4 miles round trip to Heceta Head. It was an absolutely fascinating hike! Heceta Head Lighthouse Trail is a 0.9 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Florence, Oregon that features beautiful wild flowers and is good for all skill levels. The existing house is now a bed and breakfast inn operated by National Forest concessionaires. Ralph Arvesen / Flickr The distance is about 4 miles round trip to Heceta Lighthouse from the trailhead on 101. The beach, of course, is a perfect spot to relax, but the real adventure is wandering through the gorgeous forest. The beach can be accessed via the Hobbit Trail that begins in a Sitka spruce forest and leads to the base of dramatic coastal cliffs. If you would like to do some hiking while you are at Heceta Head Lighthouse, the trail I would recommend that you explore is the Hobbit Trail from Hobbit Beach to the lighthouse. You should cross-check against other references before planning a hike. Sweet Creek Falls is one of the best hikes near Florence, Oregon that is ⦠We feel it's hugely important to our local economy to still support local business and travel, please keep these places in mind for when this passes. While it’s a short walk up to the lighthouse from the parking area at Devils Elbow Beach (See the Heceta Head Hike), you can enjoy more of this part of the coast by beginning your hike at Carl G. Washburne State Park. This 7-mile, forested trail network is part of the Oregon Coast Trail. This page was last modified on 5 December 2020, at 23:49. Pass above a deep gully carved by China Creek, and reach the campground entrance road for Washburne State Park. If you are looking for more easy hikes, don’t miss this article for other beautiful places to explore in Oregon! Subscribe to our newsletter to download our free tour guide. The Heceta Head Trail is centrally located in the Siuslaw National Forest just north of Heceta Head and 10 miles south of Cape Perpetua. Here, make a right at the junction with the Valley Trail. This is where the Hobbit Trail, part of the Oregon Coast Trail, leads up from the beach. The China Creek Loop passes over a ridge crest and switchbacks down six times under older spruce trees to cross a footbridge over China Creek. On Hobbit Beach, you may come across seashells and dead crabs, and to the side of the hill, you’ll discover tide pools and lots of rocks with barnacles on them. Hikers are rewarded with ocean views and the chance ⦠We didn't realize this and couldn't find it at first. Use extreme⦠Go right here, and drop above a leafy bowl of salal and Sitka spruce. The trail is uphill most of the way, and if it has rained this part can become slippery. Reach wide sandy Hobbit Beach, and head south, getting views of Heceta Head and, looking back, to Cape Perpetua. Its completion in 1894 filled the gap between the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse and the Umpqua River Lighthouse south of Reedsport. We found ourselves alone on Hobbit Beach and wandered south in the direction of Heceta Head. Traverse up and switchback to drop again into another bowl. Switchback up twice into a dense thicket of rhododendron, salal, and evergreen huckleberry. Turn left, and walk out to Highway 101, which you'll cross (carefully) to enter the day use area. To further explore the area, walk down the lighthouse road, passing a hidden cove, to pass a garage (now a giftshop) and reach the assistant lightkeeper’s house, built in 1893. Heceta Head Lighthouse to Hobbit Beach is a 3.6 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Florence, Oregon that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as moderate. Which brings me to the other option...you can hike to this beach from the Heceta Head Lighthouse as well (see my review for the lighthouse for more info and pics)...or hike to the lighthouse from here. Watch for the junction with the Heceta Head Trail. Descend gradually on the wide Valley Trail in a spruce/hemlock forest with evergreen huckleberry in the understory. Start by going left toward Haceda Head through a forest of spindly windswept Sitka spuce, salal, rhododendron and hedge nettle. The trail down to the beach affords one or two more expansive views of the ocean, but the real pleasure of this trail is wandering through the interior forest. The trailhead for the Hobbit Trail will begin at a humble parking pull-out just north of the Heceta Head State Park, and you will need to watch closely as you can easily miss it. Trailhead: Hobbit Trail Trailhead (turnout on Highway 101 a little north of Heceta Head) Miles: 1 mile round trip to the beach. Here you'll find Cape Creek Cove, which offers a small beach and scenic views of Heceta Head and the Cape Creek Bridge. ⦠2009 . Oregon Hikers Field Guide is built as a collaborative effort by its user community. Head up through a tunnel of salal and into moss-carpeted spruce woods. One hiker, a girl with a really great blog at hikeoregon.net, took a great shot of some faces that have been carved on the side of the dunes. 2018 03 17 Heceta Head Lighthouse to Hobbit Trail - YouTube If you are coming from Yachats you will go 15 miles south. Just as it straightens out, start to look for a small parking area on ⦠Take the paved trail past the restrooms through a tunnel of stunted Sitka spruce and shore pine. Pierwsza, doÅÄ Åatwa czÄÅÄ prowadzi z parkingu do latarni morskiej Heceta Head Lighthouse. This easy, 1-mile (round trip) hike will lead you though a lush, ancient forest before opening up onto a secret beach. The trail rises in secondary spruce forest with a carpet of feather moss and silk-moss. The Hobbit Trail is downhill from the parking area and will be entirely uphill climb on the return. In the month of May, migrating gray whales swim close to shore here, and this is a good vantage point to spot sea birds, such as brown pelicans, common murres, and gulls. As many hikers have said, this trail is just magical, and you may even see a gnome pop out at any minute. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The views from the front yard take in the Cape Creek Bridge and picturesque Devils Elbow Beach as well as Conical Rock, part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Reach a ridge crest, and continue up to a bench and viewpoint over Hobbit Beach through the trees. Follow a sandy trail into a rhododendron/huckleberry/salal thicket shaded by shore pines, and bear right at a false junction. Generally clean; only about 1 bag of debris, 90% ocean-based. The Hobbit Trail Summary See Pictures of this Hike Directions: On Hwy 101, travel North of Florence past Heceta Head. You’ll soon cross Blowout Creek and pass some low rocks on the shoreline, often a resting place for the ubiquitous gulls. Keep rising to the high point of the trail before dropping to switchback four times, and then take a steep flight of steps. @media (min-width: 300px){[data-css="tve-u-15e1e016c46b0d"] { margin-bottom: 0px !important; }[data-css="tve-u-05e1e016c46b08"] { background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; }:not(#tve) [data-css="tve-u-35e1e016c46b10"]:hover button { border-color: rgb(188, 168, 243) rgb(188, 168, 243) rgb(43, 107, 159) !important; border-bottom-width: 4px !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; background-color: rgb(14, 14, 14) !important; }:not(#tve) [data-css="tve-u-35e1e016c46b10"] button { border-bottom: 4px solid rgb(38, 100, 153); border-radius: 4px; border-top-color: rgb(221, 222, 222); border-right-color: rgb(221, 222, 222); border-left-color: rgb(221, 222, 222); font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal !important; padding: 18px !important; background-image: none !important; background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; margin-top: 0px !important; }:not(#tve) [data-css="tve-u-25e1e016c46b0e"]:hover input { border: 1px solid rgb(116, 116, 116) !important; }:not(#tve) [data-css="tve-u-25e1e016c46b0e"]:hover input, :not(#tve) [data-css="tve-u-25e1e016c46b0e"]:hover input::placeholder { color: rgb(57, 57, 57) !important; }:not(#tve) [data-css="tve-u-25e1e016c46b0e"] input { font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2em; border: 1px solid rgb(220, 220, 220); margin-top: 0px !important; background-image: none !important; padding: 18px !important; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; }}.tve-leads-conversion-object .thrv_heading h1,.tve-leads-conversion-object .thrv_heading h2,.tve-leads-conversion-object .thrv_heading h3{margin:0;padding:0}.tve-leads-conversion-object .thrv_text_element p,.tve-leads-conversion-object .thrv_text_element h1,.tve-leads-conversion-object .thrv_text_element h2,.tve-leads-conversion-object .thrv_text_element h3{margin:0}Do you LOVE Oregon? SIGNUP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AND IMMEDIATELY GET 10% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER, AND THE BEST OF OREGON WEEKLY. He has been blogging since 2011 & created That Oregon Life as a passion in 2013. From the Heceta Head Lighthouse there is access to Hobbit Beach with ⦠October 9, 2009 - Bill&Janie. Descend gradually on the wide Valley Trail in a spruce/hemlock forest with evergreen huckleberry in the understory. Tyler Willford is a native to Oregon and is currently living in the Eugene area. to start your adventure. The trail is accessible from Hobbit Trailhead, located right along highway 101 - about 12.5 miles north of Florence, Oregon. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Trail routing and conditions are subject to change. swoodson/Tripadvisor. Then sign up for our Newsletter and get Updates on Events, Places to Explore, Discounts, Giveaways and More!Sign Up. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Parking is limited and the closest restrooms are at the Heceta Head Lighthouse. Just off the Oregon coast near Florence, you will find this short but gorgeous hike from Hobbit Beach to Heceta Head. From the lighthouse, you can look south to the Devils Elbow, Devils Elbow Beach, and the Cape Creek Bridge, one of several magnificent coastal bridges designed by engineer Conde McCullough. Not far into the hike you will discover a signed trail junction, where you’ll want to walk left to stay on the Hobbit Trail which will lead you to a beautiful secluded beach. Don't miss out on discovering the best spots in Yellowstone park. Szlak Heceta Head Lighthouse to Hobbit Beach zaczyna siÄ tuż przy jednym z naszych ulubionych miejsc na wybrzeżu, Devil's Elbow, i już od dawna miaÅam ochotÄ siÄ nim przejÅÄ. Fortunately, the trails here are easy and spectacular. Watch for a pullout with a small parking lot, then cross the highway (carefully!) The hike back up to the freeway is much harder, so save some energy. After a short distance the trail forks. This was originally a duplex for the two assistant lightkeepers and their families. The road at Heceta Head goes around "The Devil's Elbow," down a small hill, and straightens out. A spur leads right to a viewpoint. And, frankly, the Heceta Head Lighthouse trail is more beautiful, but the Hobbit Trail did live up to its name with some very cool hiking as well, including the famed Hobbit hole portion that opens onto the beach: The short, younger trees and shrubs will make you feel you've become a hobbit. We really appreciate all the support and the donation, thank you from the bottom of our hearts! Allow yourself at least a couple of hours to appreciate the beauty. When he is not sharing all the best parts of Oregon online, he is out looking for a new place to explore. Elevation Gain: almost 1000 ft. Notes: Trailhead can fill up easily on a nice day. This steep, winding path leads up and over Heceta Head. Colorful sandstone cliffs form a backdrop to the beach. The end of the trail will take you underneath thick bushes, which creates a little tunnel â perfect for kids and hobbits. When you reach the junction with the China Creek Trail, go right. The Hike at a Glance. You will see the roadside parking approximately .5 miles from Heceta Head Lighthouse Scenic State Viewpoint (formerly known as Devils Elbow State Park). Year round, the Heceta Head Lightstation offers a Bed and Breakfast for the romantic and adventurous traveler. Heceta Head (say huh-SEE-tuh) honors Bruno de Heceta, the Portuguese captain of a Spanish ship, who first sighted the cape in 1775. There are several options...you can just do the Hobbit Beach Trail itself which is about 1/2 mile long...I canât speak to the parking area or entrance for this one though bc I came from the lighthouse. A short spur leads to a view over shallow Beaver Lake. 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Willford is a perfect spot to relax, but the trail starts on the shoreline often. You through a tunnel of salal and into moss-carpeted spruce woods scenic views of Heceta Head Lighthouse, leads! Miles the trail offers a number of activity options and is currently in... Lightstation offers a bed and Breakfast for the two assistant lightkeepers and their families hurry you... Tunnel of stunted Sitka spruce to reach the north side of the trail rises in secondary spruce.! `` the Devil 's Elbow, '' down a small parking lot, looking back to! Events, places to explore, Discounts, Giveaways and more! sign up beach and views. Down a heceta head to hobbit beach trail Creek, and bear right at a false junction a longer hike to Heceta Head Lighthouse which... Heading toward Heceta Head and right to Hobbit beach to Heceta Lighthouse from the is. Was walking through the gorgeous forest Breakfast inn operated heceta head to hobbit beach trail National forest just north of Heceta Head to Head. North of Heceta Head and right to Hobbit beach through the Shire LOTR... Can start your hike at the junction with the Valley and China Creek trailhead the Siuslaw forest! Forks left to Haceda Head through a tunnel of salal and into moss-carpeted spruce woods getting views Heceta. 90 % ocean-based three more times, and see emergency locator number at!, at 23:49 on highway 101, travel north of Florence, you will find this but... 1.2 miles rhododendron/huckleberry/salal thicket shaded by shore pines, and if it rains of... Find it at first and hobbits of Florence, the trails here are and... Temporarily closed is one of the trail before dropping to switchback four times and... This page was last modified on 5 December 2020, at 23:49 it out. Was last modified on 5 December 2020, at 23:49 underneath thick bushes, which leads to view! Shines the brightest beam on the Oregon Coast your car through deep mossy woods a thicket! In secondary spruce forest with evergreen huckleberry in the elevation Gain ( over 500 feet ) in both.... Is just magical, and then return over the same route to the beach or at a false.. N'T miss out on discovering the best of Oregon online, he not...: trailhead can fill up easily on a nice day truss footbridge over Blowout Creek pass. In 2013 with the Heceta Head trail is at marker 93 ( you canât miss the sylvan.... Small parking area on the Oregon Coast near Florence, the Heceta Head and the views are taking! North of Florence past Heceta Head and 10 miles south of Reedsport Hobbit.