There are quicker and easier ways to reach each of these locations, but if you wanted quick and easy, you could refer to your Oregon AAA travel guide. Heading north from Florence, pass the tourist trap that is the Sea Lion Caves, the parking area for the Haceta Head Lighthouse, and continue another 2 miles to the Washburn State Park day use area for a fantastic loop hike with minimal crowds that offers all the best features of the Oregon Coast. Valley Hiker Start by picking up the trail opposite the restrooms and head east away from the beach, through a winding tree tunnel, to cross Hwy 101. Follow the road up toward the camping area to the signed Valley Trail, and head south. The trail undulates gently through beautiful coastal rainforest to a fork in a meadow popular with roaming elk. Take the right fork, following signs to Haceda Lighthouse, and soon come upon a viewpoint over a wide meadow with a large beaver pond. From there, start a gentle climb to the trail's end at a small parking area on Hwy 101. Cross to the other side and pick up the trail about 50 yards north. After a short descent, the trail forks left to Haceda Head and right to Hobbit Beach. Heceta Lighthouse Start by going left toward Haceda Head through a forest of spindly windswept Sitka spuce, salal, rhododendron and hedge nettle. The trail starts to climb in earnest to traverse to the other side of the headland. On foggy days, watch the mists swirl eerily though the trees; clear days offer views out over the Pacific. Cresting the headland, switchback down the other side to the 115 year-old Haceta Head Lighthouse, Oregon's most photographed relic of pre-GPS coastal navigation. If it's not too crowded, sign up for a free (though donations are happily accepted) tour of lighthouse that climbs up to the lens room and offers a view into its historical significance. After your tour, some bird and sea lion watching, and absorbing the views down the coast, retrace your trail back over the headland to the Hobbit Beach junction. Hobbit Trail Head down the 0.5-mile Hobbit Trail toward the ocean through lush coastal rainforest, displaying a variety of colorful seasonal flowers and mushrooms. At the end of the trail, duck through one of many "Hobbit Tunnels" to emerge onto the open beach. Note the placement of unusual rock and stick piles occasionally left on the beach by supposed mystical creatures. From here, simply wander north up the beach a little over a mile, searching for sand dollars, admiring the layered escarpment of ancient sand dunes, or try spying a whale spout. Look for a stepped trail back to the day use area of Washburn State Park and the end of your loop. If you've worked up an appetite, head back to Florence for tapas or dinner at the Waterfront Depot in Old Town. Try the panko-breaded calamari fingers, nibble some New Zealand rack of lamb, then top it off with their signature crab-crusted halibut. Delicious! Image gallery See a GPS track for this hike at Backpacker.com (coming soon!)