Cape Meares Lighthouse Hike

Overview

John Meares was a British explorer and merchant of some controversy who plied the North Pacific in the second half of the 18th century. The promontory honoring his name is part state park and part wildlife refuge although the short excursion described here is almost all on state parks land. On this hike, you'll first visit the Cape Meares Lighthouse; get vistas of offshore rocks, including the massive Three Arch Rocks, bustling with sealions and seabirds; and marvel at the candelabra shape of the Octopus Tree. On the right side of the parking area there’s a viewing deck that looks across to cliffs that host nesting guillemots and a pair of peregrine falcons in season. You can also try to spot a bald eagle nest in the spruce forest. Puffins and cormorants also nest here from April to June, and the largest colony of nesting common murres uses the rocks offshore, including Pyramid and Pillar rocks. From the viewpoint, a paved trail heads down a slope through Sitka spruce and salal. There are two more viewpoints that look north to the cliffs and the sea stacks. The path switchbacks down to the small Cape Meares Lighthouse, whose Fresnel lens was damaged by vandals in early 2010. This lighthouse was built in the 1890s and sits 200 feet above the waves. The building is open to visitors from April 1st to October 31st. The telescope outside the lighthouse building can be used to view the Steller’s sea lions at Three Arch Rocks. This is also a great whale watching site. After taking in the views, follow the narrow fenced trail up the south side of the cape. There are views south to Short Beach, Maxwell Point, and Three Arch Rocks. The trail passes under a viewing platform next to the parking area. The first trail right leads to a grassy picnic area. The second trail right heads up to restrooms and then to the Octopus Tree. The candelabra shape of the six (not eight) trunks may have been formed by coastal windstorms; another theory posits that local Native Americans may have bent the limbs so they could cradle a platf

Trail Stats

Photos

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