Can you climb the lighthouses on the Long Beach Peninsula?

The Cape Disappointment Lighthouse, the oldest on the West Coast, is closed to climbing. But you can visit the lighthouse grounds by parking at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and making a steep, 1.5 mile hike. The North Head Lighthouse, also in Cape Disappointment State Park, is open for climbing.

Why is the southern end of the Long Beach Peninsula called Cape Disappointment?

British fur trader John Meares is said to have named it in 1788 because he was unable to locate his destination: the mouth of the Columbia River. Apparently, he was quite close because the cape is actually at the confluence of the Columbia River and Pacific Ocean. The area is part of what is known as the Graveyard of the Pacific due to more than 2,000 shipwrecks and 700 lives lost along the Columbia Bar at the river’s mouth. This is why there are two lighthouses on the cape.

How do I travel to the Long Beach Peninsula?

The closest major airports are in Seattle (165 miles away) and Portland (155 miles away). Smaller airports are in Astoria, Oregon, as well as Ilwaco, Washington. Drive to the Peninsula via U.S. Highway 101 from Oregon. From Seattle, take Interstate 5 South then head west on U.S. Highway 101 to the coast.

Can you drive on the beach on the Long Beach Peninsula?

Driving is allowed on the beach, but not all of the beach is open at all times. Be sure to check signage before you drive onto the beach. Enter the beach only at designated accesses, never over the dunes. Be sure to check the tide charts and brush up on beach-driving tips and the local laws before you go.

Are there lifeguards at the Long Beach Peninsula?

No, and swimming is not recommended, even on calm days, due to cold temperatures and dangerous currents. Surfers enter the water at their own risk.

What is the best time of year to visit the Long Beach Peninsula?

Summer is the warmest and driest and therefore the most crowded (but even when it’s busy there is plenty of space for everyone). Spring is the second busiest for tourism, though rain is frequent. Fall and winter bring affordable accommodations and far fewer people. Winter is slow for tourism but beautifully stormy for those who enjoy nature watching.

What’s special about the Willapa Bay oysters?

Willapa Bay is considered the cleanest estuary in the United States as it’s untouched by big-industry runoff and is flushed daily by the Pacific tides. The oysters naturally growing or farmed here are salty, sweet and delicate. The saline bay is the largest source of farmed oysters in the United States. Because of this, you can enjoy oysters here year round, though many people still say that the oysters are best during the cold “r” months.