Umpqua Lighthouse & Dunes

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The Umpqua Lighthouse was originally the first lighthouse in the Oregon Territory. It was built in 1857 near the mouth of the river. It was undermined and destroyed by flood in February 1861. Then it was rebuilt here in 1891 and completed in 1894. It shines a guiding light to all mariners. The illumination was changed from oil to electricity in 1934. At an elevation of 165 feet above sea level it has a visibility of 19 miles seaward. The original cost was $50,000. The lighthouse is three miles south of Reedsport, above the entrance to Winchester Bay. Next to the lighthouse is Umpqua Lighthouse State Park nestled on a bluff in the trees. The Umpqua River lighthouse is nearly identical to the one at Heceta Head and both lights were illuminated in 1894. This area is all part of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Below the lighthouse is the most popular OHV day use staging area, the Umpqua Dunes. It even includes dispersed sand camping access. There is also a few campgrounds where a short walk takes campers to a beach. This area provides the easiest beach access in the Oregon Dunes for beach walking and ocean viewing. This stretch of beach is closed to off-highway vehicle (OHV) use. Walking from the campground to where the Umpqua River empties into the ocean, this is where all the sunset photos on this page were taken.

Oregon Coast

Access

Take the Oregon Coast Highway south of Florence, passing through Dunes City, Gardiner and Winchester Bay. Just south of Winchester Bay, turn right onto Lighthouse Road. Signs lead the way.

Umpqua Lighthouse

Lighthouse from the beach

Umpqua River Jetty

Umpqua River going out into the Pacific Ocean

From the viewing area at the lighthouse

Dunes from the Umpqua Beach #3 Staging Area

Sunset

Umpqua beach behind the Jetty