Oregon Dunes

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area encompasses 31,500 acres along 40 miles of the Oregon coast within Siuslaw National Forest, stretching from Florence south to Coos Bay in Lane and Coos counties, one of the largest expanse of coastal sand dunes in North America and the most extensive OHV dune riding area in the Pacific Northwest. The dunes were designated by Congress in 1972 specifically to protect the dune ecosystem while providing managed recreation access, and the result is a carefully zoned landscape: vehicle use is permitted in approximately one-third of the total acreage (the open-sand and mixed-use areas), while ecological study areas and pedestrian-only zones protect deflation plains, wetlands, and the tree islands that characterize the Oregon coast dune ecosystem. Dunes reach up to 500 feet above sea level in the inland areas away from the immediate ocean margin. ATVs, off-road motorcycles, and dune buggies are permitted in the designated vehicle use areas; all vehicles must be licensed for the specific use zone they enter. Established campgrounds at Horsfall (Coos Bay area) and Spinreel provide the primary staging infrastructure, with parking, restrooms, and trailer access. The Oregon coast's marine climate gives the dunes a distinctly different riding character from desert dune systems: fog, rain, and moisture are common, wet sand compacts more firmly than dry desert sand, and summer temperatures stay mild enough for comfortable year-round riding. Contact the Oregon Dunes NRA office in Reedsport for current zone status and conditions (541-271-6000).