Cape Disappointment State Park
Cape Disappointment State Park, State park at Columbia River mouth, Washington.
The 2,023-acre park contains forests, saltwater marshes, tidelands, and two lighthouses along the Pacific coastline near the Columbia River entrance.
Captain John Meares named this location in 1788 when he could not find the Columbia River entrance, while Captain Robert Gray discovered it in 1792.
The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center displays exhibits about the 1805 expedition, local maritime history, and regional military fortifications.
The park maintains camping facilities with 137 standard sites, RV spaces, yurts, and cabins, plus eight miles of hiking trails throughout the grounds.
The park houses two operational lighthouses: Cape Disappointment Light from 1856 and North Head Light from 1898, both guiding ships through dangerous waters.
Location: Pacific County
Operator: Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
Part of: Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks
Website: http://parks.wa.gov/486/Cape-Disappointment
GPS coordinates: 46.29120,-124.07200
Latest update: November 26, 2025 10:36
Washington holds far more than the well-known attractions of Seattle and Mount Rainier. Across the state, dozens of less-visited sites offer insight into the region's geological history, military past, and natural diversity. From waterfalls to ancient forests to historic lighthouses and military fortifications, Washington presents a substantial range of landscapes and cultural sites. Palouse Falls in Franklin County drops 198 feet (60 meters) into a basalt gorge, while Cape Flattery at the northwesternmost point of the continental United States looks out over jagged cliffs and the open Pacific. Ape Caves in Skamania County is one of the longest lava tube systems in the country, and Beacon Rock rises 848 feet (260 meters) above the Columbia River. The Trail of the Patriarchs leads through centuries-old Douglas firs and cedars, and Deception Pass Bridge connects Whidbey Island to the mainland via a 180-foot (55-meter) steel structure from 1935. Fort Worden in Port Townsend served as a coastal defense installation, and the Wing Luke Museum in Seattle documents the Asian American history of the Pacific Northwest. Dry Falls in Grant County shows the remains of an Ice Age waterfall that was once wider than Niagara Falls. Mima Mounds in Thurston County forms a field of hundreds of symmetrical earth mounds whose formation continues to be scientifically debated. These sites offer practical alternatives to the crowded main attractions and allow for deeper engagement with Washington's natural and historical features.
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Old Clatsop County Jail
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Astoria Public Library
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