terrain:\u00a0Gravel path, slight descent. Grass from path to table.<\/td><\/tr>
Seating: Picnic table<\/td><\/tr>
Fee: No fee<\/td><\/tr>
Restrooms: No<\/td><\/tr>
Directions:\u00a0The marked turn off is on Highway 101 14 miles north of Florence and 11 miles south of Yachats, between\u00a0Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Ocean Beach Picnic Area<\/a>. The picnic table is visible from the parking lot.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Beach<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

75 Steps<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The beaches of Muriel O. Ponsler Memorial State Scenic Viewpoint and\u00a0Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park<\/a>\u00a0to the south are really a single expanse of about three miles of sand, separated only by one or more (depending on the time of year and rainfall) creek runoffs to the sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk to the beach\u2019s edge at Ponsler is shorter than at Washburne, but the end of the path hits a wide swath of stones littered with logs and other tree debris. If you can get yourself past the stones to the open sand, it is a beautiful beach to stroll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If negotiating the rocks and debris pose too much of a challenge, head down the road to Washburne \u2013 you\u2019ll likely see more people, but that\u2019s a small price to pay for safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Terrain:\u00a0Gravel path, slight descent which gradually gets steeper and deteriorates to dirt drop off into a bed of stones and assorted logs.<\/td><\/tr>
Seating: No, unless you find suitable beach debris.<\/td><\/tr>
Fee: No fee<\/td><\/tr>
Restrooms: No<\/td><\/tr>
Directions:\u00a0The marked turn off is on Highway 101 14 miles north of Florence and 11 miles south of Yachats, between\u00a0Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Ocean Beach Picnic Area<\/a>. The path to the beach is visible from the parking lot.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n