Mile 180

South Carl G. Washburne SP, Hobbit Trail, Heceta Head
Lane County

Latitude: 44.144145091992
Longitude: -124.124660258650
Google Map: Nearby Roads, Directions to/from, Google photos, Satellite image, Terrain overlay
Vehicles:
  • Motor vehicle travel is prohibited from the Lincoln County-Lane County line (44° 16.5774', Mile 190), southerly to the Siuslaw River (44° 00.9720', Mile 170).
Weather: Current weather conditions at nearby stations
Tides: NOAA Tide Predictions. Click on the station nearest to your location to see predicted tides in graphical and tabular formats.
South Carl G. Washburne SP, Hobbit Trail, Heceta Head
Mile 180 Reports (40)

2022

April 7, 2022 - lectricriderone

I noticed the usual natural increase in sand on the beach starting to cover rocks that are completely covered up in the summer.  In addition, there are fewer pebbles showing as the sand covers them.  A lack of litter shows people are being careful with packing up their trash.  Several fresh water...read more

  • Mile 180
  • Mile 180

2021

December 17, 2021 - lectricriderone

Mile 180 is looking like it's usual natural state.   The tide comes all the way up to the cliff and loose logs roll around at times.  Cliff erosion continues.  read more

  • Hobbit Beach
  • Hobbit Beach erosion

2020

December 5, 2020 - lectricriderone

Large waves are causing logs to roll on the beach.  You have to pay attention and avoid logs that float.    read more

  • Log tracks
  • Crack in the dune
August 19, 2020 - lectricriderone

Natural slow erosion of hillside.  Picture.   Parking are appeared over crowded.  read more

  • Mile 180
  • Heceta Head

2019

October 23, 2019 - lectricriderone

Snowy Plover and Seagulls look happy.  No recent slides visible.   8 cars in the pullout.  read more

  • Hobbit Beach trail marker
  • Mile 180
  • Snowy Plover
August 6, 2019 - lectricriderone

I saw 12 people and two dogs on the beach.  No dead animals or trash.  Small waves.  The tide comes almost all the way up to the rocks and flattens the beach.  Cool cloudy weather seems to keep people from swimming.  read more

  • Hobbit Beach Trail
  • Unstable Cliff
April 30, 2019 - lectricriderone

Crab in the tideline.  Small landslide activity on Heceta Headland . Picture.  The Hobbit Trail is washed out and holes make progress challenging.  Tree roots make the trail uneven with many obstacles.  read more

  • Heceta Head
  • Small earth slide
  • Tideline mile 180

2017

December 5, 2017 - billmaxmcw

2 bags of mostly ocean-based debris; hundreds of water bottle caps.  Interesting objects (see photos).  Tubeworm tubes?  Whatisit?read more

  • Tubeworm tubes?
  • Slick wet wood density
May 18, 2017 - DepoeRena

Due to the early hour, I was mainly alone on the beaches and trails.  In total, I eventually only saw three other people.  Beaches and trails were mostly free of garbage or human debris.  Dead sea lion provided a meal for a coyote, bald eagles and vultures.read more

  • Coyote at Carl G. Washburne SP
  • Vulture on Sea Lion
February 12, 2017 - billmaxmcw

Recent high tides to cliff bases.  Moderate winter erosion.  Fairly light amount of mixed plastic debris (one bag).read more

2016

January 1, 2016 - billmaxmcw

Lots (4+ bags) ocean-based debris; large amt. tubeworm casings; unusual blue tree roots; recent landslides.read more

  • new landslide
  • Unusual color tree root

2015

November 6, 2015 - Bill&Janie

Beautiful fall sunny day enjoyed by visitors & dogs. Odd filaments in drift line (tube worm casings) and one dead adult sea lion. Only 1 bag of debris and a crab pot.read more

  • filamentous drift line (tube worm casings)
  • very dead sea lion; skeleton, oregon coast
August 21, 2015 - billmaxmcw
Continued bluff erosion N. of Heceta Head. Unexpected freshwater spring activity there. Little debris, mostly shore-based. N. wind scouring. Lots of people enjoying beautiful day on the beach.read more
May 2, 2015 - PhotoJim
Washburne Day Use to Hobbit Beach. Sand very flat. Very little trash. Calm winds. Very peaceful.read more
  • apparent mineral color in sand
  • apparent mineral color in sand
  • section of wall along the beach south of the day use entry
  • Looking down the beach toward Heceta Head
  • some rocks at a small tidepool
  • small amount of beach twine along beach
  • Etched face in the sandstone wall
  • Looking back toward Washburne Day Use
  • A stack of driftwood
  • Another stack of driftwood along the beach
  • Another section of the beach wall
  • One of the new safety signs
January 8, 2015 - billmaxmcw
Unusual number dead Auklets (about 40). More ocean-based debris than usual.read more

2014

September 10, 2014 - Volunteer Trainer
Interesting Pictures from Jim Schulerread more
  • signs of small lesions
  • sea star on right may be showing signs by allowing arm to lie open to exposure
August 25, 2014 - billmaxmcw
Summer replenishment of sand, primarily blown in from the north. New colonization of dunes by grass and succulents, like yellow sand verbena and American searocket in photo. Very clean beach.read more
April 29, 2014 - billmaxmcw
3 bags of oceaan-based debris; 10-12 plastic fishing floats ranging in diameter from 3-18 inches and many plastic bottles, apparently all Japanese except one Russian vodka bottle.read more

2013

December 16, 2013 - Bill&Janie
Clean beach; only 1 bag mixed debris. ? cause clumps of large mussels washed up.read more
August 13, 2013 - Bill&Janie
Tens of thousands of apparently molted crabshells, all sizes. Dead adult skate. Adult Bald Eagle. No ocean-based debris (a first).read more

2012

October 6, 2012 - billmaxmcw
Clean beach; 2 bags of mainly ocean-based debris. Ongoing sand cliff erosions.read more
June 28, 2012 - billmaxmcw
Expected wet spring runoff channels. Clean except styrofoam pieces. Busy Thursday on the beach.read more
March 23, 2012 - billmaxmcw
4 bags of ocean-based debris. Mermaid's purse (photo), large Japanese buoy (photo).read more

2011

November 20, 2011 - billmaxmcw
7 people enjoying a fine autumn Sunday. Ongoing cliff erosions, stable. Dead scoters and amount of driftline feathers unusual. 3 bags of ocean-base debris not unusual.read more
August 10, 2011 - billmaxmcw
More springs/streams than in past. Surprisingly little debris.read more
March 4, 2011 - billmaxmcw
Dead (few weeks) ~30 ft. Orca. Fairly large recent landslides. 3 bags Ocean-based debris.read more
  • Approx. 30 ft. long (if include missing tail). Teeth missing. Dead a few weeks.
  • North of Heceta Head.

2010

October 15, 2010 - billmaxmcw
Beautiful fall day, small amt. debris (1 large bag). Dead Western Grebes unusual for me. Nice example of "Mermaid's Purse" (egg case of the Big skate, raja binoculata)(photo). Continued sand loss, up to 5 feet/past year. Landslides continue.read more
  • Egg case of Big skate, raja binoculata
July 17, 2010 - billmaxmcw
3 bags of ocean-based debris. Continued sand loss over past year, 2-5 ft. total. Remains of 3 sea lions; one juvenile & one small adult several weeks dead, one large adult 2+years dead.read more
May 6, 2010 - billmaxmcw
More ocean-based plastics now. Loss of about 3 feet (depth) of sand south part, near Cape, newly-exposing stumps and rocks. River Otter running into surf.read more
February 8, 2010 - billmaxmcw
Light human activity on fine day. Significant loss of beach sand since last report; est. 2 feet depth of sand gone from south end near cape, 1 foot farther north. New stumps exposed (see photo). 2 bags of ocean-based debris removed.read more
  • Newly-exposed ancient stumps near Hobbit Trail.
January 10, 2010 - turnstone
There was a small slide near the south end of the beach, it seemed very fresh.There was a dead Brown Pelican just south of the Hobbit Trail junction on the beach.read more
  • Small slide near south end of beach
  • Dead Brown Pelican near Hobbit Trail

2009

October 9, 2009 - Bill&Janie
Generally clean; only about 1 bag of debris, 90% ocean-based. Tent with belongings, recently-used.read more
July 19, 2009 - Bill&Janie
Almost pristine beach; small amt. of trash, mostly land-based; much less ocean-based trash this time. Only small amt. erosion of cliffs. See photo of unusual elevated footprints from wind erosion. Nesting Murres, Cormorants on western point Heceta Head. No sign of Gray Whale washed up & buried 4/14/09.read more
  • Also gulls in foreground.
March 26, 2009 - Bill&Janie
Lots of people & dogs on spring break, but not much shore-based debris. 2 big bags of ocean-based debris. Continued moderate cliff/foredune erosion.read more
  • Heceta Head from ultralight plane (note hidden arch below lighthouse).
January 9, 2009 - Bill&Janie
Light activity/impact. Fairly usual new erosion (rock, sand, trees). 3 bags of plastic and bottles removed. How long did it take gooseneck barnacles to grow to 2 in. on a float? Rootlike mass of white fibrous tissue with meshlike brown cover (photo); any ideas?read more

2008

October 22, 2008 - Bill&Janie
Continued sand and vegetation erosion above shallow bluffs; about 1/3 of beachside bluffs affected. Beach fairly clean; 1 bag of plastic, beer cans, bottles removed. Note sediment layer including ancient forest fire (4000 yrs.?). Wild watercress garden at spring. Nice tidepools. Hobbit Trail well-maintained. One vehicle track proved to be...read more
  • Looking south from mile 180.9; vehicle tracks (State Park ranger).
  • Sand and vegetation erosion above shallow bluffs.
  • Tidepool on igneous rocks exposed a low tide, mile 180.7
  • Northern end of Heceta Head. No apparent erosion.
  • Part of sediment layer including remnants of ancient forest fire. Edge of bluff at beach.
August 3, 2008 - MAshley
Three small slide areas north of Hobbit Trail and three larger slide areas farther north. In addition, there were people carving in the walls of the cliffs causing sand to fall. Some tide pools about in the middle of the mile full of barnaclesread more

2007

June 18, 2007 - krystrom
Major landslide. Sand covering cobbles at foot of Hobbit Trail.read more
March 27, 2007 - krystrom
Spring break: more people, cars, sand, erosion than ever.read more
  • Looking north
  • Mile 180 Base of Hobbit Trail

2006

December 21, 2006 - krystrom
Clean beach, some bluff erosion, landslides.read more