While camping in Oregon in our Alaskan camper, we stuffed ourselves with delicious cheese after touring the Tillamook Cheese Factory. From this iconic tourist spot we headed south on Highway 101 to visit several lighthouses along Oregon’s Pacific coastline. I am highlighting a few of our favorites in this article. Driving along the 101 and visiting these lighthouses, makes for an educational as well as scenic trip, taking you back in time.
Lighthouses. Lonely sentinels, shining their life-saving beacons on dark nights through stormy weather. What are their allure and mystique? Could it be they are towering monuments to our maritime heritage and the hardworking lighthouse keepers that kept their beacons lit, to show the way to mariners working to find their way along a treacherous coastline?
Most of the Pacific coast lighthouses were designed and built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1870 and 1896. Modern technology has replaced these stalwart structures with automated beacons, installed by the Coast Guard. The majority of these lighthouses have been added to the National Register of Historic Places, hosting millions of visitors, intrigued by the past they represent.
There are numerous campgrounds along Hwy 101 offering water, trash disposal and dump stations. We were able to boondock all along the way by watching for frontage roads or deep turn outs offering a parking spot for the night.
Haceta Head Lighthouse
Though this picturesque lighthouse was closed for renovations, we enjoyed a half-mile hike in the fog to see the grounds, where a unique Bed and Breakfast venue is part of their operations.
Built in 1894, Haceta has a 56-foot tower sitting on a point 205 feet above the ocean. The Fresnel Light still shines, casting its beams some 21 miles out to sea. It is the brightest light on the Oregon coast, and is arguably the most photographed lighthouse in the United States.
The Heceta Lighthouse B&B, in the Lightkeeper’s Home, is perched on a cliff with a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean and the beach below. Paths from the Lightkeeper’s Home lead both to the beach and to the lighthouse. A day-use parking permit is required. Learn more about what to explore on their website.
We drove about another 30 miles south to explore the next lighthouse on the Pacific coastline. There are huge sand dunes all along this section of the highway, with numerous developed campgrounds.
Umpqua River Lighthouse
Our stop at this lighthouse, museum and gift shop was a special treat. We were able to go on a guided tour and climb up the winding staircase, into the lantern room for the 1st Order Fresnel lens, made with stunning red and white glass.
Fresnel lenses came in various sizes or “orders,” 1st through 8th, with the 1st Order being the largest. This multi-faceted glass lens can refract and reflect light to create far-reaching beacons of guiding light. Learn more about the inner workings of lighthouse beacons here.
“I can think of no other edifice constructed by man as altruistic as a lighthouse. They were built only to serve.” ~ George Bernard Shaw
This historic site was where the 1st lighthouse was built on the Oregon coast in 1857. The original Umpqua River Lighthouse had to be replaced in 1861, with the only red and white “character” lighthouse on the Pacific.
Camping Along the Coast
Back on Highway 101 again heading south, we stopped at the Tugman Campground to refill our camper’s water tank. There are many developed campgrounds along this section of highway. However, we discovered a lovely place just off the highway, a half-mile north of Arizona Beach and Prehistoric Gardens.
We found an area marked “SAA site” on a small, gravel road, running downhill and parallel to the highway. Equipment here is used to monitor earth movement. Here we had a view of the Pacific among the blooming sweet peas and wild berries (end of summer in August).
This spot was close enough to the highway to hear traffic, but we parked so that our camper shielded our camp chairs from view, to enjoy our overlook of the ocean to eat dinner and breakfast.
The next morning, we continued our drive south to Gold Beach. Here we stopped at McKay’s Market to resupply our groceries. This stretch of coastline has interesting and beautiful places to explore.Be sure to stop at the Gold Beach visitor center for info, so you don’t miss out.
As we headed into our home state of California we were able to visit several more lighthouses along the coastline. We hope this little glimpse of history will encourage you to make your own discovery and exploration of these Oregon coastline sentinels.
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