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By: Dave Helgeson
Places to Ride:
Florence, Oregon
Taking a Dip at
Florence
Sunset at Florence!
Riding the beach.
Flying High!
Drag racing down the beach.
Acres of sand! |
If you are planning a trip to the scenic
Oregon Coast, be sure to take your ATVs with
you. The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
offers several areas to ride, but one of our
favorite is the Florence area. The area offers
several large dunes, easy ocean beach access,
numerous small inland lakes, and trails through
the woods. There is something for everyone in
the family there. Drag along the ocean beach on
the smooth wet sand along the lakes. Hill
climbers will find the tallest dunes a
challenge. Intermediate riders and children will
enjoy the low rolling hills and trails. Like
jumping? There are razorbacks of various sizes
throughout the area. If you don’t like being
airborne, be sure and keep a lookout for
razorbacks while riding the area. The blonde
sand and frequent overcast skies make the
razorbacks difficult to see at times. If you
want to experience everything the dunes have to
offer, plan on spending a couple of days. Be
sure and watch at least one sunset from on top
of a tall dune.
Getting There:
The dunes
that are open to riding are located south of the
town of Florence, Oregon.
Florence can be
found about half way down the Oregon Coast at
the intersection of Hwy 126 and Hwy 101, just
over an hour west of Eugene. To reach the riding
area, head south from Florence and watch for the
turnoffs to the staging areas. You will find
staging areas at South Jetty and Siltcoos.
A
map of the staging and riding areas can be
viewed at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/siuslaw/recreat ...
coos.shtml
Camping:
The only Forest
Service campground with sand access to the dunes
is Driftwood II. Other campgrounds available in
the area are Oddfellows, Sand Dunes Frontier,
and Woahink Lake Resort. Honeyman State Park
Campground has seasonal sand access from
November-April. Our favorite is Sand Dunes
Frontier. They have large sites that will hold
several RVs and all the toys they haul with
them. The rates are reasonable with close/direct
access to the dunes. The largest dune is just
west of the campground.
Services:
Food,
lodging, and fuel are all available in Florence.
There are also several ATV dealers in town
offering parts and repairs. If you didn’t bring
your own ride, Sandland Adventures and Sand
Dunes Frontier both offer ATV rentals or tours.
Rules and Regulations:
- A valid operating permit from Oregon or a state
with a reciprocal agreement.
- Operators of ATVs that are younger than 18 years
of age must wear a helmet.
- Mufflers in Oregon Dunes National Recreation
Area must be maintained at 93db.
- Lights must be used in limited visibility, such
as before sunrise, after sunset, or when you
cannot see clearly ahead for 100 feet.
- Red flags displayed nine feet above ground are
required when riding in the Oregon Dunes.
- Working brakes are required.
For complete
regulations, visit:
http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/ATV/links.shtml
For More Information:
Siuslaw National Forest
4077 S.W. Research Way
P.O. Box 1148
Corvallis, Oregon 97339 (541) 750-7000
Fax:
(541) 750-7234
Web Site:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/siuslaw/contact/index.shtml#dunes
Be safe, enjoy, and we hope to see you on the
trails.
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