Oregon Dunes.mp4

Surreal Sandscape

Hike to the Biggest Dunes at Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

It’s a stunning landscape that inspired the sci-fi classic Dune (and hence its recent blockbuster adaptation), but no special effects are needed to enhance the scenery of Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. This 42 miles of coastal bounty—sand, forest, rivers, and lakes—is both ethereal and surreal.

Hiker at Taylor Dunes in Oregon Dunes Recreation Area

John Dellenback Dunes is the largest of the dune-scapes here. There’s a 6-mile (round-trip) hike through forest and dunes, all the way out to the beach. But the most popular thing to do is to just play on the dunes! You can get to the biggest dune in less than a mile and climb it for a cinematic panorama all the way out to the sea on clear days. Go a bit later in the afternoon during winter and you may have the dunes all to yourself.

Hikers wandering the vast and wide John Dellenback dunes at Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

Log roll, stroll, leap for joy, and watch as the late-day sun glints off the golden dunes. If you decide to do the 6-mile (round-trip) hike out to the ocean, be careful on your timing: Hiking in the sand is slow going, and you have to follow sign-posts that can be difficult to see on foggy days. For a shorter hike through the forest and amid smaller yet lovely dunes and grasslands, head to Taylor Dunes for a 2.6-mile (out-and-back) journey that spills out at a vast beach.

Explore the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

Hikers at Beach after hiking through Taylor Dunes at Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

Go Guided! Ride the dunes and get epic views with the pro guides at Sand Dunes Frontier. Hop in a Dune Buggy for a thrilling ride over the dunes with huge views, or jump into one of their famous Big Purple Buggies for a scenic and interpretive ride with plenty of stops for pictures. You’ll definitely be smiling.

Stay: With the Siuslaw River running through it and the exquisite gothic arches and architecture of the bridge, Florence is backed by beautiful rolling sand dunes and fronted by a downtown filled with artisan shops and cozy waterfront restaurants (seafood is a specialty here). We like River Roasters Espresso & Gifts … great coffee and breakfast snacks, and unique handcrafted gifts.

Discover Oregon's 7 Distinct Regions and Get More Trip Ideas

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  3. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  4. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Tram to Cool Treks

    Elevate your fun, getting whisked from palm trees to alpine wilderness on the world’s largest rotating tramcar. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway transports you up and away on a 2.5-mile scenic route from the desert floor to the refreshing wilderness of Mount San Jacinto State Park.

    View
  2. Coming Up Roses

    Looking to spice up your hiking life? Give your partner a rose—Mount Rose! The 10-mile out-and-back peak hike goes up to one of the grandest views in all of Lake Tahoe. Get ready f

    View
  3. A group of people clamored around the summit marker at Mission Peak in the Bay Area

    Your Mission Is Less Crowded

    Mission Peak is one of the Bay Area’s most popular mountains, with many hikers climbing every weekend. Skip the crowds with this 6-mile loop up the less-traveled southern route.

    View
  4. Vista Hermosa Park in Echo Park Los Angeles

    Vista Hermosa, Echo That!

    Tucked in Echo Park, the little-known gem of Vista Hermosa Natural Park feels worlds away thanks to its serene beauty and thoughtful design. At 11.5 acres there’s still plenty to explore. And it's got a premier view of the iconic Los Angeles skyline.

    View