At North Head Lighthouse, you can explore the grounds or climb to the top. From there, the view extends across the Pacific Ocean, the Long Beach Peninsula, the Columbia River Bar, and Oregon’s northern coast. The still-active lighthouse also supports navigation in the dangerous waters below Cape Disappointment. It stands on a northwestern promontory of Cape Disappointment.

Pacific County encompasses 28 miles of Pacific coastline and Willapa Bay. It is one of the most pristine and biologically diverse estuaries in the contiguous 48 U.S. states. Willapa National Wildlife Refuge provides habitat for more than 200 bird species.

Coast and Nature in the Wide View

Cape Disappointment State Park is a 2,023-acre camping park on the Long Beach Peninsula. It lies on the Pacific and overlooks the mouth of the Columbia River. Here, open ocean coastline and a river mouth offer distinct geographic perspectives side by side.

Coastal Towns with Different Stories

Fort Columbia State Park is considered one of the best-preserved historic coastal defense sites in the United States. Birdwatching is also possible there, and the park has miles of forested hiking trails.

The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment tells the story of Lewis and Clark and their journey to the Pacific Ocean. The Willapa Bay Interpretive Center focuses on the oyster industry at Willapa Bay: it presents its history through artifacts, photographs, and a 20-minute video presentation. You can also see a replica of a home belonging to oyster fishermen and their families. The terrace offers views across the bay and shoreline, as well as opportunities for wildlife viewing.

The two Interpretive Centers have different subjects: one tells the story of Lewis and Clark, while the other focuses on the oyster industry at Willapa Bay. In Oysterville, you can pick up a brochure at the Church for a walking tour of the Historic District. The Historic District was selected for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The Shoalwater Bay Museum displays a historic canoe almost 27 feet long.

Trails Through Different Landscapes

The Dune Forest Loop passes through coastal forest and tidal flats in Leadbetter Point State Park. Because conditions change with the tides and recent rainfall, it’s worth checking current advisories before your visit.

An easy hiking trail crosses the peninsula to sandy beaches. The South Bay Trail passes through grassland, coastal forests, and freshwater and estuary wetlands, and offers views of Willapa Bay; access is on foot only.

A 56-mile multi-use trail runs from Chehalis to South Bend and is suitable for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. This makes its permitted modes of travel different from those of the South Bay Trail, which is accessible on foot only.

Discover more destinations: Ilwaco, Seaview, Long Beach, Ocean Park, Tokeland.

Go to the broader travel overview: Washington.