In order to get the full effect of this, you need to go during high tide. Unfortunately, in August,…read morethis usually means early in the morning or just before sunset. It's a beautiful landscape, but there is a little turn during prime time. It's worth noting that when we were there in August, the railing in places was unstable.

Devils Churn is one of the coolest geological formations I've ever seen…read more As the tide comes in, the waves are concentrated in the basalt chasm (the result of an ancient collapsed lava tube), where they gain speed, ricochet against themselves, creating the "churn" look. It looks like a giant ocean bathtub full of violent butter. The waves splash dozens of feet in the air, filling tide pools on the basalt cliffs, and then cascading back down over the edges in a circular formation of infinite waterfalls. It looks like something you would imagine you would see in Iceland. The churn can be seen from a viewing area close to the parking lot, but it's just a short half mile hike down to the shore. Even though people have been washed out to sea from this site, these people had gone beyond the official trail, into the actual tide pool area above the churn. So, as long as you're on the trail, you're probably safe. I held on to the wooden rail just in case a big wave came, but noticed that the very bottom rung had been washed out. There is enough parking for about twenty cars at the information center, which is staffed by the Forest Service on limited hours/days. Parking is $5 or free with an NPS, Forest Service, or other federal interagency pass. I've actually been here a few times now. Valentine's Day was pretty crowded, and the visitor center was open. I had to leave before high tide, but was mesmerized. So, I ended up coming back during high tide a few days later. At one point, I saw the ocean throw an entire tree onto the ledge-- only to reclaim it a few minutes later. Falling in to the churn would almost certainly result in death. Some of the waves looked like they were going 25mph once they entered the chasm. Plus it's full of huge logs being violently churned around. But just half mile down the trail, there is a calm, serene beach with really pretty rocks. Continuing on, you can actually hike to Thors Well from here. I can't believe I'd never even heard of this place until I stumbled upon it by accident after visiting Thors Well. Personally I actually found the churn more impressive and mesmerizing to watch.

This park has it all with freshwater lakes to swim in and giant dunes to hike and play in. It's a…read morepopular park but very large too so you can "get away." Also, getting a day pass allows you to visit other nearby state parks w/o additional fees.

How many park Rangers does it take to help two Canadian gals in a pinch? The answer is 4 but Chris…read morereally went above and beyond to put some extra mustard on it #quickpop #extra tang

This place has it all! Dunes for OHV riding, Snowy Plovers nesting, what feels like endless wild…read moreand empty beach and clean bathrooms. Beach combing is great here too. A couple of campgrounds. Managed by the US Forest Service.

Beautiful views! This beach makes you earn the views lots of switchbacks. No dogs during snowy…read moreplover season. Nice spot for a picnic

Oregon Dunes Overlook and Day Use Area is a great place to get a view of the sand dunes and hike to…read morethe beach without any ATV noise nearby. A fully paved half mile trail leads to a wooden overlook of the dunes. From there, it's an unpaved mile through the sand dunes to the beach. Usually, from the beach, you can hike a couple of miles south to Tahkenitch, but currently, there is no access to Tahkenitch due to erosion from a recent King Wave. I hiked along the beach for a while anyway, and was stunned to see not only the amount of seashells I might have seen along the California coast thirty five years ago-- but really cool rocks, including some that looked like agates and jasper. Even though one might think there isn't much life out on the desert like dunes, I actually found plenty. There were lots of coyote and deer tracks, succulents, ladybugs, beetles, and even some February flowers that almost looked like orange poppies. Once I hiked far enough down the beach, I even caught a glimpse of some snowy plovers flying by me. Hiking through sand is a little bit harder than it looks, so, the hike back up the dune to the platform was the hardest part of this endeavor. Parking was either $5 or free-- I can't remember since I have a pass, and it's definitely free with a pass. There is a restroom in the parking lot, but it's either closed for the season, or only unlocked very limited hours.

Yikes. That wasn't a campground. I don't know what that was but it wasn't a campground. No privacy…read morewhatsoever. MAYBE 30 feet between each "camp site". No beach access unless you have an ATV. There are people near you in every direction. And it's Sept of 2021 and some Hicks were burning stuff despite the fire ban. It was so loud we couldn't sleep. Everyone was in such close proximity to each other that a yelling match broke out. We got there around 5PM and left at 9:30PM because of how sketchy it was there. Not to mention people kept walking through our camp site??? Like there was a collective lack of respect from everyone there. Hoping we can get a refund since we only stayed 4.5 hours.

This is one of many recreation opportunities in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area…read more The Siltcoos River area provides two very nice traditional campgrounds. There's also good beach access for ATVs, fishing, birding, and dog-walking (but watch for Snowy Plover Seasonal Beach Restrictions between March 15 - September 15). Stagecoach Trailhead provides access to several trails, including the accessible Lagoon trail and the longer Waxmyrtle trail, which meanders through the coastal shore pine forests and along the river to the beach. Trails here include barrier-free boardwalks, walks through coastal rhododendron and wax myrtle groves to the beach, and a loop through the spruce forest that makes a stop at remote campsites along Siltcoos Lake. There's a $5 day use fee, or you can use one of the many passes that work here. Camping costs $20 per night for a single unit with a 2-vehicle parking limit. It's open year-round, and probably not a bad deal considering there's potable water and flush toilets. Plus there don't seem to be lots of campers here so maybe it'll be extra peaceful for you.

What a great little village to stroll around. So many charming shops and lots to see…read more Even a character lowrider.

This park is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it space on Bay Street located between Kitchen Klutter and…read moreMilk & Cookies. I was walking and almost didn't see it, because it's tiny and there are some bushes that shield the gazebo and benches from view. It's a great place to take a moment to rest whilst wandering Bay Street, and in some instances it can allow for a nice bit of solitude. When I was there in December, there was almost no one else around, but it wasn't raining nor was it too cold that I skipped taking a few minutes at this secluded park for myself. If you walk past the gazebo, there's a deck overlooking the Siuslaw river, where at times you might see some of the various animals (birds, otters, etc.) that call the river home. Though I tried, I did not see any otters playing in the water (I'm not sure what their season is). This park is located on what was once the ferry landing, prior to the construction of the Siuslaw River Bridge. I think it's cool that they preserved this area as a park. There is a cool water fountain just outside the park that has three levels for drinking, which is clever and makes it easy for the little ones to have a sip! There's a plaque right by the fountain pointing out that the Oregon Dune Mushers' Mail Run went through here. (As an aside, this is a quirky race that once took place, in part to commemorate a time when the beaches were used as highways--in fact, the beach area between low- and high-tide marks is part of the Oregon highway system.) You can rent the place for various gatherings; special use permits are free, but a permit is required, and the deadline for submission varies based upon the number of attendees so plan accordingly.

An amazing park for members. Their hospitality and facilities are both rustic and modern. They have…read moreaccess to the sand, full hookups, clean restrooms, and a great indoor rec room to hang out it. I love this Park!

We Love Odd Fellows. We consider it our home away from home. The staff is always friendly and…read morehelpful and the location couldn't be more perfect for the dunes enthusiast.

In August, there were no sea lions and unfortunately we didn't know that until we got down to look…read moreat them. There were five or six basking on the rocks while below us when we look down from above, but the caves were empty. There are flashing yellow lights to warn drivers that there are people crossing the road to enter the building , but it is dangerous anyway. It's on a curve and you can't see oncoming drivers.

Sea Lion Caves was incredible. Nearly 200 feet below the surface is a massive natural cave filled…read morewith sea lions. Seeing it in person was an unforgettable experience. #SeaLionCaves #OregonCoast #ExploreOregon #PacificNorthwest