Heceta Head Lighthouse

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Although the parking area is for visitors wishing to hike to the lighthouse, the beach here is quite dramatic. Cape Creek spills across the beach into the ocean waves and the beach is bookended with sea cliffs. Heceta Head is named for Bruno de Heceta, a Spanish navigator and explorer, who surveyed the Oregon coast in 1775.

Oregon Coast Sights

Oregon Coast

Heceta Head Lighthouse Trail

The Heceta Head trail leaves from the parking area 1/2 mile up to the lighthouse. The trail is more like a road, is well graveled and very smooth. Everyone from children to grandma wants to hike the trail to get to the lighthouse so travel times vary from just a few minutes to half an hour for some folks. From the lighthouse, there are more spectacular views of this area of rugged coast and offers chances to see whales. On the north side of the lighthouse you can also access the lighthouse via a two-mile segment of the Oregon Coast Trail gaining 600 feet.

Heceta Lighthouse

The lighthouse is a 56-foot tower that sits 205 feet above the ocean. It was first illuminated in 1894. Today its an automated beacon, which can be seen 21 miles from land, and is rated as teh strongest light on the Oregon coast. The historic assistant light keepers house (the Heceta House), was built in 1893 and is now maintained by the concessionaires of the U.S. Forest Service. It offers bead and breakfast accommodations and rental facilities for group events.

Heceta Lighthouse Viewpoint

Just to the south from the highway is a great vantage point of the Heceta Head Lighthouse.