The Oregon Dunes Recreational Area is treasured for all types of adventure seekers.  The trails range in various surfaces, from needle covered hard dirt, to rooty climbs, and sandy dunes in a short distance.  The tree species (Doug Fir, Sitka Spruce, Western Hemlock, Western Red Cedar, Wax Myrtle) seem to change every couple of minutes, along with ferns, moss, flowers, and more.  Some trails have Snowy Plover restrictions in place March 15 – September 15.

The Oregon Dunes is made up of several trails that are connected via dunes along the Oregon Coast Trail.  These trails include:

Siltcoos Lake Trail 3.4 miles – “A great trail and outlet along the estuary, manmade lagoon, and coastal old-growth with notches from century-old loggers,” says Chris Johnson, Siuslaw High School Athletic Director and track and cross country coach.

Threemile Lake Trail 3.3 miles

Tahkenitch Dunes Trail 1 mile

Tahkenitch Creek Trail 1.4 miles

Oregon Dunes Loop Trail 4 miles

Woahink Lake 4 miles – A new trail from the East Woahink Day use area that goes around the lake.

 

Mack Robertson on the Three Mile Lake Trail

One way to connect all of the trails is to follow the route of the Siuslaw Dunes 50k and 25k.  We’ve broken up the route into a couple of different sections.  One is starting from Cleawox Day Use Lodge in Honeyman State Park for the out and back of the 25k.  Another is a 9 mile run from the Tahkenitch Campground using the Three Mile Lake Trail, Tahkenitch Dunes, and Tahkenitch Creek Trail (part of the 50k course.)  See the map below for each of these routes.

 

A sample of the forest trails in the Oregon Dunes Recreational Area (Jeremy Long)

Connecting Dunes Trails (Mack Robertson)