NORTH OF FLORENCE, Ore. -- If you were sailing across the Pacific Ocean to Oregon, the first light you'd see on the horizon would be the lighthouse at Heceta Head.

In operation since 1894, the lighthouse beams a beacon 21 miles out to sea from a perch 205 feet above the crash of the surf.

Visitors can tour the lighthouse 13 miles north of Florence, stay in the former lighthouse keeper's home (the beacon was automated in 1963) and hike Heceta Head and the wild beach beyond.

TOUR | STAY | HIKE | DIRECTIONS

PRONOUNCIATION
OK, first things first: How do you say H-E-C-E-T-A?

Heceta is pronounced "Ha – SEE – Ta” or “HECK – ah – Ta,” although the first version is closer to the likely prounounciation of its namesake, Don Bruno de Heceta.

De Heceta embarked in 1775 on a secret voyage for the Queen of Spain to sail up the West Coast. Scurvy forced Heceta and his crew to halt their journey before reaching the Columbia River. | MORE

TOURS
From May through September, free daily tours are led from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

The lighthouse is also open Friday-Monday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in March, April and October. You can arrange a special tour at any time of year by calling (541) 547-3416. | MORE INFO

BED & BREAKFAST
The Queen Anne-style house, enclosed by a white picket fence, was once home to the assistant lightkeepers. Now called Heceta House, a concessionaire operates a bed and breakfast and a facility for group events. Call (541) 547-3696. | MORE INFO

CAMPING
Washburne State Park offers spacious campsites north of Heceta Head. You can access the lighthouse from the park on a six-mile roundtrip hike, or drive down Highway 101 to the park entrance. A current state campground receipt gets you access to the day-use area at the lighthouse for free. | WASHBURNE STATE PARK

ADMISSION
The park charges a $3 day-use fee. You can buy a 12-month permit for $25 or a 24-month permit for $40. If you hike in on foot over Heceta Head, there is no fee.

The 1- and 2-year permits are good at all state park day-use areas. The day-use fee is waived for visitors with a current state park camping receipt.

Call 1-800-551-6949 for information.

HIKES, FROM EASY TO HARD
The quickest way to the lighthouse is the short hike to Heceta Head lighthouse from the day-use parking area.

For more challenging hikes, you can park at the Hobbit Beach parking area or Washburn State Park for a three or six-mile rountrip hike over Heceta Head to the lighthouse and back.

Hikers will be rewarded with dramatic views up the coastline (see right) and get a peak at the lighthouse from the trail.