Oregon’s shortest lighthouse is only 38 feet tall, and the tree next to it steals the show

Oregon’s shortest lighthouse stands just 38 feet tall, and it still isn’t the best thing at its own park. That honor goes to a spruce tree with limbs that sprawl sideways like it’s trying to hug the Pacific. Cape Meares packs both into one headland, and you can see everything in an easy hour.

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The little lighthouse with a big view

Cape Meares Lighthouse was built in 1889 and lit on January 1, 1890. The tower is brick wrapped in iron plate, and at 38 feet it’s the shortest on the Oregon coast. Short doesn’t mean boring, though: it sits on a cliff above the ocean, so the whole point is the view.

A short paved path leads from the parking lot out to the tower, with viewpoints along the way. Tower tours are limited to five visitors at a time with no reservations, so a little patience pays off. Oregon State Parks listed tour hours as 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through September 30, so check the park page for current hours before you build a trip around climbing inside.

The Octopus Tree is the real headliner

Here’s my one confident opinion: skip the lighthouse photo op if you’re short on time, but never skip the Octopus Tree. It’s an unusually shaped Sitka spruce with thick limbs that spread outward instead of up, and it looks like something from a storybook. You’ll wonder how a tree decided to grow like that.

The walk is a 0.1-mile path from the main parking lot, so there’s no excuse. It winds through forest and opens to ocean views with Three Arch Rocks out on the horizon. It is a quick, easy detour for pretty much anyone.

Old-growth spruce, seabirds and passing whales

Want more than a quick stop? A trail runs north through old-growth spruce forest, and a short spur leads to Oregon’s largest Sitka spruce. The big trees are the kind of thing photos never quite capture.

The headland is also a wildlife spot. Migrating gray whales, sea lions, dolphins and porpoise pass by, and from April through July the offshore rocks fill with nesting murres, cormorants and guillemots. Volunteers staff Whale Watch Week stations in December and over spring break if you want help spotting spouts.

Pair it with a beach day or a cheese stop in Tillamook, or fold it into a longer North Oregon Coast road trip. It’s one of those stops that makes a coast drive feel like an adventure instead of a commute.

What to know before you go

Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint joined the list of Oregon state parks that charge for day-use parking on March 30, 2026. The daily fee is $10 for Oregon residents and $12 for out-of-state visitors, and the permit is available on-site. Walking, biking or taking transit in is free.

So, which would you rather see first: the tiny lighthouse or the tree with all the arms? Tell me in the comments.

Trip tips: grab a rental car to get out here, lock in your hotel before the good rooms are gone, or skip both and book a camper van instead.

Rules and fees change — always confirm current requirements before you go.

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