Oregon’s coast hides the tallest sand dunes in North America, and sandboarding down them costs less than a movie ticket

Picture the tallest sand dunes in North America, and the Sahara probably comes to mind. Wrong continent — they’re on the Oregon coast, just off Highway 101. The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area stretches 40 miles between Florence and Coos Bay, and in places the sand climbs close to 500 feet above sea level, taller than any other coastal dune field in the country.

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Eel Creek puts you in the biggest dunes, not just the closest ones

We’ve wandered plenty of this dune field near Florence ourselves, but the stretch worth a dedicated stop sits farther south. Eel Creek Campground, near Lakeside, backs right up to some of the tallest dunes in the entire recreation area, and it draws a fraction of the crowd you’ll find at the day-use lots closer to Florence.

One loop stacks dunes, forest, and a beach together

The John Dellenback Trail out of Eel Creek is a 5.5-mile loop with about 311 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate on AllTrails. That number undersells it — climbing loose, dry sand works your legs harder than packed dirt ever does, so budget more time than the mileage suggests.

The route runs through shaded forest, opens into open dune marked only by wooden posts, then crosses a band of trees before hitting the beach. Want something shorter? The Umpqua Dunes Scenic Area Loop covers the same dune field in 1.7 miles with just 196 feet of gain, rated easy.

The dune field itself is the real payoff here, not the ocean at the end of it. If you’re short on time, spend it wandering the open sand instead of pushing all the way to the beach.

Sandboarding is the cheap thrill most people skip

Rental shops near Florence rent sandboards for roughly $10 to $25 for a full day, cheaper than a dune buggy, with no permit or four-wheel drive required. It’s the fastest way to actually feel how big these dunes are instead of just looking at them from a pullout.

For more on planning a full day around the dunes — where to camp, what else to see between Florence and Coos Bay — see our full Oregon Dunes guide.

Florence, about 25 miles north of Eel Creek, has the largest cluster of rental shops and makes a solid home base. Our guide to Florence covers where to eat and stay after a day in the sand.

What to know before you go

Most Forest Service trailheads inside the Oregon Dunes charge $5 per vehicle per day. If you’re stopping at more than one trailhead, an annual Northwest Forest Pass pays for itself fast.

From March 15 through September 15 — which covers right now — dry sand and dune areas on plover nesting beaches are closed to protect the threatened western snowy plover, meaning no dogs, bikes, or camping on those sections. Wet sand near the waterline stays open to foot traffic, so stick to the marked trail corridor if you’re hiking all the way out to the ocean this summer.

Have you sandboarded the Oregon Dunes, or are you still deciding which trailhead to try first? A warm afternoon this summer is as good an excuse as you’ll get to pull off Highway 101 and see what 500 feet of sand actually looks like up close.

Trip tips: grab a rental car to get out here, lock in your hotel before the good rooms are gone, or skip both and book a camper van instead — Eel Creek and Jessie Honeyman both have campsites close by.

Rules and fees change — always confirm current requirements before you go.

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