Cape Meares State Park
Cape Meares State Park is a public state park in Oregon near Cape Meares in Tillamook County County. The park offers a peaceful retreat into nature for visitors of all ages.
Quick Facts
| State | Oregon |
| Nearest City | Cape Meares |
| County | Tillamook County |
Location & Getting There
Cape Meares State Park is located near Cape Meares, Oregon. The park’s coordinates are 45.4981236, -123.9586203.
Things to Do
Oregon’s state parks showcase the Pacific Northwest at its finest — from towering sea stacks and tide pools along 362 miles of public coastline to ancient forests of the Coast Range, volcanic Cascade peaks, and high desert canyonlands east of the mountains. Popular activities include hiking through old-growth forests and along dramatic ocean bluffs, tide pooling at rocky shores, beachcombing for agates and fossils, camping at oceanfront sites, kayaking and paddleboarding on mountain lakes, fishing for steelhead and salmon, mountain biking volcanic singletrack, rock climbing at Smith Rock, and cross-country skiing on Cascade passes. Oregon’s waterfalls — including Multnomah Falls and Silver Falls — are among the most spectacular in the western United States.
Best Time to Visit
Oregon’s west side (coast and valleys) is wettest from November through March, making June through September the prime outdoor season with warm, dry weather. The coast can be enjoyed year-round — winter brings dramatic storms, whale watching (gray whales migrate December–January), and uncrowded beaches. Eastern Oregon and high desert parks enjoy more sunshine but can be extremely hot in summer. Cascade mountain parks are best visited July through October, when snow clears from trails. Spring brings the famous wildflower blooms in the Columbia River Gorge and waterfall season at Silver Falls. Fall foliage peaks in October, particularly along the McKenzie River and in the Cascades.
Visitor Tips
Oregon state parks are free to enter on foot or by bike. Vehicle access at most day-use parks requires a $5 day-use permit or a $30 annual permit, available at park kiosks or online. Oregon’s entire coastline is public by law — you always have the right to walk on the beach. Camping reservations are made through the Oregon State Parks reservation system up to 9 months in advance. Coastal campgrounds (especially at Cape Lookout and Nehalem Bay) book up fast for summer. Cell coverage is spotty on the coast and absent in remote Cascade parks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Oregon state parks free?
Oregon state parks are free to enter on foot or by bicycle. Vehicle access requires a $5 day-use permit or a $30 annual permit. Oregon’s entire coastline is public by law, guaranteeing beach access everywhere.
What are the best state parks on the Oregon Coast?
Top coastal parks include Ecola (stunning viewpoints), Cape Lookout (rainforest hiking), Shore Acres (botanical gardens and storm watching), Samuel H. Boardman (dramatic sea stacks), and Oswald West (surfer’s cove).
Can I camp on the beach in Oregon?
While camping directly on Oregon beaches is not permitted, several oceanfront campgrounds like Cape Lookout, Sunset Bay, and Harris Beach offer campsites just steps from the shore. Reserve months ahead for summer.
When is the best time to visit Oregon state parks?
June through September is prime season for dry weather. The coast can be enjoyed year-round. Spring brings spectacular wildflowers in the Columbia River Gorge (April-May). Winter offers dramatic storm watching along the coast.
Explore More Oregon State Parks
Cape Meares State Park is one of many outstanding state parks in Oregon. Discover more parks in our Best State Parks in Oregon guide, or use our Park Finder to search by activity, location, or features.
Wildlife & Nature
Cape Meares State Park features the Cape Meares Lighthouse (1890) — one of the shortest lighthouses in Oregon at 38 feet but perched 217 feet above the ocean on dramatic basalt cliffs. The park protects an ancient old-growth Sitka spruce forest, including the famous “Octopus Tree” — an enormous spruce with multiple candelabra-like trunks that may have been shaped by Native Americans. The cape’s cliff faces host one of the largest nesting colonies of common murres on the Oregon coast — these penguin-like seabirds pack shoulder-to-shoulder on narrow ledges, each incubating a single egg. Peregrine falcons hunt the colony, diving at tremendous speeds. Bald eagles nest in the old-growth trees above.
Nearby Attractions
Tillamook — home of the famous Tillamook Creamery — attracts 1.3 million visitors annually for cheese tastings and ice cream. Tillamook Air Museum is housed in a massive WWII blimp hangar — one of the world’s largest wooden structures. Three Capes Scenic Loop connects Cape Meares to Cape Lookout and Cape Kiwanda. Bayocean Peninsula — a ghost town lost to erosion — offers eerie hiking along the bay. Cape Lookout State Park has excellent camping and the dramatic 2.5-mile cape trail. Oceanside is a tiny, scenic village with tunnel beach access.
