Cape Meares

Cape Meares is a small headland on the Pacific coast in Tillamook County, Oregon. It’s home to the shortest lighthouse and largest Sitka spruce in Oregon. You can hike one or all three short trails and gaze upon the coastal old-growth that flourishes in the area. Cape Meares is a fun day trip for anyone looking to take a walk through Oregon’s coastal history. 

Hey everybody! I’m back to share another hiking post for all you adventurers out there! A few weekends ago Kieran and I camped on the coast then jaunted over to explore Cape Meares, a small headland on the Pacific coast in Tillamook County, Oregon. This wildlife refugee and preserves offer 3 short trails where you can hike through coastal old-growth to visit Oregon’s shortest lighthouse and largest Sitka spruce. It’s the perfect day trip for anyone looking to escape the brutal heat of Portland or just take in some historical scenery.

Real talk – Portland’s weather is holding court at a sweltering 95 degrees and it sucks all the balls. Our elderly house doesn’t have AC so working from home has been a challenge. Occasionally we experience a dip in temperature but according to the weather report, the 90-degree weather is here to stay. Kieran and I retreat to the coast when relentless heatwaves scorch the Pacific Northwest.

We heard about Cape Meares from a buddy so we chose this location for adventure day. During the drive, we discovered Bayshore Drive was closed. We turned around and were able to reach the trailhead using 131. The parking was plentiful and close to the trailhead. We suited up our daypacks, leashed up our Homie, and explored everything Cape Meares had to offer.

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Cape Meares
There are 3 trails in the area that lead to a Stika spruce tree, a lighthouse, and down to the coast. Hiking all 3 trails is roughly 5.6 miles
Spruce Tree – 2 miles
Lighthouse – 1.7 miles
The Coast – 1.9 miles

Trail Specs
Pros: Breathtaking views, coastal old-growth, a big ass tree, and tiny ass lighthouse
Cons: Crowded
Parking Pass: None
Difficulty: Moderate
Total Distance: See above
Hike Type: There and back
Elevation Gain: 520 feet
Trail Condition: The hike to the beach is kinda sp0tty but the other trails are great
Family Friendly: Yes
Backpackable: N/A
Crowded: Yes
Dogs allowed: Yes – on a leash

The hike to the lighthouse and spruce tree were super easy but the hike down to the beach was kind of a bitch because the trail was steep and slippery. We didn’t notice a clear path leading down to the beach when we reached the end of the trail. However, we discovered a rope descending down a steep sandy hill. Kieran and I would have grabbed the rope and slid down to the beach but Homie is a wuss. She wouldn’t have survived any aspect of that.

We decided our best course of action was to stay put and soak in as much beauty as possible before heading back up the trail. Speaking of heading back up the trail, holy curses the hike back to the car kicked our asses! That shit was steep! We were huffing and puffing within minutes. This part of the adventure was the hardest for me because I’m out of shape but I kept on.  Soon enough we reached the parking lot and took the quick drive to the lighthouse.

We had fun poking around the area and absorbing the jaw-dropping views of the west coast.

Homie gets a bit wound up after being on a leash for long periods of time. She gets a little bitchy and barks at everything. The best way to calm her down is to let her run off leash to expend her pent-up energy. We knew the beach would be our best option so we piled in the car and drove to the nearby town, Oceanside. We found a beach and let Homie run wild. Watching her go berserk on the beach was the highlight of my day. She’s so funny when she bounces around like a goat. I’m smitten with my dog, she’s the best.

After a fun-filled adventure day, we headed back to camp for a beer. It was our cheat day and nothing beats an ice cold IPA after a workout!

Cape Meares was a fun excursion and a must-add for your adventure list. Next time we’ll research the tide so we can explore the beach a little more but we still had an amazing day.

Alright folks, that’s a wrap on the Cape Meares post! I’ve been MIA for the last 3 weeks taking on the city of Portland and other going-ons. The story of my fight with the city is interesting but I don’t know if that’s the type of content you would enjoy reading. Leave a comment below if you want to hear the story and I’ll write a post about it.

Other than that Kieran and I have been building furniture, cooking keto, and looking forward to upcoming adventures. I look forward to getting back into the swing of things and posting on a regular basis. See you next week!

Thank you for being apart of the Shock Munch community, I appreciate you!

Sincerely,
Christina

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