Reedsport, OR

Reedsport sits along the Umpqua River just a few miles inland from the central Oregon coast. With a population of around 4,300, it is a quiet, working-class river town rooted in timber and commercial fishing. Today, the area attracts people who want easy access to outdoor recreation, from salmon and steelhead fishing on the river to riding the nearby Oregon Dunes and visiting the harbor at Winchester Bay.

ATTRA'eron Blackman / CC BY 3.0

Day-to-day life centers around Highway 101 and the historic Old Town riverfront, where you will find local cafes, shops, and the Umpqua Discovery Center. Just east of town, the Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area offers year-round views of local Roosevelt elk herds. Families are served by Highland Elementary and the Reedsport Community Charter School, and annual traditions like the Oregon Divisional Chainsaw Sculpting Championships draw big crowds each summer. It is a scenic, laid-back coastal base with a strong sense of local community.