Pacific Pines
🏆🏆🏆 Coastal Pines — Pacific coast pine forest on the Long Beach Peninsula — where old-growth Sitka spruce meets the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Pines State Park protects a rare stand of coastal old-growth forest on the Long Beach Peninsula — where towering Sitka spruce trees grow within earshot of Pacific waves. The Long Beach Peninsula separates Willapa Bay from the Pacific Ocean. Sitka spruce (named for Sitka, Alaska) is the largest spruce species in the world — reaching 300+ feet tall with trunks over 15 feet in diameter. These trees thrive in the salt-laden, foggy air of the immediate coastline where other species can’t survive.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Long Beach Peninsula, WA |
| Entry Fee | Discover Pass required |
| Trees | Sitka spruce — 300ft, 15ft diameter! |
About Pacific Pines
Pacific Pines is a forested coastal park on the Long Beach Peninsula in Pacific County. The park preserves a stand of shore pine and Sitka spruce forest between the Pacific beach and Willapa Bay, offering a natural buffer in an area increasingly developed for tourism. The forest provides habitat for Roosevelt elk that roam the peninsula.
Things to Do
Nature walks through coastal forest, birdwatching, wildlife viewing for Roosevelt elk, and accessing the nearby Pacific beach. The park connects to the Discovery Trail — a paved path along the peninsula commemorating Lewis and Clark’s 1805 arrival at the Pacific.
Insider Tips
Coastal forest: Pacific Pines preserves shore pine and Sitka spruce forest on the Washington coast. Pro tip: Shore pines are shaped by constant Pacific winds — their twisted, wind-sculpted forms are natural works of art. Tsunami zone: The Washington coast sits in the Cascadia Subduction Zone — the last major earthquake (magnitude 9.0) struck in 1700, generating a tsunami that reached Japan.
Best Time to Visit
Year-round: Coastal forest is green year-round. Fall/winter: Dramatic Pacific storms. Summer: Mild coastal weather. Spring: Migrating gray whales.
Frequently Asked Questions
Could a major earthquake hit Washington?
Yes — the Cascadia Subduction Zone produces magnitude 9.0+ earthquakes every 200-600 years. The last one struck January 26, 1700 — known from Japanese tsunami records and Native oral histories. Scientists estimate a 37% chance of a major quake in the next 50 years. When it occurs, the entire Pacific Northwest coast from British Columbia to northern California will be affected.
Wildlife & Nature
Pacific Pines — a day-use area on the Long Beach Peninsula — provides beach access through a corridor of wind-sculpted shore pines. The coastal forest shelters varied thrushes, band-tailed pigeons, and Steller’s jays. Bald eagles patrol the coastline. The Pacific Ocean beach is open for walking, beachcombing, and razor clamming during WDFW seasons.
Nearby Attractions
Long Beach — nearby — has the longest continuous beach in the US (28 miles). Cape Disappointment State Park — 10 miles south — has two lighthouses. Leadbetter Point State Park — 10 miles north — protects shorebird habitat. Willapa Bay oyster farms are nearby.
Park Location
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