Reedsport - Winchester Bay, Oregon

Reedsport is home to the Umpqua Discovery Center and the Information Center for the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Located just a few miles east on Route 38, is the Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area. Recreational activities include camping, fishing, crabbing, clam digging, and riding off-highway vehicles in the dunes. The area also hosts several festivals and events each year including the Dune Fest, Smith River Country Fair, and Salmon Derby.

It is located on the scenic Umpqua River, which travels from approximately 110 miles (177 km) from the Cascade Mountains to the Pacific Ocean.

Winchester Bay is a quaint working seaport located just 5 miles south, near the mouth of the Umpqua River. The Umpqua River Lighthouse is located on the Pacific Ocean, just to the south. While driving through on US 101, Winchester Bay is easy to miss. Take a few moments and turn west into the small town and explore the shops, restaurants and the bay. Drive west on Salmon Harbor Drive to see the views of the sand dunes and the Umpqua Lighthouse.

Reedsport and Winchester Bay Map


View Reedsport - Winchester Bay Sightseeing. in a larger map

Sightseeing

Tour the Oregon Dunes National Recreation area, the Umpqua River Lighthouse State Park, and take a few minutes to travel a short distance up route 30 to see the elk. Because Reedsport is the center of the Oregon Dunes, there are plenty ... more

ATVs

Reedsport is the center of the fabulous Dunes Recreations area and is therefore, the ATV dunebuggy capital of the Pacific coast. The largest riding area at the Oregon Dunes is located between Spinreel and Horsfall campgrounds, south of Reedsport. Horsfall Road leads to Horsfall dunes and a beach access. Another access is Hauser Sand Road, which links the ... more

Lodging

Winchester Bay features several smaller hotels located in the harbor with views of the water. These are located to the west of US Route 101. To the north, along US Route 101 in Reedsport are a wider selection of lodging with prices ... more

RVs

There are many RV campgrounds and some allow direct access to travel the Oregon dunes on an ATV. We suggest that you make your RV campground selection carefully as those that forbid ATV use tend to be quieter ... more

Camping

Camping in the Reedsport - Winchester Bay area centers around the Oregon Dunes National Park, which stretches over 50 miles. Vacation in a campground selected from one of the many provided by the US Forest Service, the State, the county, or private individuals. Many of the campgrounds cater to certain activities. Some allow ... more

Restaurants

Enjoy restaurants located in the harbor that feature freshly caught fish with a nice view of the harbor. They are located just a few blocks west of US Route 101 in Winchester Bay. There are several places to eat along the Umpqua River, just a short distance east of US Route 101 in Reedsport ... more

Fishing

Eel Lake, and Tenmile Lake have excellent freshwater fishing while the Oregon Dunes offer excellent access to the Pacific for fishing and dungeness crabbing. There are ocean fishing charters available in Winchester Bay and Reedsport. Eel Lake is located on the grounds of William M. Tugman State Park. Tenmile Lake is located next to the town of Lakeside. Tenmile Lake offers excellent ... more

Hiking

Hiking in the Reedsport and Winchester Bay area means tackling the scenic Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. The hikes can be easy, or extremely challenging, with several hikes over the Sahara like dunes. Some hikes are around picturesque lakes or marshes, while others are a march to the sea. The Oregon Coast Trail also travels through the dunes with most of the trail on the ... more

Bicycling

Cycling from Reedsport to Coos Bay / North Bend is about 25 miles (40 km) and is relatively flat. This section includes the lower half of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, which is the major attraction along this route. Prior to starting this portion of your trip, be certain to stop at the Dunes Information Center, located in the middle of Reedsport at the traffic light of Routes 101 and 38. The Umpqua River Lighthouse and Umpqua River State Park are located less than a mile off of Route 101 and are highly recommended. The best way to get to the lighthouse and park is to cycle ... more

Horseback Riding

Equestrians travel to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation area because it is horse friendly for camping. There is a campground set aside especially for horses ... more

Golf

The Reedsport area offers one 9-hole golf course. It is owned and operated by its members and open to the public. It is set amongst mature fir and alders, is relatively wind protected. The Course consists of 9 holes with four tee boxes for each hole ... more

Whales

The Umpqua River Lighthouse, located near Winchester Bay, is an ideal place to visit and gray whale watch ... more

Dunes

Reedsport and Winchester Bay are the center of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation area and many of the tourist activities center around the dunes ... more

Wildlife

While in the area near Reedsport, take a few moments and drive a short distance up Route 38 to visit the Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area. It is not unusual to see a large herd of elk standing along the road, or in easy viewing distance in the nearby field. The site of 60 to 100 Roosevelt elk will thrill family members of all ages. During the summer, the mothers are showing off their newborn calves while relaxing in the warm summer sun. In September to early October, ... more