Umpqua Lighthouse State Park Beach
Winchester Bay, OR
Umpqua Lighthouse State Park sits within the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, home to some of the tallest dunes on the coast, with the lighthouse itself, an active 1894 beacon, open for tours in summer. The ocean beach lies past a stretch of dunes reached from the day use area, while a small freshwater lake inside the park offers a calmer, non motorized alternative.
The lighthouse and dual lake and ocean access make this a genuinely well rounded stop, though there's no direct drive up access to the ocean beach itself.
How we score beachesIf you just want water without the dune walk, Lake Marie inside the park has a small sandy shore and calm water, a good backup when the ocean beach feels like too far a walk with kids.
A day use fee applies at the main park lot near the campground and lighthouse.
Reaching the ocean beach means crossing open dune sand; Lake Marie's shore is a shorter, flatter walk from its own parking area.
Leashed dogs are allowed throughout the park.
The lighthouse offers tours May through September, the same window that brings the driest dune crossing conditions.
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