Yamaha Motor Corp., USA made one of the largest grants in the history of its Outdoor Access Initiative to improve visitor education, responsible recreation and OHV access at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.
Announced in January 2025, the grant supported a partnership between Yamaha, The Great Outdoors Fund and the U.S. Forest Service. The project was designed to replace aging information kiosks, add bilingual educational panels and simplify recreation-fee payments throughout the Oregon Dunes.
The investment represented more than a signage upgrade. At one of America’s most important coastal riding destinations, clear information about noise limits, riding boundaries and environmental protections can help demonstrate that responsible OHV recreation and conservation can coexist.
One of Yamaha’s Largest Outdoor Access Grants
Yamaha awarded the grant to The Great Outdoors Fund for improvements across the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, commonly known as the ODNRA.
The project included:
- Replacing 41 aging information kiosks
- Installing 55 new educational panels
- Providing information in both English and Spanish
- Displaying OHV noise regulations more prominently
- Explaining environmental protections and responsible-riding practices
- Adding QR codes that allow visitors to pay recreation fees electronically
A Youth Corps crew was also scheduled to assist the Forest Service with rebuilding the kiosks and installing the new signs.
The bilingual panels were intended to make essential riding information accessible to a broader group of visitors, including the Oregon Dunes’ growing Hispanic recreation community.
Why Visitor Education Matters at the Oregon Dunes
Located within Oregon’s Siuslaw National Forest, the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area stretches for approximately 40 miles along the coast between Florence and Coos Bay.
Its OHV opportunities are divided among three principal riding regions: the Florence area, the Umpqua Dunes near Winchester Bay and the Coos Bay riding area. Together, they offer a distinctive combination of open sand, forested trails, lakes and coastal scenery.
The Oregon Dunes are also one of the relatively few coastal dune systems in the United States where motorized recreation remains available. That makes responsible use especially important.
Noise complaints, riding outside designated boundaries and confusion about regulations can all contribute to access conflicts. Yamaha’s investment focused on putting clear information where visitors make decisions—at staging areas, kiosks and other points connected to OHV recreation.
“Yamaha’s commitment not only aims to improve the visitor experience and promote responsible recreation but also to address crucial challenges facing the area, such as noise management and habitat preservation,” said Lori McCullough, founder and CEO of The Great Outdoors Fund.
According to McCullough, the signs were designed to display noise regulations prominently while helping visitors understand how their actions can affect wildlife and the surrounding ecosystem.
Supporting Recreation and Conservation
The kiosk project reflected a practical approach to protecting riding opportunities: give visitors the information they need to follow the rules, reduce conflicts and support responsible recreation.
“Yamaha is all-in on this effort to preserve the unique experience at Oregon Dunes, which draws OHV enthusiasts from across the nation,” said Steve Nessl, motorsports marketing manager for Yamaha Motor Corporation. “By making these critical updates, we’re helping ensure that this iconic landscape remains accessible, welcoming, and sustainable for generations to come.”
The Forest Service also viewed the project as an opportunity to improve both public access and environmental stewardship.
“We appreciate TGOF forging this new partnership with Yamaha and can now implement these much-needed educational updates that support both the OHV community and our commitment to conservation,” said Becca Brooke, forest supervisor for the Siuslaw National Forest.
QR Codes Help Support Recreation-Site Maintenance
The updated kiosks incorporated QR codes as the Forest Service moved toward cashless recreation-fee collection.
Visitors could use their phones to reach online payment options instead of relying entirely on cash at individual sites. The change was intended to simplify payment while helping collect the fees used to operate and maintain recreation facilities.
Although that may appear to be a minor technological improvement, reliable fee collection helps support staging areas, restrooms, signs and other infrastructure used by the riding community.
Oregon Dunes Access Faces New Challenges
Update: August 2026 — The access situation at the Oregon Dunes has changed significantly since Yamaha’s grant was announced.
Following an August 10, 2026 federal court order connected to litigation over the threatened coastal marten, the Siuslaw National Forest closed Banshee Hill and a portion of the Umpqua Dunes south of Winchester Bay. The Forest Service also instituted a motorized-vehicle curfew from 10:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. throughout the Middle Riding Area.
The restrictions are expected to remain in place while the court considers longer-term interim measures.
Yamaha’s education and stewardship investment did not cause or resolve that litigation. However, the new restrictions underscore why responsible-use projects are important. Visible rules, accurate boundary information and rider education can help reduce avoidable conflicts while showing that the OHV community is willing to invest in the places it uses.
Read our complete report on the lawsuit and current threats to Oregon Dunes OHV access.
Because conditions can change, visitors should also check current Forest Service orders and maps before traveling to the dunes.
About the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative
Established in 2008, the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative supports organizations working to improve and protect access to public land for motorized and outdoor recreation.
Its grants have funded trail rehabilitation, bridge construction, signage, safety education, invasive-species control and other stewardship projects across the United States.
The Oregon Dunes project illustrates the program’s broader strategy: helping local organizations and public-land managers address practical problems that can affect long-term recreational access.
Learn more about Yamaha’s continuing work through our coverage of the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative’s 2026 grants.
For additional details about the kiosk project, visit The Great Outdoors Fund.
Explore more reporting about public-land policy, trail stewardship and riding-area closures in our Land Use & Access coverage, or browse the latest Yamaha UTV news, reviews and history.
