suza
07-26-2013, 08:06 AM
Though we live near the Oregon Coast, we have never visited the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. We always assumed it was primarily for ORVs. Well, surprise! We wanted to explore a few of the coastal lakes in our kayaks and spent 3 days at Eel Creek Campground (USFS) - right next to the central (and most beautiful) area of the Dunes. Aside from running out of power, it was a great place to stay.
http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_88869_0_a357e999fd7bdf1b6abf86576f9d8a59.jpg (http://s1365.photobucket.com/user/suzahuff/media/RVn/DunesWaves_zpsaaa6a910.jpg.html)
Location: On Hwy 101 (but you'd never know it, once in the campground), at MP 222, just south of Reedsport.
No day use area, so there is not a lot of coming and going traffic.
There is day-use (USFS permit required) parking 1/4 mile south for access to the John Dellenbach Dunes Trail. When camping, you can access the trail directly from the campground. There are about 3 miles of hiking trails and unlimited hiking opportunities on the Dunes. This area is restricted, so there are no ORVs. Occasionally we could hear them in the ORV area a few miles to the north.
Campsites are spacious with trees and huckleberry bushes providing privacy from adjacent sites; some are more suited for tent camping, but there are several pull-throughs and a few long backins. We chose site 49 and it was perfect for our RV with plenty of room for TV. Roads and driveways are paved and most are pretty level. Sites can be reserved through www.reserveamerica.com.
http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_88869_1_0963249948035bb054e57864763d9f06.jpg (http://s1365.photobucket.com/user/suzahuff/media/RVn/EelCreekCampsite49_zpsa28b730f.jpg.html)
Bathrooms (appeared to be heated) were very modern and clean, with flush toilets and hot water, but no showers. There were several located throughout the campground, as well as numerous potable water spigots and grey water drains.
Though the coast is usually windy, the campground sits below the dunes and is well protected by trees, so wind is minimal. When we visited, the weather was unusually warm. Even on the dunes, unprotected from the wind, it was never unbearably cold.
It is only a few miles north to Eel Lake (where we kayaked). Beautiful, large lake with day use area, swimming and boat ramp. Motor boats are allowed, but there is a 10 MPH speed limit. We were there during the week and encountered a few fishermen in boats, but it was mostly paddlers, like ourselves, and distance swimmers on the lake. The wind did pick up around 11:00 - enough to make kayaking a bit more challenging.
http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_88869_2_ad0ea3e426a1f116a139be933761477b.jpg (http://s1365.photobucket.com/user/suzahuff/media/RVn/EelLakeEastArm_zps5be93b2a.jpg.html)
Adjacent to Eel lake is Jessie Honeyman State Park. The park was very nice, but the sites were a bit crowded and the park very busy, even during the week. A nice place to stay if you want the luxury of hook-ups and are lucky to find a vacancy.
Up the road, just before Winchester Bay, is the Umpqua Lighthouse State Park. Located a bit off the hwy, the park offers hook-ups, but the sites were even more crowded than Honeyman (we like more space and privacy). Also, it sits down in a hole. There are fewer sites suitable for larger RVs and some would be tricky getting into. If I remember correctly, the sites are all back-ins. The park is situated along the shores of Lake Marie. You do not have a view of the lake from the sites, but there are trails with easy access to the water. It is a beautiful, small coastal lake with a swimming area (perfect for kids), hiking trail around the lake, free day use and nice restrooms. Just down the road, toward the coast is the Umpqua Lighthouse (still in operation), a great ocean/whale watching station, and access to the dunes for ORVs.
I would recommend you stop and visit this area if your travels bring you to the central Oregon coast. If for no other reason than to see the dunes, which are spectacular beyond description.
http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_88869_3_1f231455ceca2fe1334babe59d333636.jpg (http://s1365.photobucket.com/user/suzahuff/media/RVn/SunsetonDunes7_zpsfa390574.jpg.html)
http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_88869_0_a357e999fd7bdf1b6abf86576f9d8a59.jpg (http://s1365.photobucket.com/user/suzahuff/media/RVn/DunesWaves_zpsaaa6a910.jpg.html)
Location: On Hwy 101 (but you'd never know it, once in the campground), at MP 222, just south of Reedsport.
No day use area, so there is not a lot of coming and going traffic.
There is day-use (USFS permit required) parking 1/4 mile south for access to the John Dellenbach Dunes Trail. When camping, you can access the trail directly from the campground. There are about 3 miles of hiking trails and unlimited hiking opportunities on the Dunes. This area is restricted, so there are no ORVs. Occasionally we could hear them in the ORV area a few miles to the north.
Campsites are spacious with trees and huckleberry bushes providing privacy from adjacent sites; some are more suited for tent camping, but there are several pull-throughs and a few long backins. We chose site 49 and it was perfect for our RV with plenty of room for TV. Roads and driveways are paved and most are pretty level. Sites can be reserved through www.reserveamerica.com.
http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_88869_1_0963249948035bb054e57864763d9f06.jpg (http://s1365.photobucket.com/user/suzahuff/media/RVn/EelCreekCampsite49_zpsa28b730f.jpg.html)
Bathrooms (appeared to be heated) were very modern and clean, with flush toilets and hot water, but no showers. There were several located throughout the campground, as well as numerous potable water spigots and grey water drains.
Though the coast is usually windy, the campground sits below the dunes and is well protected by trees, so wind is minimal. When we visited, the weather was unusually warm. Even on the dunes, unprotected from the wind, it was never unbearably cold.
It is only a few miles north to Eel Lake (where we kayaked). Beautiful, large lake with day use area, swimming and boat ramp. Motor boats are allowed, but there is a 10 MPH speed limit. We were there during the week and encountered a few fishermen in boats, but it was mostly paddlers, like ourselves, and distance swimmers on the lake. The wind did pick up around 11:00 - enough to make kayaking a bit more challenging.
http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_88869_2_ad0ea3e426a1f116a139be933761477b.jpg (http://s1365.photobucket.com/user/suzahuff/media/RVn/EelLakeEastArm_zps5be93b2a.jpg.html)
Adjacent to Eel lake is Jessie Honeyman State Park. The park was very nice, but the sites were a bit crowded and the park very busy, even during the week. A nice place to stay if you want the luxury of hook-ups and are lucky to find a vacancy.
Up the road, just before Winchester Bay, is the Umpqua Lighthouse State Park. Located a bit off the hwy, the park offers hook-ups, but the sites were even more crowded than Honeyman (we like more space and privacy). Also, it sits down in a hole. There are fewer sites suitable for larger RVs and some would be tricky getting into. If I remember correctly, the sites are all back-ins. The park is situated along the shores of Lake Marie. You do not have a view of the lake from the sites, but there are trails with easy access to the water. It is a beautiful, small coastal lake with a swimming area (perfect for kids), hiking trail around the lake, free day use and nice restrooms. Just down the road, toward the coast is the Umpqua Lighthouse (still in operation), a great ocean/whale watching station, and access to the dunes for ORVs.
I would recommend you stop and visit this area if your travels bring you to the central Oregon coast. If for no other reason than to see the dunes, which are spectacular beyond description.
http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_88869_3_1f231455ceca2fe1334babe59d333636.jpg (http://s1365.photobucket.com/user/suzahuff/media/RVn/SunsetonDunes7_zpsfa390574.jpg.html)