I am starting to plan my next lighthouse trip and was thinking of staying at Heceta Head for a week and then taking day trips to the other Oregon lights. My sister and I would really like to see the winter storms in action. Two questions: 1. What is actually the best time of year for this. 2. Is this actually a good idea, or will we be unable to travel because of the storms. Any advice would be appreciated greatly.

You will have no trouble traveling during the winter storms. ODOT does a great job keeping the highways open. Although most lighthouses are readily accessible not all are open during the winter. If your goal is to see them from the outside only Cape Arago will be inaccessable. This is on an island but is visible from land. As far as storms go our weather is unpridictable from November thru February so any of those months might provide your storm. Bring your camera and be prepared to see some awesume coast line. Highway 101 also has a great varity of restaurants. I recommend you pick up a copy or two of OREGON COAST magazine for a good introduction.

Let us know how the trip went and show us all the pics you take. My wife and I hope to one day land in San Francisco and view the bay lights, then drive north up the coast line getting as many Oregon lights as we can see.

Try to pick up a copy of the following map. This is the best map available for both the Oregon and Washington coasts. RAND McNALLY MAP, TITLE-COASTAL OREGON AND WASHINGTON RECREATION MAP. ISBN 0-528-93170-9. Out here it is available from Borders Book Stores. If possible try to get to the two Washington Lights just across the Columbia River from Astoria.

I wouldn't say you will have "no trouble" traveling the Oregon Coast in the winter...I lived in Portland for 25 years...some of those winters storms are literally cold hurricanes that raise Hell in the heavily forested Coast Range...winds in excess of 100 mph can tip over motor homes and trucks and ODOT (Oregon Dept. of Transportation) can only do so much to keep the roads clear of fallen trees and downed power lines...you'd prob do better to park yourself in a spot close to a light or two, like Depoe Bay or Newport, and watch Mother Nature rage from a nice cozy motel room...

I have been checking the weather underground history for Florence, OR and the winds do get high occasionally and there's lots of rain and fog. I was thinking there would be snow storms, guess I was forgetting about the Japanese air current. We can sit out a day or two of high winds at Heceta, that won't be a hardship. I have wanted to see that lighthouse since I saw it on the cover of my first lighthouse book. Thanks for the info on the magazine and maps. All a great help. I think we will be going in February. I am working on pictures to post of my lighthouse trip this past summer, think I'm getting it, but they seem to look a little funny. Thanks again!

My sister and I will be going to Heceta in a couple weeks. We are hoping to see lighthouses from North Head in Washington to Crescent City and St. George in CA. We are thinking of hiring a plane for a morning or afternoon. Question: What area would be the best to see from a plane? Would it be
1. Columbia River area with Cape Disappointment
2. Tillamook
3. St. George Reef
4. Other area?
I'm not just asking about the best view of the lighthouse, but the over all beauty of the areas. Any input will be greatly appreciated.

Laura,
I once took a flight from Astoria airport with Twiss air and we flew over Cape D, North Head, and Tillamook. I want to say it was less than a hour in all. I would highly recommend a fly over of Tillamook if at all possible. Here is Twiss's website.

http://www.twissair.com/

We did that too just last year and it was great. Twiss does a nice job of getting you close. Cape D was a bit socked in but we managed some shots. We highly recommend the flight.

Judy

I was hoping Tillamook and Disappointment were close enough together. Thanks!
I am soooo looking forward to this trip.

Laura,

I believe the St. George Reef can be seen on a helicopter flight sponsored by the St. George Reef Association. It use to be $150 but I think it is $170 now. That is one trip Bill and I hope to make one day. It would be exciting to actually land on one of the most treacherous lighthouses in US history!

You'll love Heceta Head. We have friends that stay there every year. We've visited it but never stayed there.

Have a great trip. In Oregon you don't pump your own gas. They do it and if you forget they'll let you know right away!

Judy

I think its been 25 years since someone else pumped my gas! Thanks for the tip. I knew about the trips to St. George, but figured this was the off season and it wouldn't be running.
Judy, do the breakfasts really take 2 hours?

I've heard they do and that the food is fabulous! This comes from three different people who go every year.

Hopefully one year Bill and I will get to experience it. We did get a partial tour through the keepers house when we were there. It really is lovely.

Judy

Yes it does take about 2 hours and it's worth every minute. The food is delicious. If you are lucky they will serve your party some Oregonzolla cheese.

I know its supposed to be a gourmet breakfast, and we plan to have some breakfasts there (and a special dinner, with matching wines for each course one night) but I have lighthouses to see, agates to find, an ocean to sit by and whales to look for. Not to mention my sister found a quilt run on the Oregon coast and she has 12 shops to stop at. She runs me ragged on these trips. Well, we are on our own for two days with no breakfast anyway. Thanks for the help. I am calling Twiss tomorrow and I'll keep a look out for the cheese.

Well, I checked on St. George Reef, no helicopter flights until March or April, they are still waiting on permits. They answered my email immediately, so I only had a few minutes to get excited. I hope someone on here gets to go soon and can tell us all about it. Oh, cost is currently $195.
Still hoping the weather cooperates and we can take the flight with Twiss Air.

You have kind of mixed hopes, Laura, and I hope both come to be for you, on different days, of course. The stormy weather for your winter shots would certainly conflict with the kind of weather a pilot will need to take you flight-seeing.

ROFL....Good point!

I did the St. George Reef helicopter tour a couple of years ago in March on an exceptionally nice, calm day with Derith and gang and I highly recommend it...being out there on the rock and inside the light for an hour was like a walk on the moon! I was giddy for days afterward...