North Head Lighthouse stands on a high bluff at Cape Disappointment State Park, near Ilwaco in the far southwest corner of Washington, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific. Managed by Washington State Parks, it guards one of the most treacherous river bars on the coast and offers seasonal, volunteer-led tower tours above the ocean.
Best season — Late spring through summer for tower tours
At a glance
The facts worth checking before you roll out
Conservative, source-minded facts for planning your visit — always worth confirming against current conditions before you travel.
State
Washington
Managed by
Washington State Parks
Park
Cape Disappointment State Park
Tours
Seasonal, volunteer-led (about May–September)
Nearby
Ilwaco / Long Beach Peninsula
On the ground
The Columbia River bar is one of the most dangerous stretches of water on the West Coast, and North Head Lighthouse was built to help guide ships approaching from the north past Cape Disappointment's headlands.
Today the lighthouse is part of Cape Disappointment State Park, which also offers ocean beaches, forested trails, and the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center perched on the cliffs. Volunteer-led tours let visitors climb the tower in the warmer months.
Because the park periodically runs construction and seasonal closures, confirm current tour dates, hours, and any access limits with Washington State Parks before you arrive, and plan your rig around the park or the nearby Long Beach Peninsula.
Official sources
- Washington State Parks — North Head Lighthouse at Cape Disappointment State parks agency
- Washington State Parks — Cape Disappointment State Park State parks agency
Nearby & related
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- National monumentsProtected-land guides
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