The Dunes On Oregon's Coast Look Like Something From Another Planet
By Catherine Armstrong|Published March 17, 2020
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Catherine Armstrong
Author
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
Folks who visit the Beaver State often feel like they’ve been transported to another world. Imagine coming from Las Vegas to one of Oregon’s beautiful forests, or visiting the coast from Oklahoma! Some spots in our state can feel like another planet even to Oregonians. The Painted Hills, the Lava Beds, and the Alvord Desert are all otherworldly, and there’s another place on the coast that also seems as though it could be straight out of a science fiction movie. Check out the Oregon Dunes:
The Oregon Dunes Recreational Area covers 40 miles along the coast.
The area is part of the Siuslaw National Forest, and it's the largest area of coastal dunes in all of North America. In fact, it's one of the largest temperate coastal dunes in the entire world!
Over time, grains of sand drifted down the Suislaw River and other mountain rivers, and deposits slowly accumulated. The youngest dunes are more than 7,000 years old.
The dunes are certainly otherworldly. In fact, according to author Frank Herbert, the Oregon Dunes were the inspiration for his "Dunes" book series, and the subsequent movie.
Frank Herbert spent some time in the coastal town of Florence in the late 1950s. He was fascinated by the dunes, and the idea that they could spread over the land, swallowing up roads and towns.
Take a stroll on the dunes, or ride an ATV in three separate areas. Make sure to bring your camera to capture the scenic beauty of this place, because while it looks as though it could be on another planet, it's actually right here for us to marvel at.
Learn more about the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area on the USDA website. Have you visited recently? Share your photos with us in the comments, and tell us your favorite Oregon Dunes activity!
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