The dunes are in the Siuslaw National Forest in Oregon, so the US Forest Service runs this recreation area. The dunes loop walk is almost five miles down to the Pacific, past the nesting plovers (I didn’t see any), along the beach below the high tide line and back over the very tall dunes. Even thought I’ve driven through here several times on different trips over the years, I underestimated how large this area is. They span some 40 miles along the coast and some are 500 feet high. Even when catching my breath at a seafood restaurant over the water in Florence along the Siuslaw River, technically I was still in the recreation area. There are also lakes, several with boats, and 101 runs right through the dunes past twisted shore pines.

You may have heard of the Dune movies, which are based on the books by Frank Herbert, who was a local journalist assigned to write an article about the Oregon Dunes. He visited in 1957, chartered a small plane to view them from above, and learned about both the fragile ecosystem and government efforts to control dunes by planting grass. But instead of just writing an article, he got carried away and researched for years, writing 6 epic novels over 20 years. Unfortunately he died before completing the 7th and final Dune novel, but his son kept writing the popular series. Anywho, if you want to be inspired by walking in the sand for hours and hours, this is the place for you!