The best camping in Cape Disappointment State Park, WA

It’s not called Cape Disappointment for nothing: this park features not one, but two lighthouses along what is arguably the most treacherous stretch of coastline in Washington. The first was built in 1856 to help vessels navigate the river bar where the Columbia runs into the Pacific Ocean, and is the oldest operating lighthouse in the Pacific Northwest. (The second was built in 1898 to provide even better visibility.) While it’s best to save any swimming for Lake O’Neil (the currents along portions of Cape Disappointment can be dangerous), the campsites and wide beaches are easily accessible and popular with amateur prospectors, who pan the sand for gold. 

1. Best for beach access: Loops A, B, and C are a short jaunt from the Pacific Ocean.
2. Best for swimming: Loop D, strung along the shores of Lake O’Neil, gets the best sun exposure in the park.
3. Best for families: Heated yurts feature bunk beds, a futon, and a large deck.

1. Reservations are available year-round for 137 standard campsites, 60 full-utility sites, 18 partial-utility sites, and five hiker-biker sites.  
2. Fourteen yurts, three cabins, and three lighthouse keeper’s residences are available. 
3. Sewer and water stay on throughout winter. 
4. The best tenting sites, on the far western side of loops A, B, and C (closest to the ocean), are typically reserved far in advance.

From hiking old-growth forests to flying kites along the beach to boating in the freshwater lake or crabbing in the ocean, Cape Disappointment is the perfect place for a summer visit. And while the long, hot days are perfect for soaking up rays, winter’s dramatic waves and pounding surf are great draws for storm-chasers and amateur photographers. Head to Waikiki Beach on the park’s southeastern side for the best views—if you’re lucky, you might even spot migrating gray whales in winter or spring.

1. Five installation pieces by architect Maya Lin (who designed the Vietnam Memorial) are scattered through the park, including a fish-cleaning table made from a single piece of basalt that tells the origin story of the native Chinook people. 
2. The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center is open daily between April and October, from 10am to 5pm.
3. The park’s seven trails range in length from a quarter-mile to nine miles.
4. The park has eight bathrooms and 14 showers, four of which are ADA accessible.