How did this geological oddity come to be? Millions of years ago most of Oregon was under water and had a thick, sandy sea floor. Part of this sea floor was pushed up and became the Coast Mountain Range, which is sedimentary rock that was uplifted 12 million years ago. The heavy rain and wind of the Pacific Northwest eroded the sandstone, then rivers carried it to the ocean. As the waves and high tides carry the sand onto shore, it is dried by the sun and blown inland. Storms and waves continue to dredge the ocean, bringing sand onto the beach each spring. Years of build-up have left the area with dunes that reach as far as two and a half miles inland.

Though the area's sand dunes make sandboarding an obvious attraction, pounding surf, prolific estuaries, conifer forests and fish-filled lakes make a great backdrop for camping, hiking, fishing, horseback riding and, last but not least, wildlife viewing. The natural diversity of Oregon Dunes NRA makes it a natural home to a wide range of plant and animal species, including the Snowy Plover, an endangered shorebird, osprey, egret, river otters and bald eagles.

Move on to Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area Index

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