Stretching 50 miles from Florence to Coos Bay, Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is administered by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service - Oregon, in the Siuslaw National Forest under legislation passed by Congress.

The area included in the NRA serves the recreational needs of a wide variety of users, including hikers, photographers, and Off-Road Vehicles (OHV) enthusiasts.

Among the features of the NRA are 30 lakes for fishing, swimming and wildlife watching, 14 hiking trails through wetlands, forests and dunes, 13 campgrounds, 11 beach parking areas, nine day use areas, three off-highway riding areas

Winchester Bay Oregon is world famous for its fishing. The Umpqua and Smith Rivers converge a few miles up river from Winchester Bay and are home to several fish species, most widely recognized are our Steelhead, Chinook and Coho Salmon and of course the sturgeon.

Reedsport and Winchester Bay offers some of the best fishing on the Oregon Coast! There are charter boats in addition to many individual fishing guides available in the area. Also Crabbing and clamming are very popular.

At the entrance to Winchester Bay and at the mouth of the Umpqua River stands the Umpqua River Lighthouse. The 65-foot tower is situated on a hill 100 feet above sea level surrounded by US Coast Guard buildings and a Museum.

The Umpqua Light shines through a first order Fresnel lens made of 616 glass prisms handcrafted in France and weighing two tons.  

It is a beautiful display of fine craftsmanship and produces a spectacular colored light show at dusk.The light rotates out to sea and on the trees behind it on the landward side. The light shines 24 hours a day, but visit after dark or before sunrise, if you possibly can. As you enter Umpqua Lighthouse State Park, down a winding road, the light's rainbow beacon rotates through the tall pines with alternating white, white and red beams. The 65 foot tower is brick covered with white stucco, but you will not be able to take you eyes off this fantastic lens.

The lens assembly was originally turned by a clockwork mechanism much like a grandfather clock, powered by a huge weight which had to be wound up by the light keeper every four hours.