Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint is a Pacific Coast headland and one of the three capes along the breathtaking 35-mile Three Capes Scenic Route.

The other two points along the route - Cape Lookout State Park and Cape Kiwanda Natural Area - are also well worth visiting.

The 100-acre Cape Meares State Park, managed by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, is surrounded by the 140-acre Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge, managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

The cape was named after Captain John Meares, a British explorer and fur trader who sailed along the Northwest Coast in 1788.

The cape rises about 200 feet above the ocean and offers spectacular views of crashing waves along steep bluffs and rocky cliffs. These cliffs are home to one of North America’s largest nesting seabird colonies.

The most common species is the common murre. Other frequently seen birds include pigeon guillemots, tufted puffins, peregrine falcons, and pelagic and Brandt’s cormorants. The best time for seabird viewing is between April and July.

Cape Meares also offers excellent whale-watching opportunities. Gray whales can often be seen migrating south from December to January and returning north from March to April.

Hiking Trails at Cape Meares State Park

Cape Meares offers a network of short but scenic hiking trails that wind through coastal forest, cliffs, and viewpoints overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The park’s trails total about three miles and are generally easy to moderate, making them accessible for most visitors.

One of the most popular routes is the trail to the Octopus Tree, an unusual Sitka spruce with multiple massive trunks radiating outward from a wide base.

Another highlight is the paved lighthouse trail, which leads to Cape Meares Lighthouse and provides sweeping views of the coastline along the way.

From the headland, several viewpoints offer dramatic overlooks of the ocean, including cliffs, offshore rocks, and seasonal seabird nesting areas. In spring and summer, hikers may also spot nesting seabirds along the cliffs below.

The trails are well-marked and shaded in many sections, but conditions can be damp and muddy after rain, so sturdy footwear is recommended.

Cape Meares Lighthouse

Cape Meares Lighthouse is the shortest lighthouse on the Oregon Coast, constructed in 1890 on the basalt outcropping. Standing 217 feet above sea level, the 38-foot lighthouse served as Tillamook Bay’s primary light station until 1963.

A 0.2-mile paved trail leads from the parking area to the lighthouse. The path winds through coastal vegetation and offers sweeping ocean views, along with interpretive signs about local history and wildlife.

Cape Meares Lighthouse - The Shortest Light Station on the Oregon Coast