Pacific Coast

Weekend Getaway for March

Washington's Pacific Coast leads off WTA's Weekend Getaway series for 2008. Tucked in the far southwest corner of the state - north of Astoria, Oregon - this area is known for its sandy beaches, wildlife habitat and historical significance.

There is no shortage of beaches on the Pacific Coast!

The region boasts nearly a dozen state parks, four national wildlife refuges and is the place where Lewis and Clark first dipped their toes into the Pacific Ocean in 1805. It also features great camping and lots of beach town amenities.

And while summer is a very popular time to visit, spring is arguably more special. With no crowds, you will have your pick of campsites, yurts or other accommodations. It's a time when the forest is coming alive after the long winter. Short hikes dot the region, and they're bursting with green right now. And the weather hardly matters; the coast is often breezy, cold and rainy, so why not visit when it is supposed to be that way?

Where to Go

You can easily keep busy during a long weekend to the Pacific Coast poking around the beaches, going on short forest hikes and taking in the history of the area. A few of our favorite areas include:

Cape Disappointment State Park

Cape Disappointment State Park has two historic lighthouses. The lightkeeper residences next to the North Head Lighthouse, pictured here, are available as vacation rentals.

This is a sprawling park that includes two historic lighthouses, a jutting stretch of beach that you can walk along, many opportunities for short hikes to viewpoints, an interpretive center and a large campground with yurts.

There are several short trails to explore in the park. Start at the parking area to the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse and explore its nature and interpretive trails to get a sense of the historical significance of the area.

Craving the beach? You can trek along Benson Beach from the end of the North Jetty road or from the campground. Unlike many other beaches in the area, Benson Beach allows foot-traffic only - making it quite pleasant to explore. Don't miss the rocks and caves under the North Head Lighthouse.

There is also a 3.6 mile roundtrip trail from the MacKenzie Head trailhead to the North Head Lighthouse that is part of what Joan Burton describes as the Lighthouse Traverse in Best Hikes with Kids: Western Washington & the Cascades. This trail is not highly recommended right now - its extremely muddy and slated for two weeks of WTA trail crews this summer.

Fort Columbia State Park

Lesser known than its nearby sister park, Fort Columbia State Park is well worth a visit. A military site that provided defense of the Columbia River from 1896-1947, its buildings remain intact today. In fact, two of them can be rented for weekend stays - they'd be great for family gatherings. The park's small museum is also worth a visit.

The Canyon Creek trail in Fort Columbia State Park is awash in green right in the spring.

Fort Columbia is perched on a hill high above the Pacific Ocean and provides views to the Columbia River jetty. It's just a couple miles from the Astoria Bridge and bypassed by too many people speeding between Cape Disappointment and the Oregon Coast.

We liked wandering about the trails and old roads that extend out from Scarborough House. The trails are an explosion of green - leafy plants just emerging from their winter slumber, pale green lichen dangling from deciduous trees, and electric green moss covering everything. Watch where you step - little newts live all along the trails. There's also a cute little cove at water's edge in the park.

Willapa National Wildlife Refuge

The Willapa National Wildlife Refuge sprawls over 15,000 acres of tidelands, temperate rainforest, ocean beaches, and small streams. The Willapa estuary is one of the most pristine estuaries in the country and provides habitat for migrating shorebirds, salmon, Roosevelt elk and more. 

The Salmon Interpretive Trail at the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge headquarters is a great place to stretch your legs while driving to the Pacific Coast.

This is a great place for birdwatching, photography and a favorite haunt for kayakers. We mention it here because of the Salmon Interpretive Trail, a short loop trail at the refuge headquarters. It features a barrier-free boardwalk with nature-inspired artwork and sculpture along the trail. On the long drive to the ocean beaches, this spot is such a surprise and is so pleasing that you must stop and spend half an hour stretching your legs. Unfortunately, it is only open Monday-Friday 7:30am to 4pm.

Leadbetter Point State Park

One of the best places to hike, play on the beach and see wildlife is Leadbetter Point State Park.

Watch your feet as you hike! These little newts are all over the place.

Located on the northern end of the Long Beach Peninsula, Leadbetter Point is a bird-watcher's paradise, especially in the spring and fall when more than 200 species of migrating birds fly over. This is the best place to access the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge for bird-watching and photography.

The park also has several miles of maintained trails. One of the best excursions in March is the Dune Forest Loop, as described in Craig Romano's Day Hiking: Olympic Peninsula (Mountaineers Books). It's a three-mile hike through sand dunes, shoreline and pine that captures the unique ecosystem of the area.

If tempted to hike up the wild beaches of Leadbetter Point - a 10.6 mile roundtrip journey - check your calendar. This stretch of beach and trails is subject to seasonal coastal flooding from November through April. This is the hike to save for a summer visit, when you can escape crowds and vehicles.

Where to Stay

Camping

Cape Disappointment is the best place to camp in order to visit the parks described here. It has a great campground which is lightly used right now but always full in the summer. No reservations are necessary in the spring, and you'll have your pick of the more than 200 campsites. Grayland Beach State Park also offers camping, but is further north. More Info.

Yurts & Cabins

If a tent in the spring is not your idea of fun, how about staying in a cabin or yurt? Cape Disappointment rents 14 yurts and 3 cabins within the campground, and Grayland Beach also rents yurts. They are rustic, but heated with beds,  tables and lights inside. Reservations are recommended. More Info.

Historical Vacation Houses

Both Cape Disappointment and Fort Columbia offer unique historical vacation homes for rent. These are great for families and larger gatherings, and their costs are quite reasonable. Cape Disappointment has two lightkeeper residences to rent, situated on the spectacular bluff near the North Head Lighthouse. And Fort Columbia rents two officer homes.

In Town

There are dozens of places to stay in the towns of Long Beach, Seaview and Ilwaco, and the place is empty this time of year. Here's a link to get you started.

Getting There

These parks are located in the very far southwest corner of Washington.

Image courtesy of Washington State Parks.

It takes 4 to 5 hours to drive to the Pacific Coast from Seattle and about 1 1/2 to 2 hours from Vancouver. Highway 4 from Longview is the best approach from the Vancouver area, and Highway 101 south of Aberdeen is the best approach from the north.

Fort Columbia is located off of Highway 101, just north of the Astoria Bridge.

Cape Disappointment State Park is located right outside the town of Ilwaco.

The Salmon Interpretive Trail at the Willapa refuge headquarters is located approximately 10 miles from Seaview, near milemarker 24.

Leadbetter Point State Park is located north of Long Beach at the end of Hwy 103.

More Information

Day Hiking: Olympic Peninsula by Craig Romano does the best job of covering the hikes in this area. Additionally, Best Hikes with Kids: Western Washington & Cascades by Joan Burton describes hikes in Cape Disappointment and Leadbetter Point State Parks. Check at the park headquarters for tips and maps.

• Washington State Parks
  
• Willapa National Wildlife Refuge