Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint in Oregon, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-11-05. Check linked official notices before travel.

Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint near Tillamook, Oregon, has two short walks from the main lot: a paved path to a historic lighthouse and a separate path to the sprawling Octopus Tree. The lighthouse interior opens seasonally. In winter you can still visit the grounds.

A lighthouse, a crooked spruce and ocean overlooks

Start with the 0.2-mile paved lighthouse path for viewpoints and interpretive panels. Back at the main lot, the 0.1-mile Octopus Tree path leads to a Sitka spruce with thick limbs that spread out from the trunk.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Stay clear of cliff edges

Rocks can be slippery and erosion can undermine the bluffs. Follow marked paths and stay behind barriers. See the state coastal safety guidance.

Watch nesting birds from overlooks

Use binoculars from the viewpoints and keep to the marked paths. The cliffs and offshore rocks are nesting habitat, especially from April through July.

Tower tours

Tours run during lighthouse opening hours without reservations, with a limit of five people per tour.

Find the shared headland entrance

From Tillamook, approach via Netarts and follow signs in Oceanside. The refuge directions lead to the shared parking area for the state viewpoint and neighboring Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge.

Nearby parks

• Oceanside Beach State Recreation Site. Stop in Oceanside for day-use beach access. A parking permit applies.
• Cape Lookout State Park. Farther south, use the Cape Trailhead for the Cape and South trails during the campground and day-use closure.

Walk the headland or look offshore

Choose the lighthouse path when you want ocean overlooks and interpretation along the walk. In spring or early summer, scan the rocks for nesting seabirds. Look farther out for a chance to spot gray whales.

Parking, the paved approach and the gift shop

The main lot serves both short walks. The paved lighthouse path has elevation changes. Service animals are permitted in the seasonal gift shop.

About Cape Meares

The 38-foot tower and its lens

The lighthouse was built in 1889 and first lit on January 1, 1890. Oregon’s shortest lighthouse tower held a first-order Fresnel lens that sent a red-and-white signal out to sea.

Seabird nesting habitat

Common murres and pelagic and Brandt’s cormorants use the steep cliffs and offshore rocks for nesting. The state viewpoint and federal refuge share the headland.

Contact Oregon State Parks

Call 503-842-3182 or check the Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint profile before a trip centered on the lighthouse.