Oregon Dunes: A Natural and Unique Landscape

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Oregon Dunes: A Natural and Unique Landscape
Source:
Oregon Dunes: A Natural and Unique Landscape : Top Stories : Kitsap Sun

Monday, May 18, 2009
By Seabury Blair Jr.
Tired of the same old big trees and snow-covered mountains? Try the Oregon
Dunes for a long weekend outing to an utterly alien landscape.

Located a little more than halfway down the Oregon Coast, the Oregon
Dunes National Recreation Area is widely known by Off-Highway Vehicle
enthusiasts. But there's a lonely, quiet side of the dunes that should appeal
to anyone who takes their recreation on foot.

Sprawling more than 40 miles along the coast, the Oregon Dunes are the
largest sand dunes on the coast of North America, so you'll find plenty of
places to get away. Only about half of the dunes are open to Off-Highway
Vehicles; the remaining area is reserved for hikers and backpackers.

The dunes serve up a landscape that is unique in the Northwest, one that
moves and changes shape almost like a huge living creature. In Florence,
you'll find a drift fence that keeps the sand from taking over the Fred Meyer
parking lot.

Private and Suislaw National Forest campgrounds abound, and sites at most
of them can and should be reserved. It gets mighty crowded there in the
summer and the best time for hikers and backpackers is in the spring or fall.

One of the best introductions to the dunes for hikers is the 4.4-mile roundtrip
hike across the dunes to the Pacific Ocean along the John Dellenback Trail
No. 1339. You'll start out in a typical Northwest coastal forest and shortly
arrive at the wild sandscape.

The constant wind sculpts the dunes, leaving big sand cornices on the lee
side and shifting hills of sand for 2 miles to the coast. It's easy to get
disoriented and while there are no trails, painted posts mark the way to the
ocean.

You'll see small "islands" of pine trees in spots across the dunes and might
find areas where trees have been covered and smothered by the sand.
Except for the wind and the hiss of shifting sand, you likely won't hear a
thing.

The hike begins at the Umpqua Dunes Day Use area, 10 miles south of
Reedsport off Highway 101. A Northwest Forest Pass or recreation fee is
required. You'll cross Eel Creek on a timber footbridge and circle part of the
Eel Creek Campground in dense forest.

After about a half-mile, the trail turns west and immediately disappears in the
sand. Unless you're following another hiker's footsteps, there's little in the
way of landmarks to guide you.

Besides, tracks don't last very long in the shifting sands. It's a little like
trying to follow snowshoe tracks in a blizzard.

The route heads almost due west, marked by poles with blue rings painted
around their tops. They've been placed every quarter-mile or so and should
be easy to spot.

Dune-walking is an acquired skill. Portions of the sand are soft enough that
you'll feel you're walking in soft corn snow, while others are nearly as
compact as cement.

If it's rained recently, low ravines between the dunes may be soft and hold
enough water that you might encounter quicksand. Don't worry, quicksand is
really slow.

You might be tempted to climb one or more of the dunes, which can be as
high as 300 feet. That's a workout in soft sand, so you'll want to be in good
physical condition. You may find that the best dune-hiking footwear is none
at all.

After about 1.5 miles hiking west, you may see an island of trees. Circle them
to the north and follow posts over the final dunes to the ocean.

Walk as far south as you wish along the beach before retracing your steps to
the trailhead. Pay attention to the spot where the route turns inland to
cross the dunes.

If you'd like to hike overnight, you'll find a camping area about 2.4 miles
south on the beach at the mouth of Tenmile Creek. Fog often makes finding
your way difficult in the dunes area — carry a compass or GPS.

Finally, figure on packing a windshirt and sunglasses. You might get sandblind.

[SegKast]

Wait.... so WALK on the dunes ? Not unless I'm broke down by myself

[QuickSand]

It says, "Dune Walking is an aquired skill." Ha haa!! I rather shred it with a Banshee!

[Senator]

Yeah, we're best off not promoting this article. Every asshole that hikes 50 yards on the dunes (which, by the way, is about a 3000 calorie endeavor) feels like they need to join the movement to close more dunes to the ATV riders. Apparently, that rush of hiking 50 steps and becoming completely exhausted somehow makes them believe the 20 miles they already have available is not enough to WALK on.