The Winchuck River estuary is located on the Oregon coast at the Oregon - California border. The estuary is approximately 130 acres in area and has a watershed of approximately 70 square miles.

The Winchuck River estuary is designated as a Conservation estuary under the Oregon Estuary Classification system. The geomorphology of the area is that of a Blind estuary.

The Winchuck River estuary is located in Curry County. The formerly mining centered economy of Curry County has largely reoriented to agriculture and timber. Port Orford cedar (Lawson Cypress) and myrtlewood are important export products. Port districts were established at Port Orford in 1919 and Gold Beach in 1955. The county has excellent grazing areas for raising cattle and sheep. The county also produces blueberries, horticultural nursery stock, and ninety percent of all Easter lilies raised in the United States. Vacation and recreational possibilities in the county draw tourists to the area and provide additional economic diversity. The first county census in 1860 showed a population of 393 in Curry County. There has been a steady increase in population with the 1997 population given at 22,200, a 14.9% increase over 1990.

Winchuck Wayside, along the Winchuck River, is a great fishing and clamming spot, and a good place to observe marine life. In addition, most of the remaining unprotected ancient redwood groves in Oregon are in the Peavine Ridge, Bear Ridge and Bridge Creek areas of southern Curry County, on the Chetco Ranger District of the Siskiyou National Forest.