Cape Disappointment

Nice camping, book 6 months ahead very popular destination. Beach Flour Gold hard to get but also fun. Metal detecting, hiking, biking. Clean Bathrooms, great staff. Surf fishing..Be prepared for an attack on your campsite when your away....Damn Raccoons 🤣

Beautiful and quiet. Has such interesting US coastal history. The hiking is beautiful. The views are incredible!

Great place fir a hike as well as history. Just a short drive from Astoria and one of our favorite to just relax and watch the scenery. The graveyard of the northwest should be viewed by everyone that loves this area.

The trail head was easy to find. I would say this is “little” hike is moderate. The first section is down hill and then you go uphill to get to the lighthouse. There’s a campground with a store before you enter the park. That was nice treat on our way out when we wanted to get some waters after we finished ours. The beach area we explored. If you walk all the way down the jetty it’s pretty windy. There was a hidden swing on the beach that was fun to get pictures on.

Beautiful area! There are a couple short hikes from the parking lot-up to the lighthouse and the interpretive center (which is actually pretty awesome and partly FREE). It has restrooms and snacks in the gift shop. No bugs!!

Beautiful place to visit. Must check this place out. First time seeing a light house in person.

This was such a relaxing day trip. We had a picnic at the lighthouse. It was a nice hike up to the light house. Then we spent time when the rocks were and finished off at Benson Beach to watch the sunset. Very beautiful and clean.

I went to Waikiki beach on cape dissappiontment. Very nice and beautiful spring day. It's quiet but the water is cold.

This state park is on the edge of the earth with a light house. I wouldn't say the path to the light house is ADA or kid friendly. Steep, narrow path to go up through the woods to see the light house. There are campsites, restrooms and water available. A Discovery Park pass or $10 a day fee required.

It's a little over a mile round trip from the parking lot to this lighthouse. It's near deadman's cove. Beautiful scenery. I saw people get winded on the trail because it can be steep. Amazing views as it was a clear day. We were in Astoria visiting their lighthouse when we realized how close we were to here and was not disappointed with coming. I recommend go early for parking as it is limited. If no spots are open keep circling it's worth the wait!

So thrilled I finally got to revisit this lovely park and this time go into the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center (LCIC) - very well worth the visit!! This park has several beautiful lighthouses, tons of hiking trails and birds, and lots of history and info scattered all around. The main part I've visited is the LCIC, Fort Canby, and a small portion of the hiking trails around that area. Parking is $10 and you can pay at the kiosk in the lot or online - instructions are listed on a sign in the lot. To get to the LCIC & Fort Canby, walk up the trail directly behind the info sign in the parking lot. It's short with a slight incline and fully paved - there's another lot at the top that is handicap accessible so you don't have to go up that hill! The trail up is just lovely! Lots of towering trees covered in moss and this time of year there were TONS of Swainson's Thrushes hiding in the ferns singing their eerie, haunting tunes - I've never seen (or heard) so many in one place! Once at the top you're rewarded with sweeping views of the Washington side of the Columbia River bar and the pacific off in the distance. There are lots of interesting info signs on the way up and at the viewpoints. Off to the left you'll see one of the beautiful lighthouses. You can also go into the lighthouse so I'll have to come back for that next time haha! Last time I was here, the LCIC was closed bc of Covid but this time it was open!! It's free to enter and well worth a browse - lots of cool historical info about the area as well as a neat exhibit on the lighthouses in the area. I had no idea they all have their own unique light/flash "signatures"! The staff are all very friendly and I can highly recommend visiting - lots to see and you could easily spend a day hiking and exploring. They also have campgrounds and yurts for rent.

During previous visits we've driven past the campgrounds but never stayed. Last weekend we decided to give it a chance. D just seems so cramped with zero room or privacy, but we stayed one night in B and it's very different. Plenty of room and a much better setting. This visit we also took a different trail, the Cape Disappointment Trail from the big parking lot near Waikiki Beach, past the Battery, the interpretive center, Dead Man's Cove, and up to the lighthouse. Fun, winding, narrow trail...a bit muddy right now, but enjoyable. The battery was fun to explore and views from the lighthouse and center were fabulous. We saw multiple eagles soaring overhead while at the lighthouse. We didn't wander down to the cove, but it looked amazing so we will save that for another visit. Cape Disappointment is a fun, huge park that always feels so peaceful.

I think Cape Disappointment State Park may have been THE park that sparked my love for camping, outdoors, and landscape photography. This is where I learned that state parks have great facilities that include showers and modern bathrooms. This is where I learned that there is a beach called Waikiki Beach in Washington! As someone from Hawaii, I was hit with all kinds of cool new information and experiences. This park has so much to offer. There are camping sites and yurt sites. I could never snag a yurt reservation but it is great to know that yurts are an option as we love yurt camping. There are beaches, hiking trails, and a lighthouse. All these equal to amazing fun with family and lots of opportunities for landscape photography.

Maybe you need to come here on a nicer day to be able to enjoy this park, but coming here on a cloudy day was definitely disappointing. There are so many potentially pretty views throughout the park, but every point for me was "meh" because of how gray it was the day we went. I can't help but compare this with Olympic National Park, especially Ruby Beach, which is superior. After a while - maybe the 2nd beach, I got tired of seeing all the dead wood everywhere. So annoying having to walk around and on them. It was cool, though, seeing what some people were capable of building with the wood. I couldn't find a trash can anywhere near the lighthouse, which seems like a necessary place to put one. Otherwise, people were leaving tons of garbage all over. Side note: I had a giant mosquito land on my arm on my way back to the car from Waikiki Beach. I knew because I felt it and then saw it on me.

Had a great time visiting with our little kids. The grounds around the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center were fun to explore. We visited in early November and basically had the place to ourselves. The interpretive center was easy to navigate with a huge double stroller. Staff/volunteers were very friendly and informative. They have interactive activities for little kids that may otherwise find a museum boring. We were unable to take the trail to the light house near deadman's cove with our stroller, so we will be back once the kids are older. We ventured to the North Head lighthouse, which had beautiful views and was easily accessible with a paved path and public restrooms nearby. Worth a stop and the $10 parking pass.

Finally was able to book a site at the campground was definitely worth the wait. If you have T-Mobile service is very spotty, we only had service going back to town. Its nice to unwind and enjoy nature. The local store was extremely friendly and has last minute items. The park is well kept and bathrooms are cleaned daily.

I camped here for the first time on 7/19 and was pleasantly surprised. For starters, I was able to reserve a spot same-day I arrived! I spoke to Jim over the phone and he was super friendly. He gave me his opinion about the spots they had left so that I could enjoy my stay and I was super happy with where I ended up. Some of the camp sites sit right on the lake and that's where I was. There wasn't much privacy as the there aren't any trees or bushes in-between some of the sites, but also you're at a public campground so privacy is out of the question a lot of the time. Besides, there is a lot of space between some of the camp sites and I had really friendly neighbors. I arrived when it was super windy and this couple helped me set up my tent since I probably wouldn't have been able to do it myself in that wind. As the evening progressed, I found that the other campers were respectful of quiet hours and it was overall a great first experience camping there. If you're ever in the area you have to visit the North Head lighthouse! They offer tours that cost $3 and they run every fifteen minutes. You get to walk up the lighthouse and a volunteer hangs out to give you a brief run down and answer any questions you may have about the historical site.

This park is such a beautiful piece of the PNW! I should disclaimer - it is also an incredibly STORMY part of the PNW, so do not come here if you are looking for warm days on the beach. You should however pack your rain gear and clam digging supplies and come have a blast. We stayed in a RV site, hookups worked well, site had tons of space between us and our neighbors. There was also a nice forest walking path that easily took us from our site to the beach, though there were many ways to access. The beach was so long - so much space and different things to explore! Our pictures are from a visit in November and the tides were MASSIVE! If you have young kids who aren't super aware of their surroundings I would definitely make sure you spend most your time on the beach during low tide, because it was pretty darn aggressive. We took a drive up to hike to the lighthouse and enjoyed that as well. Next time we will come equipped with dry firewood, tarps and our rain pants and we will really be ready

Visited cape disappointment with my family to see a lighthouse and the coast. Arrived at the parking lot. There is a $10 fee to park unless you have a state park pass. You need to pay with a credit card at least at the north head lighthouse section. Bathrooms were open. Trash cans available. My family are not really big hikers and we were doing a lot of other stuff that day. My husband stopped here though for me so we could do a brief jaunt. We did the light house loop and Bells View overlook trail. Both trails were paved and easy and really accessible for anyone. The loop just past the lighthouse is currently closed (for construction of some sort) But you can make it all the way to the lighthouse and stand around it you just can't go further than that, and will need to go back the way you came. The lighthouse is currently closed. The day was super overcast, windy and cold. Apparently they get at least 100 days of wind a year there. The waves were kicking. We thought it was absolutely beautiful there. I would have loved more time to explore but was definitely not disappointed with what i did get to see.

This place entirely fails to live up to its name. Some really heavenly trails and many are totally accessible for those in wheelchairs. We had a lovely time wandering around the lighthouse and the WWII bunker (??!!!?). Some cool looking trees. Amazing ocean views. There did seem to be some confusion around if the visitor center was open so we didn't bother hiking up to it. Different signs said different things. COVID confusion!

Everyone must visit. So many paved trails to ride, skate or walk. We followed a. Trail to the beach from Bearded Hallow Bridge. The rain forest was beautiful. We also, visited both Lighthouses, the North was really nice and close to parking lot. Just a nice little walk. Cape Disappointment Lighthouse was a serious hike. You need good shoes and no sandals. Expect a variety of terrain to move through. And it was not paved. Not a handicap trail. But the different views we saw were spectacular. If you can walk, go see it.

I am still having a tough time coming up what is so disappointing... Truly well surpasses its name. This was a wonderful park discovery--far from touristy Long Beach which had little to be desired... (I will stop there without insulting any specific group). Check out Dead Man's Cove which is a hidden beach full of driftwood along the Disappointment Lighthouse Trail (half of the 0.6 "difficult" trail--don't waste your breath on the remainder). Keep in mind that this trail puts the North Head Lighthouse Trail to shame. Definitely check out the views (particularly at sunset and high tide) from the second parking lot along North Jetty Drive. Gorgeous! We watched a bald eagle soar high above while waves splashed the bird-filled cliffs. Truly splendid and heavenly. Don't miss out on the WWII bunkers which you can use your phone's flashlight to explore. It yells Halloween! Be sure to drive to Astoria for killer views and one of my favorite Pacific Northwest towns. The majority of this part you can explore with a car yet feel far from society.

Definitely worth the stop, please wear your walking shoes beautiful views from the cove and lighthouse.

Very nice place. Easy to access, clean, with beautiful panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. The parking was not all that great. Very difficult to find a parking spot if you get there late. The trails are very well maintained and a pleasure to hike. There is nothing that disappoints at this place so the name doesn't do justice

The drive from Astoria to Cape Disappointment is relaxingly scenic. Hugging the shore during parts of the route and going through some small, lonely towns during other sections, it's a world away from the anxieties we all now face. I knew that this would be my last little adventure last month as I already began to prepare myself mentally for isolation due to the pandemic. Cape Disappointment has its own isolation on land that juts out toward the alternating calm and raging waters that surround it. The trail to the lighthouse is not too long and not too strenuous but the path can be a bit muddy in this lush green landscape. Taking slow deep breaths of this air feels so rejuvenating. If only it were possible to breathe like this every day. The morning was peaceful and almost idyllic but I would like to visit when the infamous weather and waves live up to their dangerous and chilling reputation.

Overall, the experience was great. Called last minute and got a tent site. The sandy beaches were great and exactly what the kids needed. They have regular stall bathrooms with a shower stall at the end. There are also single bathrooms. We had cell phone reception at the site but not on the beach (not necessarily a negative). The negative: the boundaries for the sites aren't established so our neighbors' tent was definitely within our site. Thankfully, we only had one tent so it was okay but if we had the 3 tent maximum then it might have caused issues. Everyone seemed to be asleep by 10pm so if you're looking for a party scene, this place is definitely not it. Also, watch out for the trash pandas! All the food was rummaged through (our bad for not putting all the food smelling food in the car for safety!).

This is a lovely place to visit. There are two different lighthouses. The North Head Lighthouse faces out to the ocean, and is an easier walk that is paved most of the way. The Cape Disappointment Lighthouse is at the southern tip of the park (near Fort Canby - also worth a visit), and it overlooks the mouth of the Columbia River. For this location, we did not find much information posted about the walk from the parking lot to the lighthouse itself. The trail ends up taking you around a cove, so you begin the journey by walking away from the lighthouse, through the woods, and eventually to a road that leads to the lighthouse. By the time you reach the paved section, you're about halfway there. It's not a difficult hike, but be on the lookout for slippery sections on the trail, particularly around the elevation changes. The views are well worth the trip.

We were quite rushed as we tried to get through some of this park on a somewhat overcast day. But really, seeing any part of it was a real treat. Most of the trip was driving across the bridge and then into the park from the south side, and then pulling off at a few view points. We took a small hike from the trailhead at the North Head Lighthouse; first we went past the old military installments. Was I singing inside of them because the acoustics in there are absolutely amazing? Yes, maybe I was. You would too! After that, we went back to the car and back up the other trail to the actual lighthouse. It was under renovation, but this hike also afforded some great cliff views and a nice, short walk. I probably could have spent the day here and explored a lot more hiking, views, photos, and chill time, but I'm glad for the time I had. Sometime in the future, I think I'll come back and pack a picnic. It will be one of those trips where you wander up the coast and just see what happens, only we'll do it exactly right, from sunup to sundown, and beyond.

Lived in Washington most of my life and been by this park without stopping. Glad I finally found it. Nice little treasure of a place.

Wowsers! (insert obligatory, "This place is anything BUT dissapointing!") Enormous, positively gorgeous park with stunning views and a little bit for everyone: -You want to walk or relax on the beach and listen to the ocean waves?CHECK -How about view the gorgeous scenery & ocean below from atop some cliffs? CHECK -You want to walk in the woods among the giant trees & wildlife? CHECK -Visit a couple historic lighthouses? CHECK & CHECK -See other places with historical/wartime significance? CHECK -Learn more about the Lewis & Clark Expedition in a well-maintained interpretive center? CHECK -Pick up some souvenirs in a gift shop? CHECK -Go camping? CHECK We visited in mid-November and it was perfect! Not too cold (actually in the 50's), not raining yet, and there really weren't many people there since it is off-peak season. The paths were all well-maintained and they have many different trail options in varying lengths, terrain & difficulty. Some of the forest trails are more rugged than others. They also have bathroom facilities at each of the major parking lots, though for some reason they do not mark/indicate restrooms on their park maps, at least none that I saw. There is also a nice restroom in the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center. Yes, you do have to pay to get in to this state park ($10 for the day). Do yourself a favor, though, and spring for the $30 annual Discover Pass so you can visit all the WA State Parks to your heart's content for a year. The money goes to help maintain these lovely places & it is worth every penny each year because there is so much to explore! And this park alone is definitely worthy of multiple trips throughout the year. I believe you can even rent out the furnished historic house within the park for overnight stays (check their website for more info). There are some nice little seaside towns in the area to check out as well.

We heard "black sand beach" and decided to make a quick 20 minute stop. It does cost $10 for a day pass as it is a state park and we were told that Waikiki beach is the best place to see the black sand. You'll wanna park at the first main parking lot where you see restrooms and showers and there's a trail directly behind that which takes you down to the beach. Be very careful that you go when the tide is low as waves come in and crash against the whole cove area and it can be very dangerous. There is also lots of driftwood. If you drive a little farther to the next parking lot, you can look out over a massive amount of driftwood to see Cape Disappointment Lighthouse. This is where the pictures of the big splashing waves with lighthouse above come from.

While in Long Beach my wife and I had to visit Cape Disappointment since she loves lighthouses. Cape Disappointment requires a Discover Pass. Day passes can be purchased on site if one doesn't hold the yearly pass. Rangers were out in full-force ticketing like crazy so do yourself a favor and buy the day pass. The North Head Lighthouse is accessed via a paved road which makes it easy for all fitness levels as well as those in a wheelchair. The second lighthouse is more challenging and not accessible for those in wheelchairs. The park is well maintained with clean privy's. Parking is ample. The Pacific Ocean creates strong winds so dress accordingly. Overall, if in Long Beach, one should take the time to view and admire this piece of history. As always, if you pack it in, be sure to pack it out.

This is one of our favorite state parks to visit! Historic lighthouses, great ocean view, miles of trails (for all skill levels), and a huge camp ground! Put this one on your list!

Cape Disappointment is an extremely beautiful place and a breath of fresh air. The light house is amazing and the views are something you will always remember. Add this place to your bucket list.

This Discover pass is a scam. They can ticket you without issuing a physical ticket and send you a $100 bill in the mail from the court as a first warning. Total scam. And this is just to park your car, whether you use the actual park or not. That's some expensive parking down here , NYC prices!

You won't be...Disappointed if you camp here! Dad joke! We took the family here from Thur-Sun for our annual camp trip and it was awesome. We have been here before, but stayed in a diff loop, but enjoyed it just as much. They have made some changes since I last came, and a storm caused some serious damage to one of the camp areas, but it doesn't affect anything that much. The showers are free now, and our site was clean and the camp volunteers kept the whole area well groomed and were always friendly in answering questions and giving directions, selling wood, etc. we stayed in C-170 loop, closet to the beach. I like the weather a bit cooler and it was that. Plenty of RV space, Yurt rentals, and riverside sites as well. Really interesting thing was a dead whale had washed up so of course the kids..and I wanted to see it. Whew!! Smelly. I love the beach surrounding this camp area, I love the coast in general. It wasn't too windy when we stayed. We visited both lighthouses and Benson beach. You get to park without a pass in all if you are camping. They are doing a jetty improvement and lighthouse improvement project, so plan for that if it involves your plans. We will be coming back. You should go if you haven't. Bring some friends and your bikes and you packs and enjoy everything the PNW and Wash. Parks have to offer.

Had a great time at the camp ground- very clean. Camp hosts were around but not intrusive. Missing one star cuz there is *no* cell service. But then again - that can be nice too.

What a beautiful place to visit! From the parking lot, it's only a short walk to the overlook. I came on a cloudy day, so the lighthouse was majestic, in a haunting way. The beach views are stunning, and there are several trails that you can take to explore the rest of the peninsula. To the left, you can go down to the beach. Towards the right, you can take a closer look at the lighthouse, as well as a gift shop a bit farther up the trail. Overall, a must stop!

While in Long Beach, we made several trips to cape disappointment State Park. It was absolutely beautiful. The hike to North Head Lighthouse is completely paved and we were able to take a stroller, which was great. Biking along the Discovery Trail was amazing as well, with forested, hills, and beach scenery.

Wondrous Place to Camp!! Like many State Parks this time of year, the campground was FULLY occupied (as it should be for this gem of a park & locale). The State Park is located in the very Southwest Corner of Washington, near the town of Ilwaco. The beach was lovely: DEFINITELY worth staying up to watch a Gorgeous ocean-view sunset!! The park is LOADED with excellent well-maintained trails, 2 lighthouses within 2 miles of each other, hidden coves, the North Jetty, and RICH RICH History! Lots of informative signs and markers about the areas 120-year-ish lighthouse history & Lewis & Clark Expedition History (for the nerdy history-loving Yelpers out there). Its also located just 16 minutes from Astoria, Oregon (I recommend checking out the River Walk & the Astoria Column). 30ish minutes from Seaside & Cannon Beach. Overall score: 5.0 / 5.0

Cape Disappointing. Two stars rather than one, because the location has some nice natural sites. As a campground, it's unacceptable (unless you're in an RV). Interestingly, unlike other WA State campgrounds, I had noticed when booking that there's no "privacy" rating for sites. Turns out, because there is none. Sites range from open field with absolutely zero privacy, to tightly-packed rings of campsites that have maybe 2 yards between each site, and sparse trees. Unfortunately though many of those sites are without hookup, they still allow RVs on them. That results in the RVs having to idle and/or use generators. So all day, every day, our tent site was sandwiched shoulder-to-shoulder between RVs that seriously were either idling or running a generator, from 7AM through 9PM solid. This could be a lovely campground. Close half the tent sites, and plant privacy growth between them. Ban RVs from non-hookup sites, ban generators. Create more hookup sites in a different area (the park is surely large enough). In summary, lovely area, but won't be back to this park.

I would give 0 stars to this destination if I could. Cape Disappointment is a proper name now for what used to be a family day getaway. After parking and seeing that the parking kiosk was closed I had to drive down to the coast guard store and purchase a 10$ parking slip instead of 5$, which has been for many years. After I got back up to the parking lot and enter the trail I see that the trail is shut down after less than a 1/3 mile. There is no destination just barriers and a sign that says it's closed down. Nothing was posted or stated by the coast guard store or in the parking lot. No lighthouse, no cove, no beautiful hike. Just a waste of 10$. Truly disappointing.

Waikiki Beach is one of my favorite spots on the Peninsula. A short walk from the campsite, it has a nice boardwalk for easy access. I love driftwood and this beach has tons! I went on during a summer weekend and there were a lot of teepees and structures built out of driftwood...so neat! Campsites were average. I scored a first come first serve spot along the lake ($25/night) and there was no privacy and little shade. I recommend the sites away from the lake (186-ish)...a lot more privacy! The bathrooms were kept clean during my visits. I also visited the north head lighthouse (currently under construction) and viewpoint and liked how it was a short out-and-back hike on an easily walkable trail.

When they told me about coming here I was thinking about the name but my expectations changed when we arrived. The landscapes are beautiful even before arriving!! The road and camp itself have fantastic views. This park has an enormous campsite and trails. There are two lighthouses (one for the ocean and one for the river), and a museum. You can stay in your own tent or rent a cabin. Few steps and you will be at the beach. Sea is amazing. Beautiful but a little cold. You can hear it while sleeping at night. Be aware to dispose your trash daily or keep it in your car as well as food. Raccoons will tear bags and open coolers. True story! Sometimes in daylight. Rangers will be around through the night. Friendly and helpful!! Be sure to check in first with them. If not, you can get a ticket. Drive carefully because people use the road with their bikes. If you go for a day, use your Parking Pass. Parking can be challenging. Logs of wood are a bit expensive at site (by your Camp Host). The package is small and burn fast but they are better than others. You could bring some from around but they might be a little smoky. There is a shop by the Camp entrance in case you run out of something.

We drove all the way from Sacramento to come see this wonderous location (we were actually going many places). The park was sadly closed for COVID. How disappointing. We decided to take the loop back to 101 and hoped for a sign that we could at least take a picture out next to. Yet another disappointment. Overall, 10/10, most honest advertising out there. Lol Ok, in all reality, this place was clean and ready for your exploration once parks are back to 100%,

Lots of hiking trails and scenic views that don't require long strenuous hiking. It's a state park so be sure to bring your pass or be prepared to pay $10 for the day pass. Hike to the lighthouse is definitely worth it!

I look at the name and just want to laugh; I simply love the name. It's as if Greenland and Iceland also came up with the name Cape Disappointment to attempt to prevent people from swarming the area based on the name of the location. Cape Disappointment is anything BUT disappointment! We arrived an hour before sunset. The sky was GORGEOUS purple and blue. The water appeared to look like out of a scene from a movie or photo shoot. It was absolutely stunning. It also wasn't crowded with people either. The trees were wet and the day somewhat gloomy, the trees were so mesmerizing. It was truly a place to lose your thoughts and negativity. I would live here if I could!!

We had a great time here at this park. It was a lot about the actual camp spot though. We were in a sweet little spot away from the people and RVs. There was an aggressive raccoon, so please don't feel the animals!!! They get this way because people feed them!!! The campsite we had had a nice big fire pit and lawn for the tent. There are hiking trails nearby and beautiful beaches. We most enjoyed the sunsets at Benson Beach. The restrooms were clean and the rangers very nice. We had a fabulous weekend here and would definitely go back. The light houses were an added bonus.

Incredible hikes, incredible views. Was pretty muddy, but its been raining. Bring boots. Was fun the the dog. We were able to hike to 2 lighthouses, and countless forts and old military bunkers. Never have been able to stumble across such a cool series of sights, and historic places in such a fun easy hikable area. Also stopped in at the campground, and was very impressed. Great beach front sights, with hookups. They even had yurts and cabins. Want to go back tbis summer.

if you like a great walking or mountain bike trail with lots of wild life its here trails to the beach pack a lunch and some water very chalenging trails

Beautiful views! Nice short hikes, but just enough to get your blood flowing. The lighthouse was closed for renovations (Spring 2019), but it was still worth visiting the other areas.

Love it here. Come back every couple years. Lots to explore. Great place to camp, too

If you're a hiker this is definitely the place to go broski. There's so many beautiful views and places to find. Not to mention it very well kept. If you're in town this is definitely a stop worth making and even worth going out of your way for.

$10 parking (or $?? annual Discover Pass). The price is sort of a shock after visiting a number of places in Oregon with free parking. I left my day pass behind for the next guy. Hike uphill to and from the lighthouse. The fauna is certainly interesting, with a jungle/island feel. Dead Man's Cove is a great sheltered area to admire the sunset (bring a flashlight!) or play in the sand. If you come at the right time of the year, I think the sunset will align with the opening of the cove. The building beside the lighthouse is actually used by the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard have put up large information boards to teach the public about the nearby waters and how their duties are performed. The water crashing into the cliffs viewable from the lighthouse is very soothing.

Fantastic trails, great photo ops and a great family spot. Of course you'll have to have the Discovery pass so come prepared. Parking at the entrance of the trails is limited, but there's more below the trail head. Keep your eyes out on the way thru.

Wholly fuck, this place is NOT a disappointment. You'd be stupid not to go here. It's stunning. The lookouts are beautiful and breathtaking. Then! Then you can DRIVE out to the points you're looking at (with a four wheel drive vehicle and at low tide)! I highly suggest you do this. The water is freezing, but the landscape is perfect for picnicking or just visiting for a moment. Do not miss Cape Disappointment.

Would have rated this higher but for some reason the trail was closed to Cape Disappointment's lighthouse. (The shorter, paved path to the northern lighthouse in the park was open. There are 2 lighthouses in the park). So I didn't get a full taste of what the area had to offer. Still pretty in cloudy weather. We weren't sure why the trail was closed...and yes...we were a little disappointed. ;p

Growing up in Washington state I had never heard of or visited Cape Disappointment. I've been to nearby Astoria and surrounding areas. Since I'm back in Seattle for a new job, I was looking up some weekend road trip destinations. Looking it up on Google images this locale looked very cool. I took a chance and drove out there on a rainy Sunday morning. Luckily it had cleared up a bit and stopped raining along the coast. There's a $10 discovery (park fee) but not too bad. The lighthouse itself is very scenic and the coastline is breathtaking. Maybe it was due to the inclement weather but it wasn't that crowded which is a big plus. I think I'll make another trip out there in spring/summer when it's warmer. I'll definitely make a return trip before moving away from Seattle next year. Highly recommended.