CANNON BEACH – Awaken your sense of observation Saturday at Hug Point State Park during a free natural history symposium sponsored by the North Coast Land Observancy.

“Walking into the Past: the submarine delta of the Miocene Columbia River” will highlight the unique geography, geology and history of the sea cliffs and beach at the park. The event is appropriate for all ages and families are welcome. The tour will start at 9 a.m. Saturday from the parking lot at Hug Point State Park off U.S. Highway 101 between Cannon Beach and Arch Cape. The tour will last until 11:30 a.m. and participants should expect to walk about one-half mile.

The hands-on tour will explore sea caves, shifting sands, gigantic lava flows, tide pools, waterfalls, marine gardens and petrified logs. Special emphasis will be placed on the depositional environment and origins of the Angora Peak sandstone cliffs and the Columbia River basalts that invaded the sands about 15 million years ago.

The 21/2-hour walking tour will be led by Dr. Alan Niem, professor emeritus of sedimentation and stratigraphy at Oregon State University. Local geologists Tom Horning and Paul See will co-lead the walk.

“There are geological stories behind everything we do,” Horning said. “It’s like telling fables, in a way: if you do this, this will happen. The past is the key to the future. It helps us make all the decisions in our daily lives.”

People who attend the symposium will gain understanding about the dynamic history of the Northern Oregon Coast and how the mountains were formed and uplifted. Leaders will also discuss the course of the ancient Columbia River.

Niem has investigated the complex sedimentary and volcanic rocks and faulting of the Coast Range and Olympic Mountains for 30 years. He has extensively studied the sea floor geology on U.S. Geological Survey seismic cruises and dived in the Delta two-man submarine to study the continental shelf off Seaside.

If history is more your style, you won’t want to miss the information provided by See about a shipwreck at Hug Point in approximately 1770. “We’re all naturalists because we live in nature,” Horning said. “I think sometimes we take it for granted because we see it so frequently. This is about bringing the wonder of nature back to the public. And it’s always more fun when you’re outside. You get to see the unexpected.”

Most of the hike is easy going, on flat surfaces, although there is a moderately sloped trail from the parking lot to the beach. The event is not wheelchair accessible. Organizers suggest people dress for beach hikes and the weather. Snacks and water will be provided.

For information, call 738-3738.