Heceta Head to Hobbit Trail & Hobbit Beach - Central Oregon Coast

This video contains footage from day 3 of my Florence/Oregon Dunes camping trip from late June 2022.
‪@WanderlustMAX‬
Music by NaturesEye
Pronounced “Ha - SEE - Ta” Head by most, “HECK - ah - Ta” Head by others, yet many people agree Heceta Head is one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world.
The surrounding headlands boast many attractions, such as a scenic beach cove, a conical rock and a hobbit trail for all you JRR Tolkien fans.
It’s got an awesome beach, a beautiful lighthouse, a conical rock and a hobbit trail for all you JRR Tolkien fans.
I started the day at Heceta beach, where a short trail leads to the lighthouse and lighthouse keeper’s home.
The Heceta Head Lighthouse and Light Keeper’s home are circa 1894. Nowadays, the lighthouse keepers’ home serves as a swanky bed and breakfast for those who want to pretend they married a lighthouse keeper And live by the side of the sea. A short path from the home leads to the lighthouse.
From a height of 205 feet above the ocean, the lens casts its beams some 21 miles out to sea making it the brightest light on the Oregon Coast. I can vouch for this as one night when I was hanging out at a beach miles away, I kept thinking someone was shining a flashlight toward me before I realized it was just the incremental flash of the lighthouse
Here we have an informational sign titled, Battle with the Elements, which is a battle that the sign itself is clearly losing…
It’s said to be the most photographed lighthouse in the United States. During business hours, you’ll need to muscle for position among other photographers to get a decent shot.
Oh yes, the trail to the top of the head is a steep one, but the steepest parts are made more comfortable by a wooden staircase complete with switchbacks
There are a multitude of side trails that lead to overlooks from the top of the headlands, which I found irresistible, so I cautiously scramble along each of them to up to peak over the edge.
Coming around the north side of the head, there is a partial clearing where you can peer down onto Hobbit Beach.
It’s amazing how much the name of a place impacts our desire to visit. I like JRR Tolkien, so I was excited to pretend I was a real-life hobbit and to take their trail.
The Internet is filled with articles about the Hobbit Trail, including ones with breathless headlines such as “Hike The Magical Hobbit Trail To a Secluded Oregon Beach." HAHA, I’ve seen many trails on the Oregon coast more hobbit-like than this one, but hey, it’s still a pleasure to stroll through the tunnel-like vegetation and emerge from a dark forest onto an ocean beach.
On the far side of the beach I saw some volcanic rock and decided to check out the tidepools. Don’t worry, I was sure not to touch the sea anemones with the camera 😊
Cliff-walled beaches are fun to walk along because you get to check out the ancient carvings along the sandstone.
I was expecting to see a hobbit hunched back behind the driftwood barrier, but alas
On the way back to Heceta beach, I took a side trail and found some curious symbols carved out of wood. I can only assume they have something to do with the Blair Hobbit witch or something.
Since the crowds had died down and the kids all went home, I took the opportunity to check out the sea caves on Heceta beach, some of them are stinky, some have clams shells and dead crustaceans in them, but they’re all slippery and drippy, so be careful out there folks.
Along with the Heceta Head Lighthouse and Light Keeper’s home , the Cape Creek Bridge on the National Register of Historic Places
Opened in 1932, The total length of the bridge is 619 feet The bridge resembles a Roman aqueduct, with a single parabolic arch that spans half its length
I’m not one to harass seagulls, but I encouraged by the the aire of annoyance this guy’s body language seemed to convey…” Seriously, man… don’t make me fly off this cliff to avoid you, c’mon I’m tired and I have to deal with enough of you humans driving up here …”
Thanks for watching Wanderlust Max and now for your moment of zen…
www.hecetaligh...