Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint

Named for its crowning feature, the iconic Heceta Head Lighthouse, this park also features an historic bed and breakfast, a sheltered beach that's easy to access from the parking lot, and a challenging and scenic hike along a section of the Oregon Coast Trail.

Heceta Head Lighthouse Heceta Head Lighthouse sits 206 feet above the Pacific Ocean.

The iconic 56-foot tower, and stunning setting, make it one of the most photographed on the Oregon Coast. The light atop the tower was first illuminated in 1894.

Its automated beacon, seen 21 miles from land, is rated as the strongest light on the Oregon coast.

Inside the Lighthouse Visit the first floor of the lighthouse from 11 a. m. - 3 p. m. in the summer (March through October) and 11 a. m. - 2 p. m.

School and tour groups may schedule ahead by e-mail to heceta. h. lighthouse@oprd. oregon. gov . Upper levels are closed to the public.

For reservations, call 866-547-3696 or go to hecetalighthouse. com .

Common murres lay their eggs on the rocks below the viewpoint railing.

The park and surrounding ocean are part of Oregon’s largest marine reserve, the Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve . The Heceta Lighthouse T

The trail just before the lighthouse will take you to a viewpoint of the lens.

Hiking and Wildlife The lighthouse viewpoint is among the best on the coast for spotting whales during the winter and spring migration , as well as sea lions and many species of birds.

Visitors can book a room with ocean views and imagine the life of a lightkeeper. The inn is operated by a concessionaire of the U. S. Forest Service.

Heceta Head is named for Bruno de Heceta, a Spanish navigator and explorer, who surveyed the Oregon coast in 1775. The lighthouse was constructed between 1892 and 1893 and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The head lightkeeper’s house was demolished and the lumber purchased for $10 in 1940 following the move from kerosene to electricity to power the lighthouse. The salvaged wood was used to construct the Alpha-Bit Café in nearby Mapleton. The state of Oregon was granted a license to use the lighthouse and surrounding property by the Coast Guard in 1963, the same year that the lighthouse became fully automated. The assistant lightkeeper’s house, which still stands, is now a bed and breakfast operated by concessionaires of the U.S. Forest Service. The already-existing Devil’s Elbow State Park, which included a cove south of the lighthouse, was enlarged to include the lighthouse and renamed Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint, connecting it with Washburne State Park to the north. The land for Devil’s Elbow State Park was acquired between 1930 and 1987 by purchase from private owners as well as gifts and exchanges with U.S. government agencies. In 1998, Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint was officially deeded to OPRD by ODOT. In 2001, the remaining Coast Guard property was transferred to OPRD.