Walk a flat sandy beach, climb to two lighthouses, explore bunkers of an old military fort, wander through coastal forests, take in spectacular vistas, have a picnic and even go camping.
Enjoy an active and engaging interpretive schedule during the summer months, visit the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and swim at Waikiki Beach, the only swim-safe beach on the Peninsula.
You’ll soon see why Cape Disappointment State Park is the most visited park in the Washington State Parks system.
The park, part of the Lewis & Clark National Historical Park, encompasses 1,882 acres, fronted by the Pacific Ocean. The park offers breathtaking ocean views, Columbia River, North Head Lighthouse and Cape Disappointment Lighthouse. The park has old-growth forest, lakes, freshwater and saltwater marshes, as well as streams and tidelands along the ocean. 20 unsheltered picnic tables are available, available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Park Hours:
Summer:
6:30 am to 10 pm
Winter:
6:30 am to 4 pm
The park is open year round.
History:
In 1788, while in search of the Columbia River, English Captain John Meares missed the passage over the river bar and named the nearby headland Cape Disappointment for his failure in finding the river. In 1792, American Captain Robert Gray successfully crossed the river bar and named the river "Columbia" after his ship, the Columbia Rediviva. Only a few years later, in 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition arrived at Cape Disappointment.
The Cape Disappointment Lighthouse was constructed in 1856 to warn seamen of the treacherous river bar known by then as "the graveyard of the Pacific." This is the oldest functioning lighthouse on the West Coast.
In 1862, Cape Disappointment was armed with smoothbore cannons to protect the mouth of the Columbia River from enemies. The installation was expanded to become Fort Canby in 1875. The fort was named after General Edward Canby, who was killed in the Modoc Indian War. The fort continued to be improved until the end of World War II. Gun batteries still sit uptop the park.
More Information:
