Cape Disappointment State Park

What is Cape Disappointment State Park?

Cape Disappointment State Park is a wonderful place to visit if you're looking for beautiful backdrops for pictures and outdoor adventures. The 1,882-acre park gives you access to amazing spots like O'Neil Lake, Battery 247, Deadman's Hollow, Battery Guenther, Fort Canby, Battery O'Flying and more! Some of the animals you might be able to see when you visit are crows, ducks, eagles, hawks, herons and raccoons.

The cape got its name from Spanish explorer Bruno de Hezeta in 1775, who was looking for the Columbia River but never found it.

To get into the park, you'll need to pay a fee to park. Smoking is not allowed. Dogs are only allowed in pet-friendly accommodations (you'll be charged an additional fee).

Things to Do

Some of the common things people do when they visit this state park are:

Boating
Swimming
Fishing
Sun tanning
Geocaching
Metal detecting
Clamming

State Park Lighthouses

The Cape Disappointment Lighthouse (*Note that this is temporarily closed*) allows you to have gorgeous views of the ocean and the surrounding area. You can also visit the North Head Lighthouse; tour admission is $2.50 per adult, and the hours are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. from May to September.

Waikiki Beach

On the south end of Cape Disappointment State Park, Waikiki Beach is a lovely beach with crashing waves, driftwood and rocks. Visitors like the black sand here.

Whale watching

Bring a pair of binoculars, find an elevated space and see if you can spot some whales swimming in the ocean. The best time to go is in the early morning.

State park trails

Some of the best trails to try when visiting this park is:

Easy

Northhead Lighthouse Loop Trail - .6 miles
Cape Disappointment Trail - 1.9 miles
Bells View Overlook Trail - .5 miles
Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center Loop - .4 miles
Coastal Forest Loop Trail - 1.3 miles
Westwind Trail - 1 mile

Moderate

North Head Trail - 6.3 miles
Cape Disappointment North Head Trail - 3.1 miles

Dead Man's Cove

*Closed to the public*

This scenic cove in the park has lovely views of the area. Be aware of mud when travelling there in the rain.

Where is Cape Disappointment State Park?

You'll find it in Pacific County, WA. It's southwest of Ilwaco, WA and Black Lake.

Is the park open?

Yes, it's open 24 hours a day, every day.

Does the park have yurts?

Yes, the park has yurts that can sleep up to six people. Each yurt is 16 feet in diameter and 10 feet high.

Reviews

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Beautiful park! We were mostly just driving through but we got out to take the short walk to the lighthouse and it was totally worth it. The view from the cliff that the lighthouse is on was incredible. We also spotted a bald eagle which was very cool!

Olivia Vigrabs from Google Reviews

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Cape Disappointment Lighthouse was a smooth comfortable walk. Easy for a disabled person to walk or wheel to. Was a very Beautiful calm scenic walk. There are benches to sit and take in all the harmony the ocean brings. A perfect symphony of the waves, the breeze, birds, and the sounds of happiness all around.

Julie Fullerton from Google Reviews

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The park is really very beautiful; clean, expansive with tons of places to walk. On a sunny weekend there is so much to do there; playing on the beach, walking the trails, going to the lighthouses, driving into Long beach and exploring the area and then enjoying your firepit in the evening.

Harleytravelerx2 from TripAdvisor

Conclusion

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