It's A Short, Easy Stroll To The 300-Year-Old Cathedral Tree In Oregon
By Catherine Armstrong|Published July 19, 2020
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Catherine Armstrong
Author
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
Astoria is one of Oregon’s most charming towns, and it’s well-know for many things: as the oldest town in the state, as the place where the movie The Goonies was shot, and as home to the Astoria-Megler bridge, which is the longest continuous truss bridge it the country.
There’s another amazing thing to see here in Astoria, and it’s a natural wonder. Take a short, easy trail to see the Cathedral Tree.
Irving Avenue Trailhead: 2800 Irving Avenue, Astoria, OR 97103
To see the Cathedral Tree, start at the Irving Avenue Trailhead.
Watch for this white fence to find the Richard Fencsak Cathedral Trail. Mr. Fencsak was a beloved member of the community who ran the local bike shop and wrote as a food critic for The Daily Astorian.
Along the way, watch for little signs that point out different trees, plants, and points of interest. This area was once home to many more centuries-old trees.
In 2007, a violent wind storm knocked down many of the trees in this little forest, but the Cathedral Tree held its ground. It's not only a beautiful natural wonder; it's also a hardy survivor.
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Once you visit the tree, you can return the way you came, or backtrack about 40 feet down the boardwalk to a junction that will eventually lead you back down to Irving Avenue.
Along the way, you'll enjoy a stunning view of the Columbia River and the Astoria-Megler Bridge, and you can visit the Astoria Column before returning to the trailhead. The entire lollipop trail is three miles.
Have you taken the Cathedral Tree Trail? Tell us about your adventure in the comments!
