Heceta Head to Hobbit Beach, OR


• 4-star hikes
• 1 to 4 mile options
• Easy & Moderate | Gain 130 to 980 feet
• Florence, OR | Oregon
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The lighthouse, perched on a cliff with its red roof and gleaming glass beacon, stands as a classic symbol of maritime safety. The attached building and paved walkway suggest it's accessible to visitors, and the presence of people adds a sense of scale and liveliness. The ocean stretching to the horizon evokes a feeling of vastness and tranquility, while the tree on the right subtly frames the image and softens the ruggedness of the cliff.
Heceta Head Lighthouse from the trail above.

Connecting the oft-photographed Heceta Head Lighthouse with the unspoiled expanse of Hobbit Beach, The Heceta Head Trail winds its way through dense forest, up and over the coastal promontory. From an elevated position, the trail provides some less frequented views of the lighthouse, and an overlook over miles of sandy wilderness to the north.

The Heceta Head Trail involves some elevation gain on an otherwise mostly easy trail. However, much can persist on this trail throughout the year, even at its higher points, which can result in some slippery sections, particularly on the northern side.
⬤ 4★ Heceta Head & Hobbit Beach   3.8 mi out & back, moderate, gain 980 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions* GPX?
⬤ 4★ Heceta Head Lighthouse   0.9 mi out & back, easy, gain 130 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions*
⬤ 3★ Hobbit Beach Trail   0.7 mi out & back, easy, gain 170 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions**
 $  *State Park fee    P  **Free parking

The best way to reach the trail is from the Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint, managed by Oregon State Parks. The park has two paid parking lots that are accessible from offramps on either side of US Route 101. Situated next to the scenic Cape Creek beach and historic bridge, a half-mile trail leads up to the lighthouse where you can enter the ground floor of the lighthouse, and pick up an ice cream from the gift shop on the way. The 1894 Heceta Head Lighthouse might be only 56 feet tall in height, but its beam can be seen by boats on the Pacific Ocean up to 24 miles distant.

Alternatively, a limited number of free parking spots are available along the side of Route 101, located towards the north end of the Heceta Head Trail. From here it's only a third of a mile to Hobbit Beach. If the beach is your destination and you're having difficulties finding parking spots, then the Carl G Washburne State Park one mile further north has beach access and paid day-use parking.

Scenic coastal path bordered by a wooden fence, with people walking—some accompanied by dogs—amid dense greenery. Two large rock formations rise from the ocean in the background under a clear blue sky.
Grab an ice-cream on the way up the easy lighthouse trail.

Interior view of a lighthouse showing a black metal spiral staircase winding upward inside a cylindrical brick tower, with wall-mounted lights illuminating the brickwork and ceiling.
Visit the ground floor of the lighthouse.

Two people walking along a narrow dirt path through a sunlit forest with tall trees and dense green foliage. The person in the foreground wears a dark jacket and jeans; the one ahead wears a dark shirt and shorts. Sunlight filters through the canopy, casting dappled light on the trail and creating a peaceful, natural setting.
Heading up into the Heceta Headlands.

Scenic view of a coastline with waves crashing onto a sandy beach, bordered by green hills and cliffs. Tall trees in the foreground frame the scene like a natural window, contrasting with the bright ocean and shoreline in the distance
North towards four miles of Hobbit Beach.

Wide sandy beach with a large piece of driftwood in the foreground, gentle waves approaching the shore, and a steep forested cliff covered in dense green trees rising in the background. The sky is clear with a few wispy clouds, creating a tranquil coastal scene.
Sandy wilderness at the end of the Hobbit Beach Trail.

Tangents:
• Official: Heceta State Scenic Viewpoint
• AllTrails Public: Heceta Lighthouse to Hobbit Beach
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