Experience Adventure in Winchester Bay
Oregon Coast's Year Round Fishing and ATV Vacation Destination
© Jan Lee
Jun 11, 2009
Situated off Highway 101, near the northern tip of Oregon’s sunny South Coast, Winchester Bay maintains the largest recreational salmon fishing marina on the Oregon Coast. It is also one of the hottest ATV sites in the Northwest, since the town sits up against the 40-mile-long Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.
Stretching from just south of Winchester Bay to north of Florence on the Central Oregon Coast, the “Dunes” as the Recreation Area is called, consists of 27,212 acres of towering sand dunes, valleys and trails, forests and eye-popping ocean vistas. Much of the NRA that surrounds Winchester Bay is open to off-road vehicles. An even larger portion is open to foot access and horseback riding.
RV Accommodations Close to the Dunes
What makes Winchester Bay so unique is the way the town has adapted its lifestyle and services to meet the needs of both ATVers and avid fishing enthusiasts. Most of Winchester Bay’s marina is accessible by large motor homes and buses. State-run docks with paved parking sites have been set aside for long- and short-term RV accommodations, encouraging both tourists and avid off-road vehicle users to set up, stretch out and stay as long as they wish. Dune enthusiasts can unhitch their ATV, buggy, quad or dirt bike and be on the dune in minutes.
For RVers who have their hearts set on watching a distant sunset over the water however, the Winchester Bay RV Resort (at the west side of the marina) offers scenic RV sites overlooking either the marina or Dunes and ocean.
Ocean and Fresh Water Fishing Charters in Winchester Bay
Winchester Bay is also a great destination for picking up a charter fishing cruise. Ocean fishing includes Albacore tuna, halibut, rock cod, pink fin perch, Ling cod, Chinook and Coho salmon and Steelhead, as well as crab, clams and oysters.
Close to the Umpqua and Smith Rivers, Winchester Bay is a major draw for fresh-water fishermen. Small bass, sturgeon, steelhead and Dungeness crab are local favorites, although salmon fishing is what has made both the Umpqua and Winchester Bay famous. Charters can usually be reserved on a half-day or whole-day basis. Costs generally depend upon the type of fishing and length of trip.
Camping Yurts and Cabins at Umpqua Lighthouse State Park
Tent camping is available at the Umpqua Lighthouse State Park, less than 5 miles away. A scenic drive winds through the marina and past the Dunes to the park, which has lakeside picnic areas at Marie Lake, as well as full hookups, yurts and cabins for rent.
Motels, Inns and Vacation Rentals in Winchester Bay or Reedsport
Motels and bed and breakfasts inns can be found either in Winchester Bay or in Reedsport, 3 miles north on Highway 101. Vacation rentals also exist in Tenmile Lake/Lakeside area, approximately 15 miles south of Winchester Bay.
Major attractions in Winchester Bay include:
- Dune Fest (late July/early August). Thousands of ATVers take part in the ATV scramble, quad races, sand drags and motor sports events. Open to all ages.
- Old Time Fiddler Jamboree (August). Features musicians from all over the Northwest
- Art by the Bay (late August). Includes music, demonstrations and the works of local artisans
- STEP fishing derby ( August/September), with prizes for the largest salmon, and fundraising for the region's Salmon and Trout Enhancement Program.
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