'Feel the grains of sand beneath your toes in an infinite sand box'
From the Siuslaw National Forest
The Siuslaw National Forest invites kids of all ages to join new field rangers for a fee-free day at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area’s John Dellenback Trail to celebrate National Get Outdoors Day from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 9.
Get Outdoors Day, affectionately called Go Day, is an event that encourages kids and families and those new to the outdoors to experience healthy, active outdoor fun at sites across the nation.
“We chose John Dellenback Trail this year because the trail is an often overlooked wonderful adventure,” said David Thompson, Interpretive Specialist for the Siuslaw National Forest. “This trail traverses some of the largest open dunes in the Recreation Area.”
A short walk on the trail delivers one of the most spectacular dune views, while a longer hike empties onto the rolling shores of the ocean.
John Dellenback Trail begins in a conifer forest and provides vistas of fresh water lakes, wet areas within the forest and ocean waves. The trail wanders through a tall spruce forest and stops at the serene Threemile Lake and ends at the ocean beach.
A diverse group of new field rangers, some of whom speak Spanish to Cantonese, will be on hand to orientate and guide visitors across the Dunes. Local Chambers of Commerce, other federal and state agencies, and non-profit family organizations are also invited to attend.
"This is my favorite trail to recommend to visitors who want to enjoy the solitude of the dunes,” said Gayle Gill, Field Ranger Lead for the Oregon Dunes NRA. “You can feel the grains of sand beneath your toes in what seems like an infinite sand box,” she added.
John Dellenback Trail is located about 10 miles south of Reedsport and 13 miles north of Coos Bay on the west side of Hwy. 101.
Look for more ranger walks and interpretive programs at the Oregon Dunes NRA and other Siuslaw National Forest locations throughout the summer made possible by a program called US Forest Service Program called Valuing Place. The goals of the Valuing Place Field Ranger program are to connect people with their natural environment, share and promote the Forest Service Mission and provide opportunities that encourage stewardship of our natural places.
