Winchuck River Area

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Chetco Estuary

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Crissey Field State Recreation Site – Oregon Welcome Center

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Seasons

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Location

The Winchuck River is only 0.6 mile north of the California border. From Brookings at Highway 101 and 5th Street travel 5.5 miles south on Hwy 101. You will turn right (west) into the Winchuck State Recreation Site and enter the small parking area. You can view the river mouth from here or at low tide walk along the beach to the north. Alternatively, driving from the south on Hwy 101, the access road is 0.6 miles north from the Oregon/California border and 0.1 mile north of the Winchuck River Bridge. To travel inland along the Winchuck River, drive from Brookings at Highway 101 and 5th Street 5.3 miles south on Hwy 101 and turn left (east) onto Winchuck River Road/County Rd#896 (or backtrack from Winchuck State Recreation Site 0.2 miles north on Hwy 101 and turn right). Winchuck River Road follows the river into the surrounding forest for a different mix of species. Continuing for 8.2 miles along the road brings you to the junction with NF-1108 (Wheeler Creek Road). Another 0.9 miles from this intersection on Winchuck River Road will take you to the junction with NF-1107. Both NF-1108 and NF-1107 will give you access to Coast Range forest on Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.

 

Directions

Habitat and Birds

Shorebirds and Larids are the big draw at the river mouth. Just about any of Oregon’s regular gull species can be found here in season. Elegant Tern and Little Gull have also been seen in the past. Migrants hanging around the river mouth have included rarities like Virginia Warbler, Northern Parula, Worm-eating Warbler, and Clay-colored Sparrow (several times). The trip up Winchuck River Road may bring you into contact with Mountain Quail, Ruffed Grouse, Sooty Grouse, several woodpecker species, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Varied Thrush, and many other forest species.

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