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Fireside Motel Oregon Coast Lodging

 

Loon Lake Lodge & RV Resort - Active watersports in Oregon and water skiing are popular at Loon Lake, so Loon Lake Watersports & Marina, LLC, an independently owned and operated company, is now offering boat and WaveRunner rentals. Contact us for some of the best Oregon coast boat and jet ski rentals!
Oregon Coast Agates reports on a 2" agate geode found recently, just south of Newport. Last year they reported a one pound green agate found on the beach, which is practically unheard of!
World Wetlands Day Play games, make a craft and learn about wetlands. Wear sturdy shoes that can get wet. Bring layers for rain and warmth. Bring a snack and water bottle. For explorers 6 years old and up.  Jan 30  South Slough Reserve

Wings & Waves Festival
will feature construction of the world's largest bird nest, along with kayak trips, raptor show, field trips, music and more at the Lincoln City Cultural Center.  May
Kayak Tour on the Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge. 1 1/2 hour tour and see the plants, wading birds, water fowl and wildlife of the refuge
Annual CSO Open Surf Contest Between Roads End and Otter Rock based on surf. Lincoln City June

Annual Dory Festival grand river boat parade, street parade, Dory boat demos, barn dance, fish fry, ice-cream social and more.  Pacific City 3rd weekend in July

Astoria Regatta is a weeklong extravaganza of parades, sailboat races, carnivals, demolition derbies and fireworks. Second weekend in August 

Shorebird Festival Birdwatchers  experience the wonder of shorebird migration on the scenic south coast. Headquartered at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology. Charleston OR  Aug

Lighthouse Poker Run, Show n Shine
Coos Bay OR
Sept 27, 28

Sandland Adventures  The unique Oregon Dunes features windswept sand dunes resulting from millions of years of wind, sun, and rain erosion.  Explore the dunes from a dune buggy or sand rail beach tour
 
The Kayak Shack offers kayak rentals and guided tours.  Lint Slough, Drift Creek, Alsea Bay and Alsea River are a few of the scenic watertrails available to tour.  Kayak Shack is operated by Waldport High School Youth Entrepreneurs – current and past students, with the assistance of community businesses and individuals.
Rocky Shores & Headlands - More than 1400 rocks and islands dot the shore of the Oregon coast, along with tidepools that create a critical habitat for a wide variety of marine species.
Lewis & Clark NWR near the mouth of the Columbia River, provides wintering areas for tundra swans, geese, ducks, shorebirds and bald eagles and is home to harbor seals, sea lions, beaver, muskrat and more.
Neahkahnie Mountain juts 1600 feet from the beach and offers a spectacular view from its peak as well.  Hike to the top on the trail just south of Oswald West State Park.  Turn east between milepost 41 and 42), short distance to trailhead parking.
Oregon Islands All along the Oregon coast, giant monoliths can be seen jutting out of the Pacific Ocean. Each of these rocks is protected as part of Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge.
Cape Meares NWR
Three Arch Rocks NWR
Nestucca Bay NWR
Siletz Bay NWR
Bandon Marsh NWR
Siuslaw National Forest - Diverse ecosystem extends from Tillamook to Coos Bay, includes forests, dunes, estuaries, wetlands and more.
Sand Lake Recreation Area 1,000 acres of dunes, forests and waters 15 miles south of Tillamook.
Yaquina Head Outstanding Area - Headland at the north end of Newport provides an accessible wildlife and ocean viewing locations with interpretive center and historic lighthouse.
Drift Creek Wilderness - 6,000 acres designated wilderness in 1984, largest rainforest stand of old growth with western hemlock reaching seven feet in diameter.  North of Waldport
Rock Creek Wilderness

Cummins Creek Wilderness
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area stretches 40 miles and  between Florence and Coos Bay
Siskiyou National Forest 1.8 million acres stretching across the Coastal Range of southwest Oregon.
Kalmiopsis Wilderness is reached from Brookings or Gold Beach and contains rugged canyons, rock ridges and mountain streams and rivers.
Chetco Wild & Scenic River - 44.5 miles from the headwaters in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness down to  Loeb State Park, home to Oregon's largest stand of Redwoods 10 miles east of Brookings.

Rogue Wild & Scenic River -
One of the original eight designated in 1968, protected portion beings 7 miles west of Grants Pass and ends 11 miles east of Gold Beach, flows through the Wild Rogue Wilderness.
North Fork Smith - 13 miles the headwaters to Horse Creek and from Baldface Creek to the Oregon/California state line

The Roads Less Taken

Oregon has one of the most varied environments in North America. Without spending hours on travel time, ATV riders can throttle along the ocean, mount hillsides, and plow through the dusty high desert. This diverse terrain offers some of the most challenging and scenic routes to those that navigate them, satisfying riders of every skill level.

The state not only builds exceptional trails, but is also paving the way in ATV safety. Oregon has recently released its own ATV safety program, which now affects all riders under fifty years of age. By 2014, all ATVers will need to have completed the Oregon ATV course in order to continue riding.

This article covers information about safe riding, state regulations, and offers some insight into where you can find the finest trails in Oregon.

ATVing By the Books

In response to the number of serious injuries ATVers are at risk of when riding, Oregon has mandated an ATV safety program set to be in place by 2014. By then, all riders of ATVs and OHVs (Off Highway Vehicles) must carry an ATV Safety Education Card, even if they are non-residents.

Don’t have a card? You’ll need to pass an exam online. The thing is, if you fail the test twice in a row, the system will lock you out of the system temporarily. To avoid failing the quiz, see how you fare on this practice exam .

State Regulations

Whenever ATVers are riding in public spaces, they need to have a valid Oregon ATV permit on their vehicle. Those ATVing from  out of state must ensure that their permit is valid after they enter Oregon. Luckily, Oregon.gov makes it easy to locate permit vendors and thankfully they’re relatively inexpensive: a two-year permit costs about $10.

How Big is Too Big

To minimize injuries, ATV riders must be on an appropriately sized vehicle. Even though it’s difficult to find smaller ATVs for children, it’s crucial to recognize that nine out of ten youth injuries occur when the rider is too small for his or her ATV.

Let’s take a look. A Class I operator must fulfill physical size requirements in relationship to the vehicle. This means, their fingers extend well beyond the brake lever when holding the handlebars. It means that, in the riding position, their knees will be bent at least 45 degrees. Finally, it means that the rider can turn the steering from lock to lock while still being capable of throttling and braking.

Of course, riders should be able to maintain good posture when in the riding position. ATVers with a disability can employ prosthetic devices or adaptive equipment to fit their vehicles properly.

Oregon’s Finest

After completing the online ATV course and ensuring your vehicle is the perfect rider fit, it’s time to hit the track. We’d love to recommend some of the most skill testing and picturesque trails that Oregon has to offer.

One of our favorites is the Diamond Mill Trails:  an area that invites novices and experts to ride together, but not necessarily on the same paths. From the campground, a single track takes ATVers deep into the wood. There is also a set of upper trails, dangerously narrow and steep. Afterwards, relax in the beautiful swimming hole and picnic nearby in any of the camping sites.

If you have a rough idea of what kind of terrain you’d like to challenge, try visiting the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department website. They put together a  comprehensive database that sorts trails by county, region, season and class of ATV vehicle. Have you had any difficulty finding an ATV that fits you or your child properly?  How do Oregon safety laws compare to yours outside the state?

 

 

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