Mile 135 - Oregon Dunes NRA, west of Beale Lake - February 11, 2011

Report Details

The Hauser Sand Road (Photo 2) is 2.5 miles of deep, soft sand from the Hauser ATV Staging Area (fee area) over the dunes to the beach at Mile 135. It's primarily used by ATVs, but is OK for high-clearance street-legal vehicles with very wide tires, too. It's a long slog on foot. ATVs are legal on the beach on Mile 135 year-around (Photo 1).The beach was very clean of debris on this cool, windy weekday. A ridge/runnel system lies just offshore of most of Mile 135, with waves breaking far offshore leaving a quiet strip of water closer in, giving a Harbor seal a great spot to search for dinner. (See Photo 4 at full size.) The entire width of beach was traced by ATV tracks in some areas. Wildlife was very sparse: just the Seal, a few gulls, and one small flock of Sanderlings; there was no driftline to speak of.

Conditions

Temperature: 50 F. Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Wind Direction: SW. Tide Level: 3.0 feet.

Human Activities

Everyone I saw was riding a quad ATV, at reasonable speed, and looked like they had the legal equipment. Groups were a wide range of ages, probably families. There were no people on foot, and no footprints.

Vehicles

ATVs/OHVs parking: 25. ATVs/OHVs on beach, allowed: 6.

Notable Wildlife

Seal in runnel just off beach (see photo). Otherwise nothing unusual; just the regular gulls and a small flock of Sanderlings.

Driftline Content

Shells.