2018 03 17 Heceta Head Lighthouse to Hobbit Trail - YouTube Just as you cross the road to escape traffic, you will immerse yourself into a deep and luscious coastal forest, lined with Sitka spruce and rhododendrons. There's very little and awkward parking. 4 miles round trip to Heceta Head. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. The trail to the beach is short and shady, and you'll start by meandering through moss-covered Sitka spruce along fern-lined trails. The trail passes two dark forest ponds, the second one with a small population of water lilies. Ralph Arvesen / Flickr The distance is about 4 miles round trip to Heceta Lighthouse from the trailhead on 101. 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. Colorful sandstone cliffs form a backdrop to the beach. The beach, of course, is a perfect spot to relax, but the real adventure is wandering through the gorgeous forest. This easy, 1-mile (round trip) hike will lead you though a lush, ancient forest before opening up onto a secret beach. We found ourselves alone on Hobbit Beach and wandered south in the direction of Heceta Head. swoodson/Tripadvisor. You will basically park across the highway at the China Creek Trailhead. Take the paved trail past the restrooms through a tunnel of stunted Sitka spruce and shore pine. I felt like I was walking through the Shire in LOTR! The Heceta Head Lighthouse shines the brightest beam on the Oregon Coast, and it was also the last lighthouse built in the system. Go right here, and drop above a leafy bowl of salal and Sitka spruce. A short spur leads to a view over shallow Beaver Lake. The route follows wide Hobbit Beach and picks up trails that wind through the spruce forest to the headland’s ridge crest before dropping to the lighthouse area. The trail starts to climb in earnest to … The original chief lightkeeper’s house also once stood in this picket-fenced yard, but when the light was electrified, three keepers became unnecessary, and the house was sold as surplus and demolished in 1940. Use extreme… Switchback up twice into a dense thicket of rhododendron, salal, and evergreen huckleberry. The road passes the Heceta Head Trail, which switchbacks numerous times up over the headland to the Hobbit Beach Trailhead, whence you can hike down to Hobbit Beach (see … Several trails are easily accessed from this trailhead, including one on the inland side of the highway that passes by a few ponds. 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. A short spur leads to a view over shallow Beaver Lake. 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. The hike back up to the freeway is much harder, so save some energy. From where you pick up the Hobbit Trail to the beach, it’s actually quite short – a 1/2 mile is all. Watch for the junction with the Heceta Head Trail. Traverse up and switchback to drop again into another bowl. mdi-home-outline Go Home Brochures and Maps; News Media; Contact; Commenting Guidelines; Find us on Facebook The Heceta Lighthouse Trail continues behind the lighthouse and descends steeply on its way to Washburne campground and the beach. to start your adventure. 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We'll take the Hobbit Trail to the beach, and then return over the same route to the parking lot. Note the mouth of the trail is at marker 93 (you can’t miss the large metal sign). When he is not sharing all the best parts of Oregon online, he is out looking for a new place to explore. Trailhead: Hobbit Trail Trailhead (turnout on Highway 101 a little north of Heceta Head) Miles: 1 mile round trip to the beach. 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. 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. 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. This trail is mostly uphill, and if it rains part of this trail part of this gorgeous trail can be slippery. Trail routing and conditions are subject to change. 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. If you’d like to explore more after Hobbit Beach, you can take the 2-mile trail to the left of the sign to Heceta Head Lighthouse. Watch for a pullout with a small parking lot, then cross the highway (carefully!) You will see the roadside parking approximately .5 miles from Heceta Head Lighthouse Scenic State Viewpoint (formerly known as Devils Elbow State Park). Immediately you will find a signed trail junction, where you should walk left to stay on the Hobbit Trail and get to the beach, or walk right if you’d like a longer hike to Heceta Head. Then sign up for our Newsletter and get Updates on Events, Places to Explore, Discounts, Giveaways and More! Tyler Willford is a native to Oregon and is currently living in the Eugene area. But it was absolutely gorgeous, so green and lush, and the views are breath taking! The trail is uphill most of the way, and if it has rained this part can become slippery. He has been blogging since 2011 & created That Oregon Life as a passion in 2013. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. The route to the Heceta Head Lighthouse is actually a combination of two hiking trails. Emerging from this magical tunnel onto Hobbit Beach, you will see to the south the towering walls of Heceta Head, where sea stars and anemones cling to rock walls and a few small tidepools delight the careful observer. Hood Turns The Hill Into A Dance Floor. Just off the Oregon coast near Florence, you will find this short but gorgeous hike from Hobbit Beach to Heceta Head. If you are coming from Florence you will travel 12 miles north on Highway 101. Year round, the Heceta Head Lightstation offers a Bed and Breakfast for the romantic and adventurous traveler. © 2021 | That Oregon Life LLC | All rights reserved, Hike The Magical Hobbit Trail To a Secluded Oregon Beach. 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. A spur leads right to a viewpoint. The distance is about 4 miles round trip to Heceta Lighthouse from the trailhead on 101. 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. This hiking journey begins on the Valley Trail at Carl G. Washburne State Park and follows China Creek to a meadow. by CoastView | Nov 5, 2019 Go to Hobbit Beach Hobbit Beach is a secluded strand located just north of Heceta Head, about 13 miles (21 km) north of Florence and 12.5 miles (20 km) south of Yachats, Oregon. Combination of two hiking trails tour Guide our website just off the Oregon Coast download free... Uphill, and Head down through dense, dark spruce forest road and start down Hobbit... Short spur leads to the beach, it’s actually quite short – a mile! Life as a passion in 2013 find Cape Creek Cove, which creates a tunnel! Assistant lightkeepers and their families short but gorgeous hike from Hobbit beach to Heceta Head Lighthouse shines the brightest on... The second one with a carpet of feather moss and silk-moss uphill on... South in the elevation Gain ( over 500 feet ) in both.. Entrance road for Washburne State Park and follows China Creek trailhead feather and... 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