Hike the Hobbit Beach Trail on the Oregon Coast
The Hobbit Beach trail is a magical little trail to a secluded beach on the Oregon Coast. It’s short, and a great place to stretch your legs on a road trip. In just half a mile, you’ll walk though a lush forest, and end up at a beach that you’re pretty likely to have all to yourself!
This guide will tell you everything you need to know about hiking the Hobbit Beach trail – how to get there, what to bring, and more.
Head’s up: some of these links are affiliate links, so I get a commission if you make a purchase (at no cost to you). But that’s great, because I was going to share anyway, and this helps me keep making free guides for you!
Pin this photo to save this guide to the Hobbit Beach Trail for later!
About the Hobbit Beach Trail
Here’s what you need to know before you hit the trail!
Hobbit Beach Hike Stats
Distance: 1 mile (round trip)
Elevation Gain: 202 feet
Difficulty: easy
Leave No Trace on the Hobbit Beach Trail
Anytime you’re outdoors, whether you’re a beginner hiker or an experienced adventurer, it’s essential that you practice Leave No Trace (LNT). LNT is a set of seven principles that help us understand our impact on the outdoors – because while we usually have good intentions, the environment is more fragile than we think, and one snap-second decision can cause damage to the environment that will take the earth years, even decades to repair.
Leave No Trace means enjoying the outdoors without disrupting nature, as much as it’s possible to do so. Here are the 7 principles of LNT, and how they apply when you hike the Hobbit Beach trail!
- Plan ahead and prepare – read this guide, make sure you know have the right gear, and be prepared for mud and rain.
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces – stay on the trail to avoid trampling grasses and plants!
- Dispose of waste properly – don’t leave trash, or anything else, behind. Pack it out!
- Leave what you find – I know it can be tempting to take a cool rock or leaf, but leave these things where they belong! Animals often use these, and if everyone takes one, the trail won’t be as pretty.
- Minimize campfire impacts – no campfires are allowed on the trail.
- Respect wildlife – avoid feeding or approaching birds or any other animals you might see.
- Be considerate of other visitors – yield to uphill hikers, and be respectful – no speakers or loud music.
The Best Time to Hike the Hobbit Trail
The most popular time to hike this trail is in the summer, but I think the best time to hike it is spring, or fall! Hobbit Beach is a pretty secluded spot, but in the off season, there will be fewer people around, so while you’ll definitely need to be prepared for rain and it might be a little chillier, having the views to yourself is worth it! Be aware that this hike is really muddy – good traction is a must.
Hobbit Beach Trailhead
Hobbit Beach is just north of the Heceta Head Lighthouse – and if you want to extend your hike, you can park there and hike the Heceta Head to Hobbit Beach trail! But, if you want to do the quick, half mile trail to Hobbit Beach, you can park right across from the trailhead. The parking area is right off of Highway 101, with room for a few cars! Cross the street, and you’ll be at the beginning of the trail.
Hobbit Beach Trailhead Coordinates: 44.1435981,-124.1180014
Hiking the Hobbit Beach Trail
This is one of the best hikes on the Oregon Coast if you want a low effort trail with great views! When you’re ready to start hiking, here’s what you can expect.
The trailhead is marked with a clear sign, and it’s easy to follow!
You’ll hike through a mossy forest, and it’s only half a mile to the beach!
Though the trail isn’t long, it is a little steep – and it’s also muddy, so hiking boots with good traction are a good idea for this one! You’ll mostly be going downhill on the way to the beach, so you’ll need to come up on your way back.
Soon, you’ll catch a glimpse of the ocean through the trees! Then, you’ll walk through a narrow plant “canyon,” and you’ll be at the beach.
Once you’re at Hobbit Beach, there are amazing views all around, with cliffs over the ocean, driftwood on the shore, and lots of coastline to explore!
Where to Stay Near the Hobbit Beach
You can turn your hike into a little getaway, and stay somewhere close by! Here are my favorite options for places to stay close to this trail.
Glamping, Cabins, & Yurts
For a unique place to stay during your trip, check out Hipcamp! It’s like Airbnb for campsites – and you can find yurts (like this one near the Oregon Coast), cabins, glamping sites, and more.
You can even get $10 off your first booking here!
A Camper van
With a camper van, you get a vehicle and a place to sleep, all in one! This is my favorite way to travel, and you can rent a fully decked out van with Escape Campervans. Another option is to use Outdoorsy, which is more like Airbnb – you can rent vans, RVs, and trailers from people who live nearby!
Find a Campsite
Whether you car camp, tent camp, or rent a tiny home on wheels, The Dyrt is the best way to find campsites! There are some options for campsites close by. Just a short drive from the Hobbit Beach trailhead, you’ll find national forest land – which means you can camp for free!
There are lots options for free camping near the trail – for tips on finding the best ones, check out this guide.
An Oceanfront Home
If you’re on the Oregon Coast, stay somewhere with a view of the ocean! Here are a few options for oceanfront stays.
For more places to stay near Hobbit Beach, look around this map:
Booking.comWhat to Bring to Hike the Hobbit Beach Trail
When you hike the Hobbit Beach trail, here’s what you’ll need to bring!
Hiking Shoes
Waterproof shoes are a must for this one – the trail gets really muddy. Good traction, and being prepared for a rainy hike, is essential!
My favorite hiking boots are my Danner boots – they’re cute, comfortable, and waterproof! I also love hiking in my Chacos, but definitely be aware that you’ll get some mud on your toes.
Rain boots are another great option for muddy or wet conditions, and are definitely the easiest to clean.
Bonus Tip: A lot of these links are for my favorite place to buy outdoor gear – Backcountry. If you install the free Lolli extension on your browser, you can earn free Bitcoin when you shop online at certain retailers, including Backcountry. You can transfer it to a crypto wallet, or just cash out to your bank account.
Layers
PNW weather is known for being unpredictable, and it’s always best to wear layers when hiking. It rains often on the Oregon Coast, and once you get to Hobbit Beach, it can get really windy!
The Marmot Minimalist Jacket is a great lightweight, waterproof option. The RVCA Meyer Packable Anorack Jacket is a cute windbreaker , and folds up nice and small! For added warmth and layering, a Patagonia fleece is always a good addition.
Backpack
When I’m bringing my camera gear, my favorite backpack is the Alex Strohl Mountain Light. It’s definitely the best camera bag out there for hiking with photo gear. If you don’t need storage for camera stuff, I recommend an Osprey Hikelite. If you aren’t bringing very much and just want a day bag, I love my Topo Designs Y-Pack for carrying everyday essentials!
Hydration!
Especially when you’re hiking or exploring outdoors, it’s important to stay hydrated! Single use water bottles are, of course, terrible for the environment, so avoid that and bring a reusable one!
For hiking, the CamelBak water reservoirs are convenient and easy – they can fit in your hiking backpack for water on the go. Nalgene water bottles are great for day to day, and if you want an insulated water bottle to keep your water cold and refreshing, Hydro Flasks are the best!
More Adventures Near the Hobbit Beach Trail
The Hobbit Beach Trail is a great pit stop on an Oregon Coast road trip, and it’s close to other amazing hikes like God’s Thumb and the Natural Bridges! For more of the best hikes on the Oregon Coast, check out this guide.
Pin any of these photos to save this guide to the Hobbit Beach Trail for later!
