Cape Meares: Coast, Coastal Forest and Lighthouse

Cape Meares combines impressive ocean views with old coastal forests, distinctive trees and a historic lighthouse. The headland encompasses an Oregon State Park and a National Wildlife Refuge. Both areas are jointly managed by the responsible authorities to protect historical and natural resources. Those looking for a vacation rental or vacation home for a trip with varied interests will find a destination here where landscapes, nature observation and short and longer routes can be combined.

Ocean Views and Special Nature

The Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint is known for its ocean views. The 15-acre Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge can also be seen offshore. The park at Cape Meares offers excellent views of one of the largest colonies of nesting Common Murres on the continent. This gives a stay, in addition to the coastal landscape, a special perspective on the wildlife offshore.

Notable natural features include the Big Spruce and the Octopus Tree. The Big Spruce is 144 feet tall and has a crown width of 93 feet. At the Octopus Tree, several trunks rise from a 50-foot-wide base. These specific destinations give a stay different focal points: You can visit a viewpoint, observe an unusually shaped tree or combine the coastal landscape with seabird watching.

Trails for Different Day Plans

A 0.1-mile trail leads from the main parking lot to the Octopus Tree. Another trail begins at the park entrance and runs for 0.8 miles through old-growth spruce forest that is part of a National Wildlife Refuge. A 0.25-mile spur also leads to Oregon’s largest Sitka spruce. The different routes can therefore be selected according to your preferred pace for the day: A short detour focuses on a single natural feature, while the trail through the spruce forest offers more space to experience the forest landscape.

Hikers can walk about 0.3 miles along the beach to the Cape Trail and then climb another 0.8 miles through coastal forest to the summit of Cape Meares. The approximate distance and the subsequent climb should be taken into account when planning the day. Motorized vehicles are not allowed on Cape Meares Beach; official or permitted vehicles are exempt.

Lighthouse and Scenic Loop

The Cape Meares Lighthouse adds a notable historic destination to the nature experiences. The lighthouse has a first-order Fresnel lens. Its characteristic red and white flashes were visible from more than 21 miles away. Those equally interested in coastal history, technology and landscape can make the lighthouse a separate focus of their trip planning.

The journey itself can also be viewed as a landscape experience: On the Three Capes Scenic Loop, you approach Cape Meares State Park and the Cape Meares Lighthouse from the south. Cape Meares therefore offers different ways to experience its surroundings without requiring you to limit yourself to just one type of visit. A vacation rental in Cape Meares is a search option for travelers who want to divide their days between viewpoints, forest trails, the beach and the lighthouse; the specific choice should match your preferred pace and planned excursions.

More Destinations for Orientation

If you would like to expand your search for suitable accommodations, you can also compare these destinations: Netarts, Nehalem, Cloverdale, Garibaldi, Neskowin, Manzanita, Rockaway Beach and Tillamook.

To the higher-level travel overview: Tillamook County.