Cox Island, Siuslaw River Sanctuary: 
Cox Island is in the middle of the Siuslaw River a few miles inland from Florence Oregon. Now owned by the Oregon Nature Conservancy, it is a prime example of an estuarine saltmarsh ecosystem. During high tides, the island is flooded by the rising tide. During low tides, the island's mudflats are revealed, supporting large colonies of shrimp and clams which great blue heron and other birds and mammals feast on. The island is dissected by a maze of channels, narrow but deep and not suitable for foot travel.
You can reach Cox Island by boat; it's an easy kayak and canoe paddle, particularly if you can time your trip by the tides, floating down to the island as the tide goes out and floating back to the ramp as the tide comes back in. If you'd like to rent a kayak or canoe, Central Coast Watersports, right on Highway 101 at 19th Street a couple of miles north of Old Town Florence, can fix you right up. You can launch at the public boat ramp at Cushman, a few miles up 126 from the Florence city limits. Cox Island is a mile downstream. Land your boat on the northeast corner where the old house is. That's the safest spot. But be sure that your boat is tied up securely lest the tide take it all the way to the mouth of the Siuslaw, some seven miles away.
The best times to visit are during the Spring and Summer. There are over 80 species of birds to watch for including great egrets, phalaropes, whimbrels and short-billed dowitchers. Beaver, river otter, muskrat and mink call the island home. It is common to see bald eagles and hawks.
For more information, visit the Oregon Nature Conservancy.
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