A Visit to Cape Disappointment

This is Lewis and Clark's end point on their trip west of 1804-1806 Corps of Discovery journey and since we have followed most of their route over the past couple of summers, we wanted to visit this area to put real life images of the area to what we have read.  I have to say - where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean is awesome.  Today there are jetties and man-made structures that have calmed the point where the two meet but I can imagine what it would have been like.  We drove about 5 miles south along Long Beach's seaside community to Cape Disappointment State Park and the lighthouse. This State Park has camping, hiking trails, swimming.  And an interpretive center and lighthouse.  The Coast Guard also has a station there.

Columbia River Meets Ocean

The significance to L & C at this State Park is that historians surmised that hunting and exploring was done by the Corps right there, not that the Corps stayed in this small point of land that juts out into the Pacific.  The State of Washington has built a Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center which was highly recommended we visit, and if can, hike to the lighthouse which would give us breathtaking picture of the Columbia and Pacific with panoramic views that would astound us.  How right! This is where the salt water of the Ocean meets the fresh water of the Columbia.

Cape Disappointment Light House and CG Post

Coast Guard Station - tide out

The day was a rarity here - clear skies, sunny, warm (65 but felt in the mid 70's), and light breeze.  Couldn't have picked a better day to come here.  The Center was informative but I guess that I have learned so much about the Journey that the only new information was that two particular areas that they stayed at while here - Dismal Nitch and Station Camp - did not have a 'name' to them before but the journals explained what happened at these locations and the activities they did while there - will visit them another day.

For someone who does not know much about Lewis and Clark, this would be a great place to learn.  This particular Center focused on their time spent the winter of 1805 while living with the Clatsop Indians at the Pacific Ocean.  How they lived, what the conditions were like, what they saw.

After visiting the Center we took the 3/4 mile trail to the lighthouse, which is the oldest functioning lighthouse on the West Coast.  The trail was a bit steep - I killed my foot but was worth the hike. Not a pretty lighthouse, could not go in it, but the Fresnel lamp inside was definitely blinking out to the Pacific.  And it was manned by the Coast Guard, a young man on duty was there watching, reporting, etc.  He said that for his 8 1/2 hours sitting there he likes to keep the door open for visitors, able to answer questions and to give information as to what they are seeing - helps to prevent boredom.  Really impressive to see and to talk to him.

Our beach at campground looking north

After a quick dinner back at the campground we walked to the beach, pretty to see.  Was surprised at how warm it was with the water temperature at 54.  Tide was out, people playing along the beach.