A Perfect (Wheelchair Accessible) Day on the Oregon Coast

Every now and then a day comes along that you wish to relive over and over. You know the days when the air is fresh, your surroundings are a curious wonderland for exploration, and your soul feels uplifted? I found that day in Florence, a splendid little city on the Oregon Coast. 

Visiting from central Canada, void of the ocean shore, I was revved up for a day at the beach, ready to take in the sights, sounds and smells of the Pacific Northwest. Partly due to the time change and partly due to my excitement, we were up and out of the Graduate by Hilton Eugene, our hotel homebase in Eugene, bright and early. Luckily, Magpie Coffee Shop had our morning nourishment needs covered with their 7 a.m. opening time, even on a weekend! The car ride out to the coast was thoroughly enjoyable with my jasmine green tea in one hand and a thick slice of banana bread in the other.  

Prior to my trip I learned about Oregon’s partnership with David’s Chair, a nonprofit organization that allows people with mobility challenges to use all-terrain track chairs at no cost. Oregon has 8+ locations where these chairs are available, including Heceta Beach in Florence, my first stop of the day. I was thrilled at the prospect of a truly accessible beach day. Even with my high expectations high, this experience did not disappoint!  

We arranged use of the track chair by filling out a quick and simple form online ahead of time and a friendly volunteer was on site to greet us on arrival. We met at the north end of Driftwood Shores Resort. After easily finding accessible parking, the volunteer drove the track chair right to our vehicle, making for an easy transfer. This also allowed me to keep my personal wheelchair safe in our car. The volunteer gave us a brief lesson on the chair’s controls and within minutes I was powering my way onto the beach for the first time ever. 

I consider myself pretty well travelled, having explored 48 countries and countless beaches in my wheelchair. I love the shore; I crave the sand, sun and lapping waves, but as a manual wheelchair user I have never had an easy time exploring the beach. I have always had to depend on the strength of friends, family and sometimes strangers around me to move me where I want to go. And now suddenly here I was in Florence, finally being able to go exactly where I wanted to, when I wanted to, while my husband could casually stroll alongside with me. Use of the all-terrain chair was SO fun and freeing.  

I was very impressed that Heceta Beach also has a Mobi-Mat, which is a flat, smooth surface leading from the parking lot onto the sand, making entry onto the beach accessible, even if not using a heavy duty powered chair. I explored the sand dunes, rolled up to the water’s edge, and loved every second of rolling along the wide-open beach, occasionally stopping to make circled tracks in the sand as a mark that I too belong at the beach! 

After a fantastic morning, I wheeled back up to the parking lot where the volunteer returned the chair to storage. I transferred into my own wheelchair and checked out the small shop and café at Driftwood Shores Resort. I took advantage of their accessible bathroom before we were off for some more exploring. I had read about Heceta Head Lighthouse and surrounding trails, which were only a short drive away and was curious to check it out, though was not completely sure about wheelchair accessibility in this area.  

I was happy to find a parking lot directly next to the clearly marked trailhead. This parking lot tends to get busy, but there was one accessible space that we waited a short time for. The trail surface was hard-packed gravel, smooth enough for my wheels to comfortably manage. While not frighteningly steep, sections of this trail do have a fair incline. I’m usually up for the challenge of a good push, but I was glad to have a bit of help when my arms got tired part of the way up. We stopped every few meters to marvel at the sun streaming in between the tall trees, with clearings in the bush along the way offering incredible views of the coast below. About halfway into the hike, we felt more than satisfied with the beauty we had experienced and decided to head back down for a late lunch. As we drove further away from the lighthouse we noticed numerous pull-outs along the road that provided the most glorious views of all! Even if your vibe is more easy, low-energy activity, I still highly recommend a drive to Heceta Head Lighthouse even if it’s just to pullover, roll down your window and take in the surroundings from the comfort of your vehicle. 

Before leaving Florence we made one last stop to happily fill our bellies after an exhilarating day outdoors. The Hukilau is a small restaurant located on Highway 101 serving Pacific fusion cuisine. With a step-free entrance, we were comfortably seated amongst their busy/vibrant/beachy/tiki-hut/world traveller/surfer’s paradise décor. I ordered a single vegetarian taco and my husband decided on their daily seafood special. Oh my goodness, did we enjoy! So fresh, so very satisfying, and delivered to our table with friendly service. 

Definitely make Florence and surrounding areas a part of your itinerary to the Pacific Northwest! It truly is a coastal playground, even for wheelchair users!