Hecata, Yeah!

Spend the Night at Historic Hecata Lighthouse on the Oregon Coast

You’ll have to travel further afield for this lighthouse gem on the magnificent Oregon Coast, but some things are worth the enlightenment! Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint, located close to the coastal hamlets of Florence and Yachats, is worth a stop and a stayover, if you’ve always wanted to spend the night at a lighthouse perched at a perfectly stunning vantage.

The lighthouse and viewing area is reached via a 0.5-mile moderate hike from the main parking area, from which you can easily access a sublime sheltered beach. As you wind your way up the Hecata Lighthouse Trail, you’ll pass the historic Hecata Lighthouse B&B—the only remaining assistant lightkeeper’s house on the Pacific Coast.

Constructed in 1893, today you can reserve an ocean-view room and imagine yourself as a lighthouse keeper from times gone by. Or just relish a bucket list overnight escape. Even if you only visit the lighthouse, it’s a historic beauty and a premier place for whale watching during migration seasons.

The hiking trail extends beyond the lighthouse on a 7-mile network of forested trail that’s part of the famous Oregon Coast Trail and leads to Washburne Campground. Be sure to have a map and a plan if you opt for this. Otherwise, return the way you came.

Hiking trail is dog-friendly.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  3. Serene Las Gallinas

    A serene stroll alongside marshland, passing ponds and grasses frilled in seasonal wildflowers, with Mount Tam a beacon in the background … how nice. As part of the esteemed Bay Trail, San Rafael’s Las Gallinas Valley Birding Loop and Wildlife Ponds comprises about 3.5 miles of wide-open trail.

    View
  4. Sponsored

    Weekend in Reno Tahoe

    Weekend plans? Reno Tahoe! Just a few hours by car or a short flight away, Reno Tahoe springs to the moment with great ways to combine adventure and relaxation in its beautiful mountains-meets-desert setting.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

    View
  2. Two women on e-bikes at Cass Vineyard and Winery near Paso Robles

    Eat, Drink, E-bike!

    No offense to charcuterie but sometimes you want a full meal while tasting world-class wine. And Paso Robles knows this better than perhaps any other wine region in California. Case in point: Cass Vineyard and Winery, where you can eat, drink, and e-bike!

    View
  3. Diamond in the Rough

    March Madness may be over, but the wildflower rush has just begun! This spring, in the Southern California regional bracket, Hemet’s Diamond Valley Lake is our surprise pick for the Fab Flowers Finals. Take a 2-mile round-trip hike in botanical bliss.

    View
  4. Jurupa Jamboree

    If you like a short hike with a side of adventure, try the Jurupa Hills North Trail in Martin Tudor Jurupa Hills Regional Park.

    View