Oregon Dunes and Winchester Bay

Get up a group of your friends or go alone!

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North on highwy 101 out of Coos Bay, 39 miles to Winchester, Oregon. Allow about one hour riding time in each direction. There are plenty of things to stop and see however. This area can be cool even on a sunny day, so be sure to take adequate riding gear.

North From Coos Bay

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This ride takes you north from Coos Bay, past the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, to Winchester Bay.

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

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For nearly fifty miles, from the mouth of the Siuslaw, to Cape Blanco at Coos Bay, the largest area of dunes in the country lies between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountains. In places, the dunes extend 2.5 miles inland, and some are as high as 500 feet. In 1972, 32,186 acres of dunes, forest, streams, and lakes were set aside as the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.

Oregon Dunes

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Dune Buggies

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Dune buggies are available for rent.

Along the Shore

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Umpqua Lighthouse

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At the entrance to Winchester Bay and at the mouth of the Umpqua River, stands a sentinel of the ocean, casting its red and white beams of light some 20 miles out to sea. The 65-foot tower is situated on a hill 100 feet above sea level surrounded by US Coast Guard buildings and a Museum.
An earlier light structure, the first on the Oregon Coast, was built in 1857 on the south side of the river. It fell into the swollen water seven years later during a storm when the water eroded away the sand.
The current lighthouse was started in 1890 and was illuminated in 1894. It is the sister lighthouse to the one at Heceta Head just a few miles north of Florence. Both structures were built from the same plans.

Umpqua Lighthouse

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Umpqua River

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Jet Boating on the Umpqua River

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The Umpqua River ends at Winchester Bay. Jet Boating is a fun trip up the river.

http://jetboatodyssey.com/jet-boat-tour.htm

Winchester Bay Fishing

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Winchester is famous for fishing. If you want to give it a try, here is a link to some charter boat companies. (these are halibut) http://www.winchesterbayfishing.net/charters.htm

Directions to Winchester Bay

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Distance: 22.84 miles Time: 33 mins
Starting in COOS BAY, OR on W CENTRAL AVE go toward N 8TH ST
Turn Right on N 8TH ST - go 0.1 mi
Bear Left on 8TH TER - go 0.1 mi
Turn Right on N 10TH ST - go 0.6 mi
Make a Sharp Right Turn on KOOS BAY BLVD - go 0.3 mi
Turn Left on N BAYSHORE DR(US-101) - go 0.6 mi
Continue to follow US-101 - go 21.0 mi
Arrive at the center of WINCHESTER BAY, OR