Since its inception more than half a century ago, a hiking trail connecting Corvallis with the central Oregon coast faced a nagging obstacle — the lack of ready permission from the dozen or so private property owners whose land the trail absolutely relied on to complete its 60-mile-long journey.
Now, the formally named Corvallis-to-the-Sea Trail is facing just such a threat. A land-ownership change this year prompted new owners to post “No Trespassing” signs blocking a critical, one-mile stretch of the trail five miles inland from its Ona Beach terminus north of Seal Rock.
Both sides say discussions are ongoing, but an easy resolution doesn’t appear in the offing, especially given the complexity rerouting the trail would require…