Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

A gray mist hangs over the John Dellenback Dunes on a summer afternoon.

With sweeping sand dunes, coastal forests and ocean beaches, there’s just nothing quite like a hike in the beautiful Oregon Dunes.

The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area stretches for 40 miles along the central Oregon coast south of Florence, made up of ever-shifting sand dunes that are partially held in place by invasive dune grass and islands of trees and dense brush.



Exploring the dunes is like nothing else in Oregon, resembling a scene from the Sahara Desert or an alien world.



Most recreation areas in the dunes are designated for those using off-highway vehicles – like dune buggies, ATVs and dirt bikes – and aren’t safe for hikers. Those exploring the dunes by foot should instead head to the hiker-only areas.

There are several places designated specifically for hiking, but only a few offer both good dunes and reasonable public access (locals suggested a few neighborhood access points, but there’s no public parking and we don’t recommend crowding residential streets). Here you can follow wooden posts that lead through the landscape or wander the sand as you please.

No matter how you plan to explore the dunes, it's wise to carry lots of water and a trail map. Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses are also useful whether it's sunny or not, as a lot of light reflects off the sand. And bear in mind that hiking in loose sand is a lot more tiring than hiking on a dirt trail.

Once you’re prepared, head to these five hiking areas in the Oregon Dunes and get ready for a very different kind of Pacific Northwest adventure.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Oregon Dunes Day Use Area

The Oregon Dunes Day Use Area is the primary hiking area for the Oregon Dunes and it's a stunner, with sweeping viewpoints and many miles of sand to explore. You can make the straightforward two-mile hike from the parking lot to the beach and back, or embark on the five-mile loop trail through the whole of the day-use area. Either way, consider leaving the trail to discover the wonder and adventure of wandering in the dunes.



The Oregon Dunes Day Use Area is found on U.S. Route 101, about 10 miles south of the Siuslaw River Bridge in Florence; visitors must pay a $5 parking fee per vehicle or display a Northwest Forest Pass.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Dellenback Dunes

Perhaps the most dramatic hike in the Oregon Dunes, the John Dellenback Dunes Trail features striking sand formations that stretch for several miles in either direction. Since you can't see the ocean from the dunes, it looks even more like an alien world than the other hiking areas do. A 4-mile round-trip hike is completed by taking a path through the woods to the beach at the end, but it's only accessible in drier months as it turns into a bog during the wet season.



The John Dellenback Dunes Trailhead is found on U.S. Route 101, about 6.5 miles south of Winchester Bay; visitors must pay a $5 parking fee per vehicle or display a Northwest Forest Pass.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Taylor and Carter Dunes

The Taylor Dunes and Carter Dunes are two adjacent hiking areas that can be accessed separately or done as a three-mile loop hike. It's best to start at the Taylor Dunes Trailhead, where you can follow an older trail to the small but lovely Taylor Dunes, following markers to a three-way junction. Go right at the junction to reach the beach and take the other path when you return, going through the Carter Dunes to the Carter Lake Campground. Carefully walk along the road back to the trailhead.



The Taylor Dunes Trailhead is found on U.S. Route 101, about 8 miles south of the Siuslaw River Bridge in Florence; visitors must pay a $5 parking fee per vehicle or display a Northwest Forest Pass.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Tahkenitch Dunes

The Tahkenitch Dunes is another area with sweeping dune views, but it's set apart from the other hiking areas by the long, forested trail that leads up to the sand. The quiet forest is a nice respite from the sun, and once you reach the dunes it's an easy walk to the beach. Hikers can make a 4.2-mile trek from the Tahkenitch Dunes Trailhead to the beach and back, or do a 6.8-mile loop hike by following the Tahkenitch Dunes Trail south and taking the Threemile Lake North Trail back to the start.



The Tahkenitch Dunes-Threemile Lake North Trailhead is found on U.S. 101, about 7.5 miles north of Reedsport; visitors must pay a $5 parking fee per vehicle or display a Northwest Forest Pass.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Alder Dunes

Though not technically a part of the national recreation area, the Alder Dunes hiking area just north of Florence is still a great spot to explore. Trails follow Sutton Creek through the woods and along a small area of short dunes. You can access the Alder Dunes from trailheads at Holman Vista, Sutton Campground or Alder Dune Campground. A 4.3-mile loop hike from Holman Vista is possible, though it requires convoluted navigation of short trails through the Sutton Campground.



Holman Vista is located two miles off U.S. 101 on Vista Road, found about four miles north of Florence; visitors must pay a $5 parking fee per vehicle or display a Northwest Forest Pass.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB