 W E L C O M E T O O R E G O N Explore the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area from Reedsport/Winchester Bay. Reedsport is located on Highway 101 in the heart of the Dunes recreation area, near the mouth of the Umpqua River, famous for its fishing. Winchester Bay, a tiny town built beside Salmon Harbor, is the home of the coast's largest sport fishing fleet. Salmon Harbor is at the mouth of the Umpqua River, one of the largest rivers between the Columbia River and San Francisco Bay. Small and rustic, Winchester Bay is a good, inexpensive place to go for charter deep sea fishing for salmon or bottom fish. The vast dunes of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (ODNRA) stretch for 40 miles from the mouth of the Siuslaw River south to Coos Bay. There are 30 freshwater lakes, 40 miles of hiking trails and over 40 percent of the area is open to off-road vehicles, making it a favorite tourist destination. Reedsport is the information hub for the ODNRA, and tips about hiking, dune buggy rental, and local flora and fauna can be obtained at the ODNRA Visitor Center. They can also direct you to the best places to enter the dunes area. If you're looking for fishing, waterskiing or boating, Siltcoos, Tahkenitch or Ten Mile Lakes are good recreation choices. The Umpqua Discovery Center is a good place to learn about the pioneer and logging history of the central coast, as well as about the Antarctic. Just south of Reedsport on Highway 101 is Winchester Bay, at the mouth of the Umpqua River. This community is a coastal playground in the heart of the Oregon Dunes. It attract photographers, artists, crabbers, clam diggers, fishermen, wildlife watchers, beachcombers and of course, dune buggies! It is also known for Salmon Harbor, the boat marina. The Winchester Bay area is located in the heart of the Oregon Dunes NRA (National Recreation Area - 47 miles stretching from Florence to North Bend). The NRA is home to many miles of undisturbed beaches, abundant wildlife, 30 lakes, 14 developed hiking trails, 13 campgrounds, 11 beach parking areas, and over 10,000 acres of off-highway riding areas. For ATVers, our dunes offer some of the best riding locations on the coast. Fishermen will enjoy going after salmon, bottom fish, sturgeon, bass, trout and many other varieties of fish. There are many lakes for those who prefer freshwater fishing: bluegill, steelhead, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, catfish, crappie and hybrid bass are all available. There's also clamming and crabbing - and in August and September we have the $10,000 Crab Bounty Hunt. Our beautiful Umpqua River Lighthouse is one of only a few that feature both red and white beams. To experience mountains of shifting sand, buried forests, view
rare plants and insects, or just to do some great hiking, fishing
and boating, come to the Reedsport/Winchester Bay area!
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