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I took advantage of this time during quarantine to hit up some of my PNW bucket list destinations and I still cannot believe these dunes are in Oregon! I have been living in Oregon for 4 years and I finally made my way out there! It's been on my PNW bucket list for awhile now and my god this place is just unreal. It felt like I was transported to another planet. It's only a 3.5 hour drive from Portland too! Keep scrolling for photos and tips on how to plan an amazing day-trip out to the dunes!
If you are leaving from Portland, you will be going south, make sure to stop at the In-n-Out in Keizer for a quick bite before you go! There are only two In-n-Out locations in Oregon and this is one of them! Since this location is the closest to the city, it might be crowded, when we went the drive thru line was very long (1-1.5 hour wait). But if you park your car and walk up to the take away line, it's much faster (15-30 min wait)!
*Also, if this is your first time at In-n-Out, let me introduce you to The Secret Menu (Click for the menu). I am from California originally and I always order from the secret menu!
After you get some lunch it's about a 2.5 hour drive to the dunes! So the Oregon Dunes actually stretches about 40 miles on the Oregon Coast. Some of the sand dunes are so big they reach up to 500 feet. There are a ton of things to do there but mainly people like to ride ATV's, hike, camp, kayak, float, sand surfing, etc... I have linked a map of the dunes below!
I did some research before coming here and there are a ton of hiking trails to choose from but since we went during the pandemic, most of the trails were closed. I asked around on Instagram and found some epic "off the beaten path" spots that are easily accessible and secluded so you can still social distance!
Sand Dunes in Florence Behind Fred Meyer
The first stop is the dunes in Florence behind Fred Meyer. It's not an established trail, just huge sandy dunes to explore. I am not kidding. Just drive to the only Fred Meyer that is in Florence, Oregon right off the US-101. As soon as you get there you will see the dunes, you can't miss it! Just park in the parking lot in the back and walk on up! Make sure to grab some drinks at Fred Meyer too. Keep scrolling to see this spot!
*Be warned that hiking in loose dry sand can be exhausting, your legs will be sore. I would suggest to wear sandals and go barefoot, it's the easiest way to get up! The sand is also super soft and pristine.
There were some kids that were dropped off and they had these sand boards and were just surfing down the dunes. It looked super fun and they sell the boards at Fred Meyer if you are into that kind of thing! This seemed to be a local spot away from tourists, a good spot to chill and since it's next to Fred Meyer, it's super convenient.
Random spot off the US-101
From the Fred Meyer in Florence, drive south down the US-101 for about 12 minutes to a small parking spot to the right of the road. It's across from Clear Lake Rd. I have screen shot the pinned location below. We found this spot just driving down the US-101 trying to find a good access to the dunes. Trust me, this spot was so legit. Just park your car at the 2-3 car parking spots and walk up. It's a bit of a steep climb but just take your time, I promise it's worth it! Once you get over the hill, the view is honestly breathtaking. The dunes just keep going and its a mix of a river, a forest, the beach, all in one. Keep scrolling for photos of this spot!
Overall I would give this place a 10/10. I think next time I will probably get an Airbnb and stay longer but a day trip is definitely possible! I would suggest to take the US-101 up back to Portland for an epic drive of the coast! This place is such a hidden gem, next time you're in Oregon and want to get a little adventurous, head to the Oregon Dunes!
<3,
Laura C.
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