Florence and Vicinity

Dunes roll slowly into Florence's harbor.
As the Siuslaw River cuts through the Oregon Dunes at Florence, dunes roll into the river. [Ask for #276.478]

Florence dates back to the earliest settlement era — which is to say about 1880. The source for its name is obscure. It's either the name of a ship that wrecked in this area in the 1870s or a state legislator who helped in its formation; both are well attested and there is no tie-breaker. Like Reedsport, it was located at the end of a dead-end state road, SR 126 (then SR 34), and would remain so until US 101 was built in the 1930s. Access was by ship rather than by auto.

Florence and its environs have a population of 12,600, substantial for Oregon's coast. You'll find it on the north side of the Siuslaw River just after the 1930s era Art Deco bridge, designed by the great bridge builder Conde McCullough. Florence's downtown is easy to miss; although it's full-sized and as cute as a button, it's off the main highway. Turn onto Old Town Way just after the bridge.

 
OR: South Coast Region, Lane County, Pacific Coast, Florence Area, Town of Florence, Buildings along the waterfront, from the water side [Ask for #276.474.]
A red building on Florence's waterfront. [Ask for #276.474.]
OR: South Coast Region, Lane County, Pacific Coast, Florence Area, Town of Florence, US 101 crosses the Suislaw River inlet on a historic concrete truss bridge designed by Conde McCollough [Ask for #276.462.]


US 101 crosses the Siuslaw River inlet on a historic concrete arch bridge designed by Conde McCollough. [Ask for #276.462.]
OR: South Coast Region, Lane County, Pacific Coast, Florence Area, Town of Florence, US 101 bridge over the Suislaw River inlet, a concrete arch structure with Art Deco details, by Conde McCollough, from the waterfront. [Ask for #276.467.]
US 101 bridge over the Siuslaw River, a concrete arch structure with Art Deco details designed by Conde McCollough. [Ask for #276.469.]
OR: South Coast Region, Lane County, Pacific Coast, Florence Area, Town of Florence, View over the Suislaw River inlet to the dunes of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area [Ask for #276.480.]
The Oregon Dunes migrating into Florence's harbor entrance on the Siuslaw River. [Ask for #276.480.]
OR: South Coast Region, Lane County, Pacific Coast, Florence Area, Town of Florence, Docks along the waterfront [Ask for #276.471.]
Town of Florence, Docks along the waterfront [Ask for #276.471.]
OR: Lane County, Pacific Coast, Florence Area, Town of Florence, Fishing boats docked in Florence's port [Ask for #276.577.]


Fishing boats docked in Florence's port. [Ask for #276.577.]
OR: South Coast Region, Lane County, Pacific Coast, Florence Area, Town of Florence, Fishing boats docked in Florence's port [Ask for #276.574.]


Fishing boats docked in Florence's port [Ask for #276.574.]
OR: Lane County, Pacific Coast, Florence Area, Town of Florence, Fishing boats docked in Florence's port [Ask for #276.579.]
A floating dock in Florence's port. [Ask for #276.579.]

Florence's Dunes


The Oregon Dunes stretch for 55 miles, from north of Florence to south of Coos Bay. In the Florence area the dune field goes about 1.35 miles inland, and the areas farthest inland have lakes and forests.

OR: South Coast Region, Lane County, Pacific Coast, Oregon Dunes, North of Florence, Holman Vista, View from the vista's boardwalk to the northern end of the Oregon Dunes, with wind-blasted tree [Ask for #278.161.]
Holman Vista, a National Forest Service site near Florence. View to the northern terminus of the Oregon Dunes. [Ask for #278.161.]
OR: South Coast Region, Lane County, Pacific Coast, Oregon Dunes, North of Florence, Holman Vista, View from vista of dunes and back lakes stretching to the northern end of the Oregon Dunes, and the cliffs beyond [Ask for #278.159.]
View from Holman Vista. Sutton Creek flows behind the sand dunes of the Oregon Dunes. [Ask for #278.163.]
OR: South Coast Region, Lane County, Pacific Coast, Oregon Dunes, North of Florence, Holman Vista, Wind-blasted tree along path [Ask for #278.157.]
Trail to Holman Vista. [Ask for #278.157.]
OR: South Coast Region, Lane County, Pacific Coast, Oregon Dunes, South of Florence, Siltcoos River, Geese in the Siltcoos River, from the Was Myrtle Trail [Ask for #278.152.]
Geese in the Siltcoos River as it cuts through the Oregon Dunes, from the Wax Myrtle Trail in the Siuslaw National Forest. [Ask for #278.152.]
OR: South Coast Region, Lane County, Pacific Coast, Oregon Dunes, South of Florence, Siltcoos River, Boardwalk on Lagoon Lake [Ask for #278.147.]
Boardwalk on Lagoon Lake, in the Oregon Dunes. [Ask for #278.147.]
OR: South Coast Region, Lane County, Pacific Coast, Oregon Dunes, South of Florence, Siltcoos River, Path runs along Lagoon Lake [Ask for #278.150.]
Path runs along Lagoon Lake in the Oregon Dunes. [Ask for #278.150.]
OR: South Coast Region, Lane County, Pacific Coast, Oregon Dunes, South of Florence, Siltcoos River, Footpath through forest at Lagoon Lake Campground [Ask for #278.145.]
Footpath through dune forest at Lagoon Lake Campground in the Siuslaw National Forest. [Ask for #278.145.]
OR: South Coast Region, Lane County, Pacific Coast, Oregon Dunes, South of Florence, Siltcoos River, View from the Wax Myrtle Trail across the Siltcoos River and wetlands to the Oregon Dunes and the Pacific Ocean [Ask for #278.154.]
View from the Wax Myrtle Trail across the Siltcoos River to the Oregon Dunes and the Pacific Ocean [Ask for #278.154.]

Countryside

Inland from Florence the North Fork of the Siuslaw River flows into the Siuslaw River's tidal inlet. It's a lovely area and worth exploring.

OR: South Coast Region, Lane County, Pacific Coast, Florence Area, Siuslaw River, The Coos Bay Rail Link crosses the river on a three truss steel tressle. [Ask for #276.647.]
The Coos Bay Rail Link crosses the Siuslaw River on a three truss steel tressle. [Ask for #276.647.]
OR: South Coast Region, Lane County, Pacific Coast, Florence Area, Siuslaw River, Water meadows of the Siuslaw River [Ask for #276.648.]
Water meadows of the Siuslaw River. [Ask for #276.648.]
OR: South Coast Region, Lane County, Coast Range, The Siuslaw River, North Fork Siuslaw River, View over water meadows [Ask for #276.583.]
Farms on the water meadows of the North Fork of the Siuslaw River. [Ask for #276.583.]
OR: South Coast Region, Lane County, Coast Range, The Siuslaw River, North Fork Siuslaw River, County road follows the river [Ask for #276.585.]
A county road follows the North Fork of the Siuslaw River [Ask for #276.585.]
OR: South Coast Region, Lane County, Coast Range, The Siuslaw River, North Fork Siuslaw River, Cattle graze in the meadows along the river; barn [Ask for #276.584.]
Farm on the North Fork Siuslaw River. [Ask for #276.584.]
OR: South Coast Region, Lane County, Coast Range, The Siuslaw River, North Fork Siuslaw River, Farms down a back road [Ask for #276.588.]
Farms down a back road of the North Fork Siuslaw River. [Ask for #276.588.]
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Exploring the Pacific Coast

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