Heceta Head Lighthouse

Heceta Head Lighthouse is a working lighthouse (it beams 21 miles out to sea) and is the brightest light on the Oregon coast. It is said to be the most photographed lighthouse in the United States.

Central Oregon Coast




HECETA HEAD LIGHTHOUSE


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A BRIEF SUMMARY OF HECETA HEAD LIGHTHOUSE

Heceta Head Lighthouse - you would think with the vast amounts of shoreline along the Oregon coast you would be able to find tons of great lighthouses to photograph. I have not found that to be the case, but luckily there is Heceta Head Lighthouse. This is a nice location with easy access and multiple ways to shoot.

Heceta Head Lighthouse is a working lighthouse (it beams 21 miles out to sea) and is the brightest light on the Oregon coast. It is said to be the most photographed lighthouse in the United States. I have seen good shoots from behind the lighthouse, down on the beach, but my favorite spot is from the highway north of the bridge. There are also lots of good times to shoot this classic lighthouse: fogged in, the middle of the day, sunset, or just before dusk when the light is visible. 

Above images by Alex Morley @ www.alexmorleyphoto.com

 

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DATA POINTS INCLUDED WITH HECETA HEAD LIGHTHOUSE SUMMARY

Trail Difficulty - EASY

I would rate the difficulty of this trail as a 1 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being most difficult). There are 2 locations to shoot the Heceta Head Lighthouse: 1) on the beach or 2) on a highway pullout located 0.7 mile south of the main entrance, over the bridge and up the hill.

If you shoot from the beach, it is an easy 100yd. walk from the parking lot, but you may have to wade through some water. If you shoot from the highway pullout, it is an easy 20f.t walk from your car. 

Photography Tips

There are 2 different places to shoot the lighthouse: 1) on the beach or 2) on a highway pullout located 0.7 mile south of the main entrance, over the bridge and up the hill.

If you shoot on the beach, the best place is on the far left of the beach up against the cliff. To get to this spot you may have to wade through some water, but it provides a nice vantage point for evening or sunset.

My favorite location to shoot the lighthouse is on one of the pullouts south of the entrance. There are 2 separate pullouts. A larger one (holds 2-3 cars) and a very small one about 100yds. down the hill. I believe the smaller pullout provides the best angle for an evening/sunset shot. 

What Lens(es) Do You Need

The above shot was taken with a 50mm lens. Depending on the composition you are looking for, you can use anything from a 24mm to a 135mm lens.

GPS Coordinates & Elevation
 

Other Resources Available with Membership

  • KMZ Trail File

  • Directions

  • Best Time of Day to Shoot

  • Best Time of Year to Shoot

  • Equipment Needed

  • Permits Required

  • Direction of Shot

  • Google Maps Birds-Eye-View

  • Number of Photographers to Expect

  • Cell Service

  • Overnight Lodging/Camping

  • Nearby Restaurants

  • Area Guides and Workshops

  • Other Resources

 
 

LOCATION SUMMARIES WRITTEN BY PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS

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Tim Wier