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Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint, Tillamook, OR

Photo: Andrew Malone, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

Sightseeing

Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint

Coastal state park on the Oregon coast known for a short lighthouse, ocean lookouts, and a large twisted spruce.

Tillamook, OR

About Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint

This state park sits on a headland along the Three Capes Scenic Loop near Tillamook. Visitors use its many lookouts to watch for migrating gray whales, sea lions, and other marine mammals, and volunteers help spot whales during peak migration weeks. From spring through summer, seabirds nest on the cliffs and offshore rocks. A short path leads to the Octopus Tree, a sprawling spruce, and a longer forest trail reaches what the park calls the largest Sitka spruce in Oregon. The Cape Meares Lighthouse, Oregon's shortest, still displays a historic kerosene-era lens that once threw its signal more than 20 miles out to sea.

  • #whale watching
  • #lighthouse
  • #ocean views
  • #seabirds
  • #old-growth spruce

What's around here?

The closest stops to Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sports & Outdoors

    Oceanside Beach State Recreation Site

    Check prices

    Coastal state recreation site on the Oregon shore near Tillamook, known for winter agate hunting and summer beachcombing.

    1.7 mi awaySwitch it up: Sports & Outdoors

  • Tours
    Outdoor Adventure

    Garibaldi Charters

    $50+

    Family-owned deep sea and bottom fishing charters out of the Oregon coast port of Garibaldi.

    Transit: reachable by public transit

    5.8 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Tours
    Family Favorite

    Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad

    $25–$50

    Heritage train excursions along the Tillamook Coast aboard steam and vintage diesel locomotives.

    Transit: reachable by public transit

    5.9 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sightseeing
    Foodie Favorite

    Tillamook

    No admission fee

    Oregon coast town and gateway to the North Coast Food Trail, promoted through its area chamber of commerce.

    Transit: reachable by public transit

    6.6 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Cannon Beach

    No admission fee

    Chamber of commerce and visitor center for the artist beach town of Cannon Beach, Oregon.

    Transit: reachable by public transit

    27 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Haystack Rock

    No admission fee

    Walk the sand at low tide to a 235-foot basalt sea stack ringed with tide pools and nesting seabirds.

    Transit: reachable by public transit

    28 mi awayMore like this

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