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 & 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.
The calendar
is full of things to do and see in our
area: Whale
watching and the annual Oregon Dune Mushers Mail Run in
March, fireworks
on the Fourth of July - and later in July is Ocean Fest - fun for the
entire
family. August brings the Crab Bounty Hunt, Oregon Dune Fest,
and
Kool Coastal Classics car show. In September we open the
envelope
to learn if we have a $10,000 winner in our Crab Bounty Hunt. November
we celebrate the season with Holiday by the Sea. And in December the
Whale
watching season begins again as the nomadic mammals return to their
breeding
grounds in Baja California.
Don't miss the
1,040-acre Dean Creek Elk Preserve
located on Highway
38,
east of Reedsport. Visitors are treated to an up-close look at the
herds
of elk, and other inhabitants of the area; including: Canada geese,
osprey,
blue heron, bald eagle and dozens of other avian species; black-tail
deer,
nutrias, beaver, musk-rats and the occasional black bear represent the
mammalian community. A high-powered telescope is located at the main
viewing
lot, along with interpretive signs.