Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
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Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
Mr. Sandman, Bring Me a Dune
Location: Reedsport, Oregon, U.S.A.
Adrenaline Adventures > Staying Grounded > Unconventional Undertakings
Information: Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area 855 Highway Ave., Reedsport ☎ 541/271-3611; www.fs.fed.us/r6/siuslaw
Tours: Sand Dunes Frontier ☎ 541/997-5363; www.sanddunesfrontier.com Sandland Adventures ☎ 541/997-8087; www.sandland.com
When to go: Apr–Oct.
Airport: Eugene, OR (82 miles/132km).
Lodging: Winchester Bay Inn 1 star 390 Broadway Ave., Winchester Bay ☎ 541/271-4871; www.winbayinn.com Salmon Harbor Landing 2 stars 265 8th St., Winchester Bay ☎ 541/271-3742; www.salmonharborlanding.com
Tours: Sand Dunes Frontier ☎ 541/997-5363; www.sanddunesfrontier.com Sandland Adventures ☎ 541/997-8087; www.sandland.com
When to go: Apr–Oct.
Airport: Eugene, OR (82 miles/132km).
Lodging: Winchester Bay Inn 1 star 390 Broadway Ave., Winchester Bay ☎ 541/271-4871; www.winbayinn.com Salmon Harbor Landing 2 stars 265 8th St., Winchester Bay ☎ 541/271-3742; www.salmonharborlanding.com
Some folks like driving the wide-open road, but if you'd rather drive where there's no road at all, you're going to loveOregon Dunes National Recreation Area. The area has more than 32,000 acres (12,950 hectares) of stunning wilderness right on the Pacific coast, stretching for 40 miles (64km) from one end to the other, and much of that is open for off-road adventures. Whether you choose to bring your own all-terrain vehicle (ATV), rent one from a local shop, or take a tour on a dune buggy, there's nothing like the thrill of the wind whipping through your hair as you fly across miles and miles of the largest expanse of coastal sand dunes in all of North America.
The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is part of Siuslaw National Forest (www.fs.fed.us/r6/siuslaw) and is contiguous to Honeyman State Park (www.oregonstateparks.org/park_134.php). Visitors can find up-to-date information on off-road access and other news at the Visitors Center in Reedsport, or through a number of local stores catering to the ATV crowd. Be aware that there are decibel limits on vehicles (currently set at 93 db), and not all quarters of the dunes are open to off-road vehicles. The three main areas for off-roading are the Florence area between South Jetty and the Siltcoos River, the dunes between Spinreel and Horsfall, and the big, dramatic dunes in the Umpqua riding area.
These spectacular sand dunes are as high as 500 feet (150m) in some places, and there are some wildly steep drops and sharply angled dune crests for catching some serious air. Most tour operators and rental shops will emphasize the importance of safety—a number of recent crashes have filled up local hospital emergency rooms, which are not the place you want to end your vacation (or your life).
If, after sailing over dunes at breakneck speeds, you're looking for a slower or quieter pastime, the region has plenty to offer. An extensive trail network takes hikers through dense forests of Douglas fir and Sitka spruce, and dozens of lakes and ponds beckon water-skiers, canoeists, sailors, and fishermen. Horseback riding, beachcombing, and camping round out the activities available in this adventure-lovers mecca.
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Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
Wikipedia on Answers.com:
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Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
| Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area | |
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IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
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| Location | Oregon, USA |
| Nearest city | North Bend, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 43°43′27″N 124°10′39″W / 43.72417°N 124.1775°WCoordinates: 43°43′27″N 124°10′39″W / 43.72417°N 124.1775°W |
| Area | 31,566 acres (12,774 ha)[1] |
| Established | March 23, 1972 |
| Visitors | roughly 1,500,000 (in 2005) |
| Governing body | United States Forest Service |
The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (or NRA) is located on the Oregon Coast, stretching approximately 40 miles north from the Coos River in North Bend, to the Siuslaw River, in Florence. The NRA is part of Siuslaw National Forest and is administered by the United States Forest Service. The dunes adjoin Honeyman State Park.
The Oregon Dunes are a unique area of windswept sand that is the result of millions of years of wind, sun, and rain erosion on the Oregon Coast. These are the largest expanse of coastal sand dunes in North America. Some dunes tower up to 150 meters above sea level, providing numerous recreational opportunities including off-road vehicle use, hiking, photography, fishing, canoeing, horseback riding, and camping. The Carter Dunes Trail and Oregon Dunes Day Use provide disabled access for forest visitors.
In 1963, Congressman Robert B. Duncan introduced a bill to establish a National Park at the Oregon Dunes. It passed the Senate Interior Committee unanimously. Senator Wayne Morse opposed provisions of the bill that would have interfered with property owners' rights.[2]
Author Frank Herbert was inspired (in part) to write the famous science fiction novel Dune based on his research about the dunes of this area.[3]
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References
- ^ "Land Areas of the National Forest System". http://www.fs.fed.us/land/staff/lar/LAR2011/LAR2011_Book_A5.pdf. Retrieved 2012-04-22.
- ^ "Solons pass Dunes bill". The Oregonian. November 22, 1963.
- ^ The Road to Dune (2005), p. 264, letter by Frank Herbert to his agent Lurton Blassingame outlining "They Stopped the Moving Sands."
External links
- Official Forest Service Site
- Oregon Dunes Guide
- Coos Bay Dune Guide
- Florence Dune Guide
- Winchester Bay Dune Guide
- Coos Bay Trip Report
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