Posted by David Kingham on March 12, 2011 at 4:00 PM
I'll be flying into Eugene for work in a couple weeks and driving south down to Coquille for a day. I'd like to take a day or two for photog but I'm not too familiar with the area, I know if I take hwy 1 there are all the good dunes but are there better spots to go? Thanks guys!
Posted by Erik Lundh on March 12, 2011 at 11:52 PM
I would take a short trip over to Bandon on the Oregon coast about a half hour from Coquille. There are a lot of sea stacks just south of town. You can google the Table Rock motel and from there you have good access to the beach. I'm going to be there in a couple of weeks for spring break. Then you can go south along hwy 101 where there are plenty of awesome places to stop and shoot. You can also follow 101 south along the coast into Crescent City and go into the Redwood forest where some of the tallest trees in the world are.
While in Eugene, you might go to the Rhododendron garden in town if "couple of weeks" actually means 3 or 4 weeks. Not sure what will be blooming, but if they are blooming in the neighborhoods, they will be blooming there as well. There is also the Mt. Pisgah Arboretum and a few covered bridges up the Willamette (58) highway if you have time to go east as well as west from Eugene.
Posted by Greg Vaughn on March 14, 2011 at 12:12 PM
If you're going to be in the town of Coquille, then definitely take the time to go to Bandon Beach. The state park complex of Sunset Bay - Cape Arago - Shore Acres is also not far from Coquille. Shore Acres has a very nice formal garden as well as being a good place for crashing surf on cliffs.
Further north, the John Dellenback Trail near the town of Lakeside is a short hike out to the best sand dunes for photography - no ATVs allowed in this section.
Both Hwy 38 and Hwy 42 are nice drives through coast mountains, forest and small farms in pretty valleys. If you like classic old barns, there are a couple along these routes. Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area near Reedsport can be good - sometimes the elk are close, sometimes too far for good photos.
As Marylynne mentions, Mount Pisgah Arboretum is a good place in the Eugene area. Might be a few early wildflowers blooming then. If you are a birder, Delta Ponds, West Eugene Wetlands and Fern Ridge Reservoir are good places for waterfowl.
Posted by David Kingham on March 14, 2011 at 11:03 PM
Wow thanks everyone for the great info, is sunrise usually good at the coast or is sunset the best time?
Discussion
4 repliesFurther north, the John Dellenback Trail near the town of Lakeside is a short hike out to the best sand dunes for photography - no ATVs allowed in this section.
Both Hwy 38 and Hwy 42 are nice drives through coast mountains, forest and small farms in pretty valleys. If you like classic old barns, there are a couple along these routes. Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area near Reedsport can be good - sometimes the elk are close, sometimes too far for good photos.
As Marylynne mentions, Mount Pisgah Arboretum is a good place in the Eugene area. Might be a few early wildflowers blooming then. If you are a birder, Delta Ponds, West Eugene Wetlands and Fern Ridge Reservoir are good places for waterfowl.