John Dellenback Dunes Loop Hike

Overview

A one-mile nature trail loop begins at the John Dellenback Trailhead, but if you want to really experience the dunescape here, venture out into the open sandy expanse. You can follow the crest of a huge oblique dune to the marshy deflation plain, and then return via conveniently placed trail posts to complete the nature trail (A trail leads through the deflation zone to reach the beach after 0.7 miles, but this path is flooded much of the year). The nature loop here is named after John Dellenback, who served as one of Oregon’s Representatives in Congress from 1966 to 1974 and was instrumental in pushing for legislation authorizing the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area in 1972. The Dellenback Dunes are the widest stretch of dunes on the Oregon Coast and exhibit some excellent examples of this sandscape. However, the constitution of the dunes landscape has changed drastically in the past 80 years or so with the introduction of European beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria) to “bind” shifting sand near jetties, highways, and other human construction. Of course, the plant spread everywhere, and while the coastal landscape is a lot more static than previously, it is far less natural. The foredunes near the beach are now colonized by beachgrass and are relatively stable. With the foredunes bound up, coastal winds have scoured a depression behind the dunes, known as the deflation plain, which supports marshes and copses of shore pine and Sitka spruce as well as invasives like Scots broom. There are large shifting dunes on the land side of the deflation zone among tree islands and seasonal pools. At the north side of the parking area, find the trail head, and cross the long footbridge over alder and waxmyrtle shaded Eel Creek. Hike up through a tunnel of salal, evergreen huckleberry, and rhododendron with Douglas-firs and madrones above. At a junction, go right to begin the nature trail loop, where numbered posts correspond with a key you may be able to pick up at the trailhead. Pass through a shore pine and manzanita

Trail Stats

Photos

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