You are here

Sandy beach
Yes
Hike-in Required
No
Surfing
No
Snorkeling / SCUBA
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Pistol River Beach is a 3.25-mile long stretch of soft sand and dunes along the rugged Southern Oregon Coast that is connected to Myers Creek Beach at the northern end. Because the entirety of Pistol River Beach is so long, there are three main access points: North, Middle, and South. The middle section has the longest section of dunes, which are set just behind the beach. The beach is a hop, skip, and a jump away from the parking area. Strolling north would take you quickly to the northern section of Pistol River Beach, but walking south takes you to the beautiful dunes. The dunes here are not very tall, but they are often long and untouched by visitors. At sunset the patterns and textures of the dunes are more easily observed as shadows are cast in between the lines of sand. 

During summer and fall, the east side of the dunes is nestled up against the Pistol River lagoon. Water flow is poor in the Pistol River during summer months, creating a lagoon as sands build up between the ocean and the river. During winter months when rains are more frequent, larger amounts of water come down the Pistol River watershed building up the lagoon. Eventually the force of water on the sand wall is too great, creating a bursting event. Much like the collapse of a manmade dam, the sand wall breaks and releases the water from the lagoon into the ocean. The Pistol River then flows directly into the ocean, thereby establishing an estuary again. This cycle repeats over and over throughout the years and is often very important for fish species in the area.

Logistics + Planning

Congestion

Moderate

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Sand dunes. Long and wide beach. Nearby estuary/lagoon.

Cons

Occasionally windy.

Features

Crabbing
Fishing
Bird watching
Wildlife

Location

Nearby Adventures

Southern Oregon Coast + Rogue River, Oregon
Southern Oregon Coast + Rogue River, Oregon

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Southern Oregon Coast + Rogue River, Oregon
Southern Oregon Coast + Rogue River, Oregon
Southern Oregon Coast + Rogue River, Oregon

Comments

Have updates, photos, alerts, or just want to leave a comment?
Sign In and share them.

A profound concept originally envisioned by governor Oswald West, in 1967 the Oregon legislature ultimately realized his vision of making the entire Oregon Coast forever open to the public in a piece of landmark legislation titled the Oregon Beach Bill, officially making all 363 miles public land. "The People's Coast" is truly a one-of-a-kind coastline, a unique blend of mountains and rocky stacks, towering old growth forests, marine sanctuaries, tide pools and kelp forests, charming towns, historic fishing communities, world-class golfing, breweries, and simply jaw-dropping scenic beaches. We encourage you to plan your next trip at visittheoregoncoast.com or by calling (541) 574-2679.

More content from The People's Coast