coastal washington lighthouse tour
Dozens of lighthouses have been built to help guide seafarers along Washington’s rugged, rocky coast, and many are still in use. Opportunities abound for educational tours and stunning photography.
Highlights
Climb to the top of Grays Harbor Lighthouse, the tallest in the state standing at 107 feet (32.6m).
Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy whale watching from dry land at Lime Kiln Point State Park.
Take the Keystone Ferry out to Fort Casey State Park, and tour the Admiralty Head Lighthouse.
BEST TIME TO GO
The Washington coast regularly experiences rainy, foggy, and windy conditions, so the best time to visit is in July or August, the warmest and driest months.
CAMPGROUNDS
Fort Casey Historical State Park
1280 Engle Road, Coupeville, WA 98239. parks.state.wa.us/505/FortCasey; 888-226-7688. $25 to $40. Restroom, shower, ferry terminal, fishing, lighthouse, walking trails.
This campground is small (fewer than 40 sites) and somewhat run down, but it’s beautiful, and some spots are directly on the beach. There’s simply no better base camp for exploring the Admiralty Head Lighthouse.
Relax and watch the ferries roll in, and take in the expansive views of Admiralty Inlet and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Pack your windbreaker; you’ll be close enough to feel the salt spray off the water.
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Admiralty Lighthouse. |
The Point No Point Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in the Puget Sound and has been in continuous operation since its completion in 1879.
Cape Disappointment State Park
224 Robert Gray Drive, Ilwaco, WA 98624. parks.state.wa.us/486/cape-dissapointment; 888-226-7688. $25 to $45. Bathrooms, showers, food delivery.
No one leaves disappointed from this coastal classic. The campground offers full hookups, and trails lead directly to the windswept beaches. The sites are large and level, and some even have ocean views. The entire campground is clean and well maintained.
You don’t have to leave the park for great hiking, biking, lighthouse touring, and tide pool exploring—it’s all right here.
Don’t forget to take a day trip or two into Long Beach, a charming coastal town just 5 miles (8km) away. The Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria is also a short drive away and shouldn’t be missed.
Many campers come for the first time to see the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, and return again and again for the beach and the ocean.
Bay Center/Willapa Bay KOA
457 Bay Center Road, Bay Center, WA 98527. koa.com/camp/bay-center; baycenterkoa@centurylink.net; 360-875-6344. April 3 to November 29. $40 to $55. Bike rentals, playground, geocaching, remote-control car track.
This KOA is a great location for exploring the lighthouses at Cape Disappointment and North Head at the mouth of the Columbia River.
The campground is very pretty with lots of trees and spacious sites, and the owners take a personal interest in ensuring their campers are happy. One of them grew up clam digging, and the campground has its own clam bed. A short nature trail leads down to the beach at Willapa Bay, where kids can play and dogs can run free. Sunsets are pretty.
After a day of exploring the scenic coastline, head back for volleyball, horseshoes, basketball, or badminton. Or just kick back and relax at an ice-cream social where you can meet other campers.
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West Point Lighthouse. |
Cape Disappointment, at the entrance to the Columbia River, earned its name when explorer John Meares mistakenly sailed right past the river in 1788.
RESTAURANTS
OleBob’s Seafood Market and Galley Restaurant
151 Howerton Way, Ilwaco, WA 98624. olebobs.com; 360-642-4332. Sunday to Thursday 11 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.; Friday 11 A.M. to 7 P.M.; Saturday 10 A.M. to 7 P.M. $15 to $30. Seafood.
This seafood shack is just minutes away from both Cape Disappointment Lighthouse and North Head Lighthouse, making it the perfect place to break for lunch before heading north to the other three lighthouses along Highway 101, or for dinner if you’re coming south.
Sit outside and marina views while you sample the baked oysters, a house specialty. Choose among the fresh catches of the day for your fish and chips platter. Beer and wine are available.
Ivars Acre of Clams
Pier 54 1001 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98104. ivars.com/locations/acres-of-clams; 206-624-6852. Lunch Monday to Saturday 11 A.M. to 4 P.M. and Sunday 11 A.M. to 3 P.M.; dinner Monday to Thursday 4 P.M. to 10 P.M.; Friday and Saturday 4 P.M. to 11 P.M.; Sunday 3 P.M. to 10 P.M. $25 to $50. Seafood.
This waterfront seafood restaurant has been open on Seattle’s Pier 54 for more than 70 years, and it recently got a facelift. It’s the perfect place for lunch or dinner after exploring Discovery Park, home of the West Point Lighthouse.
Indoor and outdoor seating is available, and you can watch the ferries moving through Elliott Bay from many tables. Or order take-out and eat at picnic tables on-site. Be warned: diners feed french fries to the seagulls, making this an unappealing option for some patrons.
The basics are done well here. Try the chowder, prawns, or fish and chips. Or get fancy with bacon-wrapped halibut and wild sockeye salmon. Land lovers can find options as well.
Duck Soup Inn
50 Duck Soup Lane, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. ducksoupinn.com; hi@ducksoupinn.com; 360-378-4878. Wednesday to Sunday 5 P.M. to 10 P.M. $30 to $60. American.
Nestled in Friday Harbor, this romantic and quaint restaurant celebrates the landscape and bounty of San Juan Island, offering a seasonal menu that always features house-made sourdough bread and organic salads.
Roasted duck, pan-seared halibut, and farm-fresh pork are creatively prepared with fresh morels, nettles, or wild fennel. Reservations are highly recommended.
ATTRACTIONS
Highway 101 Lighthouses
Cape Disappointment State Park, 24 Robert Gray Drive, Ilwaco, WA 98624. parks.state.wa.us/486/cape-dissapointment; 360-642-3078. 6:30 A.M. to dusk. 1-day Washington State Park Discover Pass $10; annual pass $30.
Start your exploration at Cape Disappointment State Park, where you can visit the Lewis and Clark Interpretative Center perched above the Pacific Ocean on a 200-foot (61m) cliff. Also tour the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse and the North Head Lighthouse here.
Head north on 101 to climb Grays Harbor Lighthouse. Use the viewpoint 2 miles (3.2km) south of Ruby Beach to spot the Destruction Island Lighthouse 3 miles (4.8km) offshore.
Seattle Lighthouses
Fort Casey Historical State Park, 1280 Engle Road, Coupeville, WA 98239. parks.state.wa.us/505/fort-casey; 360-678-4519. 8 A.M. to dusk. 1-day Washington State Park Discover Pass $10; annual pass $30.
Start touring the lighthouses of the Seattle area by visiting Admiralty Lighthouse, located in Fort Casey Historical State Park. You can drive, but it’s much more fun to take a ferry to the Keystone Ferry Landing. Call ahead to schedule a free educational tour, or tour the museum and fort on your own.
Mukilteo Lighthouse to the north of Seattle is charming and offers great views of the sound from the top. The light is still in operation and flashes every 5 seconds year round. West Point Lighthouse is in Discovery Park, a favorite destination for Seattle locals. In addition to the working lighthouse, you’ll find trails, beaches, picnic areas, and bike paths.
San Juan Archipelago Lighthouses
Lime Kiln Point State Park, 1567 Westside Road, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. parks.state.wa.us/540/lime-kiln-point; 360-378-2044. 8 A.M. to dusk. 1-day Washington State Park Discover Pass $10; annual pass $30.
During peak whale-watching season (May to September) you can spot minke whales, orcas, seals, and sea lions daily from Lime Kiln Point State Park on San Juan Island, which is the home of the Lime Kiln Point Lighthouse. Drive south about 30 minutes from the state park to visit Cattle Point Lighthouse, where a short walk on an interpretative trail brings you to the tower.
Turn Point Lighthouse on Stuart Island is a bit trickier to visit. There’s a public dock on the island for chartered vessels, and from there, it’s a beautiful 2-mile (3.2km) hike to the lighthouse. Outer Island Excursions offers guided tours. It also offers tours to Patos Island Lighthouse, another destination that requires a boat ride and hike.
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Lime Kiln Lighthouse on San Juan Island. |
A hydrophone system is installed in the waters off San Juan Island, allowing scientists to listen to the sounds of orcas as they migrate through the area.
ITINERARIES
If you have 1 week …
Spend a full day driving Highway 101, stopping to see the lighthouses at Cape Disappointment, North Head, Grays Harbor, and Destruction Island. Head to Seattle to tour Admiralty Head, Mukilteo, and West Point. Visit San Juan Island, and see Lime Kiln Point and Cattle Point lighthouses.
If you have 2 weeks …
All the above, plus head farther north on 101 and visit Cape Flattery and Slip Point lighthouses. In Seattle, add on visits to Point No Point and Point Robinson lighthouses. Hike at New Dungeness Lighthouse. Take a guided tour to Stuart Island and hike to Turn Point Lighthouse.
If you have 3 weeks …
All the above, plus head a little farther off 101 to see the private residence that was once the Ediz Hook Lighthouse. While there, explore the coastal town of Port Angeles. In Seattle, add on visits to Browns Point and Alki Point lighthouses. Take a guided tour to Patos Island.