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    Cape Meares Lighthouse

    4.6 (73 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Cape Meares Lighthouse Photos

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    Beautiful lighthouse
    Mikaela C.

    Loved that we included this during our little PNW vacation. The lighthouse was very unique looking with gorgeous coastal views all around. I especially loved the beautiful walking paths and ample benches / picnic tables to really soak in the views and salty air. Everything was well maintained. Parking was plentiful and free. I did not use the facilities, but there is an on-site restroom near the Octopus Tree. We spent about 45 minutes here, but definitely could have spent a couple hours had we brought a picnic lunch. Absolutely worth the 20 minute drive from Tillamook!

    Cris I.

    Cape Meares Lighthouse is a worthwhile stop for anyone visiting the Oregon Coast. The stunning scenery, and natural beauty make it a unique and memorable experience. It's too bad we arrived here past 4pm when tour of the lighthouse ends. However, we still went to explore the grounds and surrounding areas around it. The views of the Cape Meates Beach are simply stunning. From the crashing waves to the endless expanse of the ocean and the lush greenery of the surrounding cliffs, every direction offers a postcard-worthy panorama. I was awestruck!

    Jason V.

    Gorgeous cliffside views of the Pacific greet you on both sides of the forested path as you make your way down towards the Cape Meares Lighthouse, situated on a small bluff overlooking the ocean. We'd arrived to late to visit the gift shop, but we couldn't have asked for better weather, or better a better panorama. Getting to the park itself was a bit of a chore, as the northern road around the cape from Tillamook was closed, meaning we had to approach from Netarts in the south, so if your Waze or Google Maps isn't sure how to get there (ours said no routes were available, which was only half true), try the other way 'round.

    Welcome Art @ Cape Meares Lighthouse parking area.
    Sparkle H.

    What an amazing Oregon Coast experience @ Cape Meares Lighthouse! in Tillamook, OR. Very well maintained grounds with Breathtaking Cliffside Views!! The drive here was pleasant enough, alongside Tillamook Bay and Cape Meares Lake. There were signs at crossroads to keep you going down the right way on a new, smooth road, but it was very curvy. Once you've arrived in a good size parking lot, there are two clean port-a-potties available. There were several designated viewing areas with bench seating. Informative stands with illustrations about the natural ecosystem including wildlife and foliage lined the path to and from the lighthouse. The gift shop was not open when we visited, but no big deal for us. I loved how there provided the history and pictures about the lighthouse on the opposite side of the welcome sign at the beginning of the trail.

    Brandon M.

    OHMYGOODNESS! What a fun little gem. We took a weekend trip visiting Oregon Coast Lighthouses. Cape Meares did NOT disappoint! Parking is fantastic... easy to access. Now, keep in mind, you do have a bit of a hike (paved). It is a bit more than 1/4 mile from the parking lot and a decline downhill. The lighthouse itself is adorable... the smallest one I've ever seen in my life, but adorable nonetheless. The views are absolutely stunning! I can't even begin to tell you how beautiful it was... stunning views. The park offers great places to sit and absorb. We cannot recommend the Cape Meares Lighthouse enough! Go check it out, lovely little gem! Five stars across the board!

    A short walk up the path from the lighthouse
    Tracy L.

    The lighthouse is good, the view is fantastic, and the best part for me was Octopus Tree! What a unique is tree - with no main trunk and many thick limbs. It's on the path past the restrooms. The drive out to see it before we went to Tillamook Creamery was worth it for the ocean view and to see Octopus Tree.

    Cindy X.

    Gorgeous views- nice little walk that isn't too much! You can walk down to the light house, unfortunately the gift shop was closed but still worth it.

    Tom S.

    Ok, I love lighthouses and this is one that you can get real close to and get some awesome photographs. In season, you can even get to go up inside to the lamp. On a sunny day, it can get hot up there. From the parking lot, it's maybe 1/4 mile down to the lighthouse. You can see the top of the light through a tunnel view down the path. At the parking lot, there's a great view of the cliffs with lots of birds. Last visit, I saw a sea lion in the surf. While this isn't the tallest light on the coast, it is pretty accessible and who doesn't love a view of the Pacific on a nice day from a cliff?

    Charles R.

    Beautiful views and lighthouse. I loved the scenery, huge trees and very tranquil atmosphere. This was a great one hour stop.

    The octopus tree, which is very neat!
    Kevin B.

    The Cape Meares Lighthouse is a fun stop along the Oregon Coast that affords very pretty views of the coastline and a very interesting octopus tree nearby (serious, it's nuts). The lighthouse is very small and is easily accessible and the area around the lighthouse has spectacular views of the cliffs and beach down below; the Oregon Coast is gorgeous and well worth a visit if you're in the area. There's also a small forest nearby that has some very interesting trees that have many branches emerging from the stump and are some of the more unique trees that I've ever seen. It's a fun place to visit and I would come back again!

    Lori H.

    We decided to take this loop (going through Cape Mears, Oceanside and Netarts) while visiting the creamery in Tillamook. We checked our map to see what else was nearby, and stumbled across this little gem. The drive around the loop was beautiful. The lighthouse is pretty small, but you can go inside and take a tour. The parking lot is decent sized. The trail to the lighthouse is 0.2 miles from the parking lot. It's a pretty casual walk, although a gradual downhill to the lighthouse, and of course a gradual uphill back to the parking lot. If you're out of shape, like me ;-) there are benches along the path uphill to the parking lot. There's also a viewing platform of the cape below, right off the parking lot. And a short trail to the Octopus Tree, which is worth a view. There are bathrooms available as well. Overall, we were pleasantly surprised by this unexpected stop and loop drive. We will definitely be back when visiting the Tillamook area.

    Octopus Tree
    Sean C.

    This spot provided some of the most beautiful views my eyes have ever seen! The Oregon coast is so impressive and you have an amazing vantage point at the lighthouse and points along the trail from the parking lot. There were about 3 different look out area with benches. From each location, you could view Pacific Ocean waves crashing into the rocky steep coast. Truly majestic! Although it was an overcast day when we visited, it made for some really nice photos. Also, make sure you visit the octopus tree on the other side of the parking lot. It's pretty crazy looking!!

    Post vandalism - you can see the foggy replaced windows.  Boo!
    Jen K.

    Some things just break your heart and hearing about the vandalism that occurred at this Oregon landmark is certainly one of them. The shooting that damaged the red Fresnel lens and closed the upper tower to visitors is nothing short of senseless and tragic. It also reminds me of this classic song performed by Sting: Roxanne You don't have to put on the red light Those days are over You don't have to sell your body to the night -------- I loved you since I knew you I wouldn't talk down to you I have to tell you just how I feel I won't share you with another boy I know my mind is made up So put away your make up Told you once I won't tell you again It's a bad way Unlike Sting, I'll gladly share this beautiful place with all visitors on the Three Capes Drive. Although the upper tower has been closed to prevent further damage to the lens (http://www.capemeareslighthouse.org/html/news_and_events.html), visiting the lighthouse is still a wonderful experience. There is no charge for parking and this location provides beautiful views of the coastline. Keep in mind that the lower level of the lighthouse and gift shop are only open for limited hours (11a - 4p from April through October). You can also schedule a private tour and perhaps you'll run into a ghost. There is a long(ish) straight sloping path to the lighthouse with benches and viewpoints along the way. You can also take the less traveled path on the southern side. I typically make a loop so I get to enjoy all the views. While there you should also visit the Octopus Tree. Written a year ago, my rating would be five stars, but I need to remove a star since the experience is no longer what it was. Here is a heartbreaking photo of the lens prior to the vandalism: http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/oregon_state_police_arrest_two.html

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    3 years ago

    Definitely see this if you're in the Tillamook area. We got there as it opened and enjoyed the guilder tour of the light house.

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    An amazing place. Lovely lighthouse, great ocean views.

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    Review Highlights - Cape Meares Lighthouse

    Additionally you can take a dirt trail up a bit to the restrooms, and even further up to see the Octopus Tree.

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    Haystack Rock - Lighthouse

    Haystack Rock

    4.8(248 reviews)
    27.5 mi

    This was a destination I had been looking forward to visiting for years after seeing pictures and…read morehearing stories of other peoples' experiences at Cannon Beach ! First, the drive here along Route 26, from Portland, was just stunning as you drive through the forested areas. On this occasion a blanket of fog enveloped the valley and the pictures just don't do it justice as to how it looked in person. I went during the "off-season" right at the end of October and for me this was a great time to visit, as there were not too many people on the actual beach and it also made parking much easier. You can park in areas off the street, however, be careful as much of it you are not allowed to park on. If you park at "Haystack Rock" Public Parking it's just a short walk to the Cannon Beach Access. On this particular day a big storm was moving in and it really created a great atmosphere to photograph in with the moody skies and the ocean getting a bit more turbulent as the waves crashed into the seastacks. Would have loved to catch a sunset here, however, will have to do that on another visit and maybe a different time of the year to compare experiences. The trip didn't disappoint and highly recommend stopping here and exploring other parts of the Oregon Coast!

    The "Goonies Rock" is no where near Astoria like the movie makes it out to be. No matter what, it…read moreis absolutely worth the drive. Parking is non-existent because you have to walk down a pathway between two houses to get to there, I mean of course there are probably areas North or South of the actual rock but I am not aware of them myself. We were lucky and able to find a spot directly across the pathway that just happened to have someone pulling out. Walking down that pathway, I took a video and love how it shows the beauty of the area just opening up. It was more than I could have wished for after growing up loving the movie Goonies and was delighted that we got there when we did. Tide was out, so the dreamy tide pools that you see associated with the northwest coastlines were accessible and all the wonderful wildlife that live within them. Also, we were able to watch the sunset, which was cloud covered but who cares. While walking around, it first started with just rolling up my pants, so then having a misstep and one of my shoes getting soaked so then I was like, oh well, off with the shoes and walk around freely to be able to go rock to rock or wade around to get to the numerous tidepools. All worth the super cold feet later on in the car. There is just something about seeing everything in the wild vs in various zoos or aquariums. It was by far my favorite part of our trip to Portland and something I'd love to revisit again, regardless of the distance and drive back.

    Photos
    Haystack Rock - Sunset

    Sunset

    Haystack Rock - Beach

    Beach

    Haystack Rock - Beach

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    Beach

    Cape Meares Lighthouse - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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