GPS Coordinates: 45.0197432, -123.9774736

REGIONS > OREGON COAST > CENTRAL OREGON COAST
> LINCOLN CITY AND VICINITY > CASCADE HEAD
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Westwind is a 503-acre (2.04 km2) wedge of land between the Pacific Ocean, the Salmon River and the Cascade Head Scenic Research Area.

Originally established in 1937 as a YWCA camp for kids, Westwind is unique because at least part of every major coastal ecosystem is found within its boundaries. Imagine the generations of young people who enjoyed hikes among the towering conifers of the uplands; or a slow slog along the muddy banks of the Salmon River estuary.

At night, songs and ghost stories were shared around fires nestled among the beach dunes.

Today, Westwind still provides amazing outdoor experiences for people of all ages — but perhaps with a slightly different focus. In the 1990s, the YWCA ceded control of the camp to the Westwind Stewardship Group, a non-profit organization which continusd the long-standing camp tradition with a new emphasis on environmental education. Campers still enjoy sleeping in rustic cabins and sharing their meals in the impressive nearby lodge, but they’re also given the chance to truly understand the space around them.

Six major trails crisscross the Westwind property. The most popular follow the sand spit at the mouth of the Salmon River and then head east along a fertile estuary. Three others explore high coastal meadows and the isolated wetland along Lost Lake.

​Take a look at the slideshow to the right for some additional images of the Westwind area.