After spending the day at Cannon Beach, we headed to Indian Beach for sunset with some snacks and beers. It was the first time I had seen anyone surfing and it was mesmerizing to watch.

A lady was leaving with her family and offered us their fire pit which was much appreciated as it got darker. The beach is located in Ecola State Park and I’m excited to return to explore the trails next time!

The cabin we stayed at in Shawnee National Forest was a short drive from Garden of the Gods. The large boulders and hoodoos were formed from eroded sandstone by water in ancient times leaving an amazing outlook over the vast wilderness below. 

We watched the sunset here both nights of the weekend from the calm and windy bluffs. It’s a short walk to the overlook area but there’s a lot to climb on and explore. It had been about 10 years since I had been to Garden of the Gods and it was even more majestic than I remembered.

I would note that caution should be taken near the windy cliff edges, particularly if you have kids or it’s slippery out.