80 VISITTHEOREGONCOAST.COM nestled in the dunes where the Umpqua River meets the Pacific. Take a tour or visit the museum before heading to adjacent Lake Marie for a peaceful loop hike. LAKESIDE Situated on the edge of Tenmile Lake, the second-largest lake on the Oregon Coast, Lakeside is a haven for boating, fishing, hiking, camping and sand-dune adventures. Nearby William M. Tugman State Park is home to Eel Lake, great for swimming, bass fishing and accessible paddling. Kayakers can also launch from the Tenmile Lake County Public Dock and explore the lake’s many arms and bays. Hikers love the challenging John Dellenback Dunes Trail, accessed at Eel Creek Campground, a 5.4-mile (8.7-km) out-and-back hike through a conifer forest and over the dunes to the beach. The shorter, self-guided interpretive loop is great for families. NORTH BEND In North Bend, visitors can meander a charming downtown with antique shops, restaurants and boutiques just minutes from the Oregon Coast’s only commercial airport, Southwest Oregon Regional Airport. Nearby Horsfall Beach offers miles of open sand and is the southernmost point of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. The Bluebill Campground makes a great home base for exploring the dunes or a lake filled with wildlife and birds. A yearly salmon celebration and other festive events fill the calendar at family-friendly The Mill Casino Hotel & RV Park, owned by the Coquille Indian Tribe. COOS BAY With seafood galore, arts and culture, and outdoor recreation, Coos Bay is the Coast’s largest city; it boasts the largest harbor and an international port. Downtown enjoy the bayside boardwalk and waterfront shops. For exhibits on Coos and Coquille Indian heritage and area industry, head to the Coos History Museum. The Coos Art Museum is the only fine-art museum on the Coast, and the Oregon Coast Historical Railway Museum is home to vintage trains. Take in a film at the Egyptian Theatre, a fabulously restored 1925 performance venue. Stroll the Japanese gardens in Coos Bay’s Mingus Park or enjoy live music in summer. SOUTH COAST TOWNS REEDSPORT Reedsport is the central gateway to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, a rare landscape of windblown sand dunes, some reaching up to 500 feet (152.4 m) high and 1 mile (1.6 km) long. The 40-mile (64.4-km) stretch of beachfront includes campgrounds, lakes, hiking trails and designated areas for off-road vehicles. Stop at the dunes headquarters for helpful advice. The Umpqua Discovery Center has interactive cultural and natural-history exhibits. Venture 8 miles (12.9 km) inland to Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area, home to a large herd of Roosevelt elk, or keep east to enjoy water recreation on Loon Lake. WINCHESTER BAY Sport and commercial fishing keep Winchester Bay bustling seven days a week, and few anglers leave Salmon Harbor empty-handed. Find direct access to the river at Salmon Harbor Marina, where you can also camp, fuel up your boat and visit a staffed information hub — or enjoy local oysters and smoked fish. Winchester Bay is also one of the most popular crabbing spots on the Coast. Find the circa-1894 Umpqua Lighthouse KIM COOPER FINDLING Shore Acres State Park
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