Sand Lake Recreation Area Beach
Cloverdale, OR
Sand Lake sits between Cape Lookout and Cape Kiwanda, a stretch of coastline where off highway vehicles are legally allowed on more than a thousand acres of open dunes, a rare designation on the Oregon coast. The beach beyond the dunes stays largely separate from the ATV chaos, a wide stretch of open sand backed by some of the tallest dunes on this part of the coast.
A genuinely unique dune landscape, but the OHV traffic and noise near the staging area are a real drawback for anyone just looking for a quiet beach.
How we score beachesIf you're not there for the ATVs, walk out past the main staging area to the ocean side, where the crowd and noise thin out fast.
A day use fee applies at the main staging area lot, which fills early on weekends with OHV trailers.
Access to the beach itself crosses soft, open dune sand, difficult for strollers or wheelchairs.
Summer, June through September, is the busiest OHV season; fall and winter bring quieter dunes but wetter, harder driving conditions.
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