Our Quick Look at an Oregon Beach
Our quick look at Heceta Beach happened during our day-long-trip along the Oregon Coast Highway. Stops 3 & 4 on our drive took us through the charming little town of Florence. There, we passed a sign pointing the way to the beach.
Neither of us had seen the Pacific Ocean in a long time so, we made a U-turn and headed down Heceta Beach Road. Good signage made it easy to find. (In case you are wondering how to pronounce Heceta, it’s Ha-SEE-ta.)
This is what we saw during our quick stop….
Locals relax near the grass covered dunes on a sunny but cold day at Heceta Beach.
Heceta Beach (North Access):
88470 1st Avenue
Florence, OR 97439
Contact:
(541) 682-2000 (County Park)
(541) 997-3128 (Chamber)
Hours:
7 AM - 7 PM, daily
Fees:
North Parking - $4
South Parking - free
Website:
FlorenceChamber.com
Our 1st view of the Pacific Ocean on the Oregon Coast.
Heceta Beach is Huge!
Platted in 1915, Heceta Beach is on the north side of Florence in an unincorporated area of town. The county maintains a small park that includes parking at two beach access points—North Parking and South Parking.
We parked in the paved North lot which has a $4 fee, payable in cash at the self-serve station. It is a short walk to the beach from there.
Heceta Beach with the lighthouse in the distance.
The beach is huge! We understand the great, open expanse is rarely crowded. As you can see by our photos, few people were on the beach the day we visited.
We dressed in short sleeves and shorts, which is not the best beach wear in Oregon in August. It was chilly and very windy so our stop was decidedly short. Basically, it was long enough to say we had been there.
Wind blows salty sea spray over beach visitors.
What to Expect when You Get There
First, Heceta is not a good beach for swimming. Strong rip currents as well as debris washing in along the coast make swimming hazardous.
Second, it’s very windy with no barriers to soften the wind, so plan to wear layers.
View of the Pacific Ocean just over the grassy sand dunes.
Third, the water is very cold, never reaching more than 55 degrees—even during summer.
Lastly, the beach is long, sandy (no boulders), and perfect for slow strolls, lengthy walks, or brisk runs.
The Siuslaw River Bridge, built in 1936. (*Mile marker 190 on US-101)
Florence: Oregon's Coastal Playground
Florence is sixty miles west of Eugene and roughly halfway on the coastal route. Known as “Oregon’s Coastal Playground,” the area has something for everyone.
Here’s a short list of reasons to visit:
- Sand dunes start here
- Largest town close to Heceta Head Lighthouse (don’t confuse with Heceta Beach)
- Near rivers, lakes, forests, and the ocean
- Windsurf, sandboard, horseback, ATV, and dune buggy riding
- Historic coastal town with charming little shops.
Area Fun Facts
Spot migrating whales
in the Pacific or go
crabbing on the river
Century old lighthouse
205 ft above the Ocean
Casts 21-mile beam
40-miles
of coastal sand,
both beach and dunes
Our Quick Look was Worth the Stop
Even though Heceta Beach was different from what we expected, our quick look was totally worth the stop. Why? The conditions were so varied!
From the time we got out of the car and walked down to the water’s edge, the sky changed from sunny and clear blue to a hazy sky from misty sea spray occluding the sky. Also, the wind picked up as we neared the water.
Oregon berries growing along the Siuslaw River near where we stopped to get the bridge photo.
For those who love long walks on the beach, this is the place. If you love playing in sand, Heceta Beach has plenty of rolling sand dunes to enjoy.
Let us know if you get there!
Panoramic view of Florence, Oregon from across the Siuslaw River.
A Brief History of Florence
- Florence is an historic community located where the Siuslaw River (pronounced “sigh-OO-slaw”) empties into the Pacific Ocean
- First inhabitants were the Siuslaw people
- 1836 – Early explorers and traders arrived—French, Russian, Spanish
- 1877 – First fish cannery
- 1878 – First sawmill
- 1886 – First Postmaster
- 1893 – City of Florence established
- 1900 – Population was 300
- 1909 – River port established
- 1936 – Siuslaw River Bridge built
- 2020 – Population 9,037
- Furniture, lumber, and agricultural products along with tourism add to the local economy
Wanting more ideas on relaxing, playing or learning?
Check out our "Things to Do" page for other Worthy Detour stops.
I lived in Florence a few years ago wish I never left loved it there
Thanks for reading the post. Florence is a beautiful place. Wish we had been able to explore it more.
Enjoyed your comments on your visit to my hometown of Florence!
Thank you. We had such a memorable trip and Florence is a big part of the memories.