Umpqua Lighthouse State Park sits along Oregon’s southern coast near Winchester Bay, where the Umpqua River meets the Pacific Ocean. The park takes its name from the nearby Umpqua River Lighthouse, a striking red-capped beacon built in 1894 that still guides mariners today — and visitors can tour it during summer months.

What sets this park apart is its coastal dune landscape. A trail system winds through towering sand dunes, coastal forest, and freshwater Lake Marie, a surprisingly calm body of water tucked just behind the dunes. The lake offers a sheltered spot for swimming, kayaking, and fishing — a welcome contrast to the wild, wind-whipped coastline just minutes away.

The campground is well-regarded, with full-hookup sites, tent sites, and a handful of yurts and cabins that book quickly in summer. Sites are nestled among shore pines and rhododendrons, offering decent privacy for a state park. The lake-adjacent sites are especially popular.

Hiking trails connect the campground to the lighthouse, the lake, and the Oregon Dunes — part of the larger Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area that stretches 40 miles along the coast. Whale watching from the lighthouse viewpoint is excellent during gray whale migration in spring and winter.

Visit between June and September for the warmest weather and lighthouse tours, though spring brings rhododendron blooms and fewer crowds. Expect coastal fog in the mornings, wind in the afternoons, and the kind of raw, uncrowded beauty that defines the southern Oregon coast.

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