Discover beautiful Siuslaw National Forest while enjoying a stay at Newport summer rentals. Stretching from the forested Coast Mountains to the vast Oregon Dunes, and from Tillamook to Coos Bay, Siuslaw offers endless exploration. The Forest encompasses more than 630,000 segmented acres along Oregon's coast, including some of the most scenic beaches imaginable. You can stay and play for days-on-end, so make plans for an extended visit.
Cape Perpetua
Witness the power of the Pacific Ocean as it crashes through the narrow channel of Devils Churn. Tumultuous waves make their way through the chasm, exploding against an 800-foot cliff, creating enormous plumes of white frothy overspray. As you descend the steep path from the parking lot, you can hear the roar of waves below. At the foot of the path, continue down sheered-rock steps and along the rocky edge of the Churn to witness this spectacle of nature up close. Cape Perpetua is located in Yachats off Highway 101. Check the website for hours.
Oregon Dunes
Ever-shifting sands comprise the vast dunes of Oregon. The landscape constantly changes as strong ocean winds sweep across the hills. Extending 2.5 miles inland and 40 miles along the coastline, many rise as high as 500 feet, making these sand dunes the largest in North America. Three main dunes are found south of Newport in Florence, Winchester Bay and Coos Bay. Carter Dunes Trail, 10 miles south of Florence, winds its way through a sandy plain to the ocean. Half-way along the route, you'll have access to Taylor Dunes Trail, which leads to Taylor Lake. Both well-marked trails are one-mile long, and the difficulty rating is moderate.
Sand Lake Estuary
This recreation area is located an hour north of Newport between Cape Lookout and Cape Kiwanda. The scenic drive provides some of the best spots for incredible views of raging surf. Comprised of 900 acres, the near-natural condition of the estuary offers swimming, kayaking, crabbing and hiking. Dunes start at the estuary, extending northeast for approximately 3.5 miles. A stop at Cape Lookout provides more than 8 miles of hiking and walking trails to explore and is a popular place to observe paragliders.
Mary's Peak
For a full day of wilderness adventure, this is a must-do day trip during your stay. Located 64 miles east of Newport, Mary's Peak, at 4,097 feet, is the highest point in Oregon, providing five trails of varying degrees of difficulty. Summit trail is the shortest and easiest at half a mile long, while Tie and Meadowedge Trails are just over one-mile. East Ridge Trail is moderately difficult, at 2.4 miles, and North Ridge Trail is a more challenging length of 6.4 miles. Parking is available at Conner's Camp for a fee. Check Siuslaw National Forest website for details and directions.
Note
Many locations in Siuslaw National Forest require passes; check their website for details and vendor locations. Five-day passes are available for entry to numerous parks and recreation areas.
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