Florence and Heceta Head

...Florence

and Heceta Head

All along the Oregon coast, traveling from the north to the south, I've been in awe of the beauty of the rugged coastline and the charm of the seaside towns. Florence is no exception. Larger and more spread out than some of the others, its old historic district and port make it a favorite. Between the Heceta Headland which rises 1000 feet above the ocean to the lower-lying dunes that make up Florence's beaches, the area is filled with things to see and do.

Pictures on this page start with the picturesque lighthouse on Heceta Head and continue through Florence with its old town port, the dunes that line the shoreline, the jetties that protect the river and yet another Conde B. McCullough bridge as it spans the Siuslaw River, in itself an important piece of daily life in Florence.

The Heceta Head Lighthouse sits prominently 250 feet above the Pacific Ocean on Heceta Head. Its beam is the strongest on the Oregon coast. A gradual uphill walk from the beach to the lighthouse passes by the keeper's house which is now a bed and breakfast.

The Heceta Head Lighthouse is considered the most photographed of all of Oregon's lighthouses. It's no wonder since it sits so perfectly atop a cliff that is equally as scenic. There are a couple of viewpoints on the 101 from which to get photos. You can also see it from the Sea Lion Caves, but ithat's a bit further away.

The lighthouse was built in 1892. Its light power, like many of Oregon's lighthouses, extends to the horizon, or the curve of the earth, which is some 20 miles.

View of the coast looking south from the lighthouse

The beach at the foot of the Heceta Head is a favorite to tourists and locals alike.

Heceta Head beach with lots of people on shore

Upon leaving Heceta Head and following the 101 into Florence, the rugged coastline gives way to low-lying dunes and a long, long beach which ends at the north jetty of the Siuslaw River. The dunes are just a glimpse of what is to come south of Florence as the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area dominates the coastline.

A few pix of the wonderful shapes and curves of the smaller sand dunes on Heceta Beach in Florence

the arches under the Siuslaw River bridge

A well-known name up and down the Oregon coast is Conde B. McCullough. He was responsible for the design and building of 14 elegant bridges along the 101 between Astoria and Brookings. The bridges were built between 1919 and 1935 when McCullough was State Bridge Engineer . Many replaced ferry boats that had become outdated.

Florence's port in Old Town is a fun place to watch boats and river otters come and go. The port is on the Siuslaw River.

Cormorants monopolize pilings along the Siuslaw River; sand dunes are in the background.

great blue heron scouring for food in the marsh

So much wildlife, including herons, can be found everywhere along the Siuslaw River banks, this one at the Florence port.

Speaking of the Siuslaw and wildlife: A short trip up the river on Highway 126 will take you along the quiet river where you might be lucky (and surprised!) to see crawfish (below).

Crabbing is an industry as well as a past time in Florence, and a good place to go for it is the crab dock at the south jetty. Dungeness crab is the catch, and the crabbers are well aware of the rules and regulations regarding what can be kept and what must be thrown back in. Never, anywhere along the coast, did I see a crabber without a measuring tool used to confirm a keeper or a returnee. Male crabs five and three-quarters inches or larger can be kept. Anything smaller (and all females) must be returned to the ocean.

It usually takes either two people or trips to the car to move all the gear that goes along with crabbing, especiallly if you're throwing more than one pot, as this guy is.

Florence's north and south jetties are a wonderful place to spend an afternoon of beaching, fishing, boating or walking. The dunes of the south jetty and the driftwood of the north were both great experiences.

pair of girl's silver ballet shoes on driftwood

A rare plant seen only along the southern Oregon and northern California coast is this insect-eating plant called the Darlingtonia Californica. Insects are lured by nectar to the part of the plant under the hood. Once they get inside, they become confused by all the transparent veins and can't find their way out. Downward pointing hairs inside the plant keep the insects trapped, moving them lower into a pool of liquid where they become digested as food by the plant.

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