Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

Journey to a Land of Water Wind and Fire

Part B: The Oregon Coast III a

Lawrence of Arabia Returns

My guide at the Oregon Dunes Visitor Center in Reedsport (see earlier posting) had recommended that in addition to the Day Use area, we really needed to stop by the John Dellenback Dunes Trail to get a sense as to how BIG the Dunes really were. He noted that a walk to the Ocean at this area was a bit further (by at least a mile) than at the Day Use area, however, we would only need to walk about 1/2 a mile to see the really big dunes. As the shot below shows, the fellow knew what he was talking about!

The Dunes on the Dellenback Trail were truly large here. How large? Well, to give you another perspective, look at this shot:Those tiny figures you see about in the center of the picture, are a party of 4 returning from a hike to the coast. Yes, it is that big. I had thought I had seen the big dunes up behind the trail at the Day Use Area (see earlier posting) but these dunes were much bigger!

But there was more than just big dunes at this location as you will see in the next posting.