Humbug Mountain
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Humbug Mountain is one of the highest mountains in the U.S. state of Oregon to rise directly from the Pacific Ocean. It lies on the state's southern coast, about Template:Convert south of Port Orford and Template:Convert north of Gold Beach. The mountain is completely within Humbug Mountain State Park, and U.S. Route 101 passes by its northern base.<ref name="Brochure">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="State Parks">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Moon">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Canine">Template:Cite book</ref> Its slopes feature an old-growth temperate rainforest.<ref name="GORP">Template:Cite web</ref> Two trails run from the state park campground to the mountain's summit, one Template:Convert long, the other Template:Convert long. Both are part of the much longer Oregon Coast Trail.<ref name="Brochure"/><ref name="State Parks"/><ref name="Moon"/> The area is popular with hikers, campers, cyclists, and whale watchers although biking and camping on the mountain itself are prohibited.<ref name="Brochure"/><ref name="GORP"/><ref name="Insider">Template:Cite book</ref>
Geology
Humbug Mountain was created about 130 million years ago, in the early Cretaceous period.<ref name="Geology">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Geology2">Template:Cite book</ref> It was formed when islands in the Klamath microcontinent collided, uplifting primordial mountains composed of mostly sandstone. Ancient rivers eroded these mountains, and the sediment and sandstone was deposited on the seashore. Then, the microcontinent collided with the North American continent, uplifting Humbug Mountain in the process. Near the summit, rock outcrops of granite and sandstone can still be found.<ref name="Geology"/>
The mountain now stands Template:Convert above sea level, and is one of the highest mountains in Oregon to rise directly from the ocean. It is considered a headland.<ref name="Brochure"/><ref name="State Parks"/><ref name="Moon"/>
History
Humbug Mountain was originally known as Me-tus by the indigenous Tututni people.<ref name=OGN>Template:Cite ogn</ref><ref name="A to Z">Template:Cite book</ref> When American settlers located the mountain, they initially named it Sugarloaf Mountain. In 1851 it began to be called Tichenor's Humbug when an exploring party sent by Captain William V. Tichenor, founder of Port Orford, got lost and headed north of the port instead of south.<ref name=OGN/> Tichenor stated that the name was chosen "to palliate their gross failure."<ref name=SOS>Template:Cite web</ref> Since that time, Tichenor's Humbug came to be known as Humbug Mountain.<ref name=OGN/><ref name="A to Z"/> The mountain has also been called Mount Franklin.<ref name="Pilot">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Oregon 1859">Template:Cite book</ref>
In 1934 the Civilian Conservation Corps built the first trail to the summit, however, it was destroyed in the 1962 Columbus Day Storm. An alternate trail was used until the original was reopened in 1993.<ref name="State Parks"/><ref name="Geology"/><ref name="Kids">Template:Cite book</ref>
Flora and fauna
Many types of plants inhabit Humbug Mountain. The most common types of trees include tanoak, Douglas fir, big-leaf maple, Port Orford cedar, and Oregon myrtle.<ref name="State Parks"/><ref name="Moon"/><ref name="Geology"/><ref name="Kids"/> Spruce, alder, and western red cedar can also be found.<ref name="Guide">Template:Cite journal</ref> Smaller plants such as maidenhair ferns, wild rhododendrons, and vanilla leaf are abundant in the area.<ref name="State Parks"/><ref name="Moon"/><ref name="Geology"/><ref name="Kids"/> Wildflowers such as Columbia lilies, trilliums, and bleeding hearts grow in the spring.<ref name="State Parks"/><ref name="GORP"/><ref name="Geology"/> Currant, elderberries, blackberries, thimbleberries, huckleberries, and salmonberries are some of the many berries that grow on the mountain.<ref name="GORP"/>
Birds such as varied thrushes and chickadees live on Humbug Mountain. Douglas squirrels and black-tailed deer are among the numerous mammals that inhabit the mountain.<ref name="GORP"/>
There are many tide pools in the intertidal zone at the base of the mountain. Organisms such as jellyfish, littleneck clams, sunflower starfish, and many others can be found in these pools.<ref name="State Parks"/><ref name="Exploring">Template:Cite book</ref> Gray whales can sometimes be seen migrating along the coast,<ref name="GORP"/> and more rarely, humpback whales are spotted.<ref name="State Parks"/>
Trails
Many trails have been built on Humbug Mountain. The Humbug Mountain Trail climbs Template:Convert to the summit.<ref name="Canine"/> The trailhead is located in the campground at Humbug Mountain State Park.<ref name="Brochure"/><ref name="State Parks"/><ref name="GORP"/><ref name="Geology"/><ref name="Kids"/> After going through a tunnel under U.S. Route 101, the trail leads through the old-growth temperate rainforest on the mountain.<ref name="State Parks"/><ref name="GORP"/><ref name="Geology"/><ref name="Kids"/><ref name="Beautiful">Template:Cite book</ref> It has several switchbacks.<ref name="Brochure"/><ref name="State Parks"/><ref name="Geology"/> The trail then forks about Template:Convert in. The trail to the west was originally built in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, but was washed out in the Columbus Day Storm of 1962. An alternate trail was built, which now forms a loop with the original trail. The original trail was rebuilt in 1993.<ref name="State Parks"/><ref name="Kids"/> Overall, the original trail is approximately Template:Convert long, while the alternate trail is Template:Convert long, for a round trip of Template:Convert.<ref name="Brochure"/><ref name="State Parks"/><ref name="Geology"/><ref name="Kids"/> Both trails are part of the much longer Oregon Coast Trail.<ref name="Brochure"/><ref name="State Parks"/>
Another trail leads from the campground, under the highway, to a Template:Convert long beach on the north side of the mountain.<ref name="State Parks"/><ref name="Insider"/><ref name="Beautiful"/><ref name="Sunset">Template:Cite book</ref>
A fourth trail, named Recreation Trail, follows the path of the Old Coast Highway. It is approximately Template:Convert long, and crosses nearby Brush Creek seventeen times. The trail has many views of the Pacific Ocean. It eventually merges with U.S. Route 101.<ref name="State Parks"/><ref name="GORP"/><ref name="A to Z"/><ref name="Exploring"/><ref name="Dogs">Template:Cite book</ref>
Recreation
Nature study, wildlife viewing, camping, and whale watching are popular activities around the mountain.<ref name="Brochure"/><ref name="GORP"/> Hiking and cycling are also very popular on the trails in the area.<ref name="Brochure"/> Beachcombers, windsurfers, and scuba divers can be found on the beach and in the deep water near the mountain.<ref name="GORP"/><ref name="Insider"/>
Humbug Mountain State Park, which includes all of Humbug Mountain, features a campground with over 100 campsites.<ref name="Brochure"/><ref name="State Parks"/><ref name="A to Z"/> The campground is located between Brush Creek and the beach. It has amenities such as showers, flush toilets, a hiker/biker camp, and an amphitheater. There are also picnic tables in the day-use section, Template:Convert south of the main campground.<ref name="Brochure"/><ref name="State Parks"/><ref name="Biking">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Day Hiking">Template:Cite book</ref>