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The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area extends for 40 miles along the coast, from Florence to Coos Bay. High winds and high tides have blown mountains of sand inland, sculpting the sand into large dunes. Kids can spend hours jumping, sliding and rolling down the dunes, tossing fine sand in the air or just wiggling their toes in the sand. The dunes are fun for everyone in the family, toddlers can build sand castles to their heart’s content, older kids will want to rent sandboards or go on dune buggy rides. |
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Honeyman State Park – Your best bet to play in the dunes is Honeyman State Park. Two miles of fine white sand dunes, plus two lakes. |
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Cleawox Lake is perfect for swimming on a hot day (and little kids can build sand castles on the edge of the lake, the dunes come right down to the water). Or go pedal boating, kayaking and canoeing on the lake. Fully equipped campground with yurts, camp store, junior ranger and amphitheater programs. |
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Sandlands Family Fun Center – Sign up for one hour dune buggy tours or sand trail tours (dress warmly), plus miniature golf, go-karts and water bumper cars. |
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Oregon Dunes Day Use Area – Just off Highway 101, hike one mile on the Oregon Dunes Overlook Trail, through the sand dunes to the beach. Kids will feel like intrepid explorers navigating through the dunes on foot. Even in summer, chances are you won’t see another person on your hike. Picnic tables and viewing decks for super views of the dunes. |
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Oregon Dunes Visitor Center (Reedsport) – Stop into the visitor center to learn about how the sand dunes are formed, and see a model of the dunes recreation area. |
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John Dellenback Dunes Trail – With older kids and teens, this is our favorite hike through the dunes. From the trailhead, launch out onto the dunes, then follow the boardwalk through a dense forest to the beach. The trail across the dunes is marked with wooden poles – see who can spot the next pole. |
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Tip: Bring a picnic lunch and lots of water. Best shoes are lightweight, and easy to dump out the sand which can fill up in the shoes. Hike is approximately 6 miles round trip. |
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Spinreel Dunes (south of Reedsport) – Rent dune buggies (two and four seat) and ATVs (quads) to race around the dunes. For ATVs, kids need to be 10 and up, helmets are provided for all the vehicles. Or, go on a 30 min., one hour, or two hour tour through the dunes to the beach. |
