Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

| Hiking in the Oregon Dunes Day Use Area | Three Off Road Vehicles on the Sand | Two people riding horses in the ocean | The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is a special place. One of the largest expanses of temperate coastal sand dunes in the world, the stark, mist-shrouded views of dunes, forests, and ocean in such close proximity to one another are rare and hauntingly beautiful. Many plants and animals, including some found in few other places, call this area home. In 1972, Congress designated this 31,500-acre portion of the Siuslaw National Forest as a National Recreation Area in recognition of its unique values. Learn more about the geology of the dunes here. Adventure and solitude await! Among the tree islands, open dunes, wetlands, and beaches you will find Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) riding (experience it with Google Trekker), hiking, paddling, wildlife viewing, birding, camping, picnicking, sand play - the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area has it all. PloverLove Graphic4 Be a Friend to Snowy Plovers! Share the Beach March 15 – September 15 During snowy plover nesting season (March 15 - September 15) we coordinate with Oregon State parks and beachgoers to protect these threatened birds during a very sensitive time. By following nesting season restrictions and sharing the beach, you can help ensure plover chicks survive to adulthood. Dunes areas from north to south South Jetty : South Jetty provides day use access to beach and dunes, with separate areas for OHV and non motorized use. Siltcoos : Along the Siltcoos River are traditional campgrounds and easy trails along the river and to the beach. OHV users will find developed and dispersed camping opportunities. Oregon Dunes Day Use : Miles from OHV recreation, this area provides exceptional opportunities to explore the dunes on foot. Tahkenitch : With easy access off Hwy 101, traditional campgrounds provide lake access for boaters and dune access for hikers only. Saving the Oregon Dunes In 2014, the Siuslaw National Forest convened a group of stakeholders concerned about the threat to the dunes ecosystem and recreational opportunities due to the rapid spread of invasive species. The Oregon Dunes Restoration Collaborative has since developed a strategy for how to restore the dunes. In 2018, in an effort to raise public awareness, the group released this strategy as a coffee-table book along with a digital version on their companion website, SaveOregonDunes.org. More information on the strategy and what the Forest Service is doing to restore this special place can be found here.