Hobbit Trail

Several trails are easily accessed from this trailhead, including one on the inland side of the highway that passes by a few ponds. But for the best scenery in my humble opinion, cross the highway from the parking lot and head toward the beach on the Hobbit Trail. After a short distance the trail forks. Follow the left fork to climb up to Heceta Head and the lighthouse or follow the right fork to continue along the Hobbit Trail to the beach. The trail to the beach is relatively short, but does loose a bit of elevation on its way to the Pacific Ocean. The closer you get to the beach, the deeper the trail is worn into the sand. Feel small and hobbit-like as the ground begins somewhere around head level and giant greenery towers above you. Twenty-foot-high rhododendrons and old growth cedars line the path. In one place shrubs come over the path creating a kind of tunnel which opens out onto the beach. Take note of how the trail looks going back into the forest so you can find it easily on the way back. From the beach you can see Heceta Head off to the South, and a long beach to the North. If you were to walk North on the beach you would eventually reach side trails to the Carl Washburn State Park parking lot.