Cohassett Beach: Beach, Lighthouses and Surfing

Cohassett Beach is considered a coastal area with miles of sandy beaches and expansive open spaces. Those looking for a combination of beach, nature and distinctive coastal experiences for their vacation will find a variety of opportunities here for active days and quiet observation. The choice of a vacation rental or vacation home can also be guided by this focus: First consider whether you mainly want to spend time at the beach, surf, discover lighthouses, or combine landscapes and history.

Beach Landscape and Seaside Trails

An important destination for day visits is Westport Light State Park. The park covers 560 acres and has 1,215 feet of shoreline. An accessible concrete walkway and a trail along the beach offer different ways to experience the coast. The walkway may be of interest to visitors who prefer a firm surface, while the beach trail combines exercise with impressions of the sea. Instructional programs are available in the park from May through September.

At Twin Harbors State Park, the Shifting Sands Trail leads from the campground to the beach. This trail therefore supplements the beach access points with a short, clearly described connection between the overnight area and the coast. On the beaches of Westport, you can go for walks, collect beachcombing finds, look for seabirds and seals, watch migrating gray whales, or enjoy the sunset. In fall and winter, storms with large waves and strong winds are also among the natural phenomena that can be observed.

Surfing, Coastal Route and Distinctive Viewpoints

Surfing is offered at Cohassett Beach, including the opportunity to learn how to surf. Westport has three main surf breaks suitable for surfers ranging from beginner to advanced level. If water sports are the focus of your trip, you can specifically choose Cohassett Beach as your base when searching for accommodation and organize the rest of your plans around your preferred beach days.

State Route 105, known as the Cranberry Coast Scenic Byway, runs through Cohassett Beach. The name describes a designated route without implying any particular travel times or traffic conditions. A park-and-ride lot is located near Cohassett Beach along the SR-105 corridor. During low tide, seasonal travel demand on this corridor increases for shellfish gathering. Cohassett Beach is also connected to the Grays Harbor public transit system.

Another route for walks or bike rides is the 1.5-mile Westport Light Trail. It connects the Westport Lighthouse with Westhaven State Park and runs along the bluff above the ocean coast. The Grays Harbor Lighthouse is 107 feet tall and the tallest lighthouse in the state of Washington. Visitors can climb up to the original third-order Fresnel lens; this lens was manufactured in Paris in 1895.

Lighthouse History and Regional Insights

The Westport Maritime Museum also broadens the perspective on the coastal region. It is located in the original U.S. Coast Guard station. On display is a functioning first-order Fresnel lens from the Destruction Island lighthouse. The two lenses therefore offer different historical points of connection: an original lens in the lighthouse itself and a displayed, still-functioning exhibit in the museum.

The history of Cohassett Beach also reaches back to the 1880s, when summer gatherings of the Grand Army of the Republic took place there. The “Cohassett Beach Chronicles” collection documents local everyday life on the home front during World War II through newspaper columns. When planning a trip with an interest in regional history, beach days, lighthouses and museum visits can thus be complemented by historical themes.

The expansive coastal landscape also includes the South Beach Area of the Seashore Conservation Area. This area stretches for 18 miles from Willapa Bay to Point Chehalis in Westport and is preserved for public recreation. Depending on your desired travel theme, you can therefore choose different focuses among long stretches of beach, surfing opportunities, trails, nature observation and coastal history. If you are looking for accommodation, this decision should primarily depend on your planned vacation mix: beach and surfing point to Cohassett Beach as a search destination, while lighthouses and museum experiences may be other important interests for your trip planning.

You can discover additional destinations through the following listings: Ocean Shores, Elma, Copalis Beach, Hoquiam, Quinault, Aberdeen, Westport, Montesano.

For the overarching travel overview: Grays Harbor County.