The Best National and State Parks in Oregon for Cascading Waterfalls, Seaside Dunes, and Massive Fossil Beds

"As you drive south along U.S. Highway 101, you’ll witness the cliffy and craggy landscapes transform into sweeping mounds of sand when you hit the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Stretching out for almost 40 miles between Florence and Coos Bay, it’s the largest expanse of coastal sand dunes in North America. This unusual collision of forest, wetlands, and desert-like dunes appears unlike any other view you’ll find on the West Coast—a geographically rare setting that opens up unusual recreation possibilities. With dunes towering hundreds of feet high, it’s a hotspot for quirky sports like sandboarding—think snowboarding but on a dune—as well as high-speed tours on buggies. But the best way to see the dunes may be the simplest: a hike on the many routes in the national recreation area. For an introduction, head to the Oregon Dunes Overlook and Day Use, where a concise two-mile trail gives hikers a quick immersion into the vast landscape. For more hiking tips and to purchase recreation passes, plan a pit stop at the Forest Service-run visitor center in Reedsport." - JD Shadel