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Heceta Head Lighthouse

Heceta Head is about 17 miles south of the Yachats House, and 34 miles south of the Newport House.

Heceta Head State Park (which includes Devils Elbow) is located in a cove at the mouth of Cape Creek. There are picnic tables sheltered from the wind and a great view of the ocean. A short trail leads to the historic Heceta Head lighthouse and lighthousekeepers house. A recently-completed trail gives you a spectacular view of the coast north to Cape Perpetua.

Heceta Head trail is part of a 7-mile network. Trails of varying difficulty feature beach and wildlife viewing areas. Wildlife refuge islands feature a view of puffins, cormorants, gulls and other bird nesting areas. Sea lions and whales can be seen from the beach and cliff-top lighthouse.

There are natural caves, tidepools, a sandy beach for building sandcastles and good conditions for surfing. There are plenty of picnic tables for groups and areas to set up volleyball nets.

There is an interpretive program and gift shop.

Public tours of the light keeper's House are given from Memorial Day through Labor Day.  Hope is to extend the tours as more volunteers become available.

Listed in William Britten's "Top Ten Lighthouses," he calls the Heceta Lighthouse "Oregon's Jewel." 

Christmas 1996, a new tradition is born. Volunteers decorate the Keeper's House both inside and out. The public is invited to tour the Lighthouse and  Keeper's House and to hear holiday music by local musical groups.  Hot apple cider and home made cookies are served.  Each night is sponsored by a local business or civic group.  There is no charge to attend this event.

The lighthouse and keeper's house are featured in the PBS Television series "Legendary Lighthouses."  Video tapes of those programs are available from the "Lighthouse Depot."  These fine folks helped fund this excellent program on PBS. 

Many say the Keepers House is haunted.  The folklore is documented in such notable publications as "Life Magazine."  Several books chronicle the tales and most recently a program on "The History Channel." 

Vital stats
Call 1-800-551-6949 for information on rates and hours.

Yaquina Head Lighthouse

Yaquina Head is about 25 miles north of the Yachats House, and 8 miles north of the Newport House.

Have you ever climbed the stairs of a lighthouse?  Wondered what it was like to be a lighthouse keeper?  Viewed a working lens?  Visit Yaquina Head Lighthouse, where these questions and more will be answered, as you tour this historic structure.

The 93 foot tower, Oregon's tallest, is located on a narrow point of land jutting due west into the Pacific Ocean north of Newport, at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area.  Winds and rain have buffeted this lighthouse since its beginning in 1872.  It took approximately one year, and over 370,000 bricks to construct Oregon's tallest lighthouse.

The light has been active since Head Keeper Fayette Crosby walked up the 114 steps, to light the wicks on the evening of August 20, 1873.  At that time the oil burning fixed white light was displayed from sunset to sunrise.  Today, the fully automated first order Fresnel lens runs on commercial power and flashes its unique pattern of 2 seconds on, 2 seconds off, 2 seconds on, 14 seconds off, 24 hours a day.  The oil burning wicks have been replaced with a 1000 watt globe that according to the US Coast Guard, keepers of the aid to navigation, generates over 130,000 candlepower.

The nightly vigil of watching the light is gone as are the resident keepers and their quarters, but the staff of the Bureau of Land Management, who are now responsible for the tower, guide you through the lighthouse with tales of yesteryear.

Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area is the home of "Quarry Cove." This former rock quarry is now converted to a man-made system of living tidepools. It is accessible to all by a series of concrete pathways navigable by wheelchair! Consult a local tide table to plan your visit to coincide with low tide so you may enjoy this world class, unique feature!

In May of 1997 a new interpretive center was opened at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area. The center features exhibits related to many features of the area and a well stocked interpretive store. Proceeds from store sales directly benefits Yaquina Lights, Inc., as they are used for lighthouse interpretaion and maintenance. We hope to offer online shopping from this site soon!

Schedule  The lighthouse is open daily  from 12 P.M. to 4 P.M. (weather permitting).  Ask about private tours by calling the Bureau of Land Management at (541) 574- 3100, Monday thru Friday.

The Interpretive Store and the Interpretive Center are now on Winter Hours daily from 10 A.M. until 4 P.M.(Summer Hours, Memorial Day to labor Day, are10 A.M. until 5 P.M).The Interpretive Store may be reached at (541) 574-3116.

Fees  Entrance fees are charged at Yaquina Head Outstanding Area. Fees are $5 per car, which includes a three day pass. An annual pass may be purchased for $10, or you may obtain one with membership to Yaquina Lighthouses, Inc. Members of Yaquina Lights may enter free.