Cape Disappointment State Park, Long Beach, Washington

Situated just outside the town of Ilwaco where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean, Cape Disappointment State Park offers a variety of recreational activities, breathtaking scenery, and year-round camping facilities.

Visitors can hike four scenic trails through coastal forests and headlands, bike along the park’s paved roads, or stroll two sandy beaches.

Both the North Head and Cape Disappointment Lighthouses, as well as the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, are accessible by trails of varying lengths.

Nestled in a cove fronting the river, Waikiki Beach offers a view of the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse and excellent storm-watching during the winter, while Benson Beach extends two miles from the North Jetty to the rocky base of North Head, a perfect place for beachcombing and kite-flying.

Whale watchers frequent Cape Disappointment’s vantage points, such as North Head, to scan the ocean for gray whales during late December, early January, and March through May.    Wildlife sightings, especially black-tailed deer and a variety of birds, are plentiful.  [taken from website]
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Benson Beach was just over the dune from our campsite.   Even though it was raining a good portion of the time it was nice to be there.   We visited the North Head Lighthouse and really enjoyed a different vantage point of the coastline than what we could see from the beach.    We met a nice couple from Alberta, Canada who joined us by the campfire.   We could hear the waves and the moon gave it a good try to peek through the clouds occasionally.  Very relaxing .....but Beau found the smoke to be bothersome so he went to bed early.

Light Head lighthosue from Benson Beach behind our campsite

We drove & walked to the lighthouse.

Quite of view of the coastline from there.

Left side gives date established 1898

Right side gives longitude & latitude of its location

Coastline shots from the area of the lighthouse

Two houses at the entrance of the walking path to the lighthouse

are available for rent.   I have the number if anyone wants to inquire. :-)

A thistle along the path to the lighthouse

Monument in honor of Lewis & Clark's arrival at the Pacific Ocean

Journal of Captain William Clark:  

 "Men appear much satisfied with their trip beholding with astonishment

the high waves dashing against the rocks and the emence ocean."

So wrote Capt Clark as he, York and ten men reach the Pacific in the vicinity of McKensie Head....and nearby they established their first recorded ocean campsite.

Amazing to stand where Meriweather Lewis and William Clark finalized their trip.

Hugs to all !