Cape Meares
Tillamook, OR 97141
Plan Your Visit
Activities
Trails
Visitors can enjoy hikes through the headland and old-growth forest of Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge and State Scenic Viewpoint. Four unique trails lead visitors all around the cape.
- Big Spruce Trail: 0.1 mi out and back. Easy walk to the champion Sitka Spruce.
- Cape Meares Beach Trail: 1.5 mi out and back. Moderately difficult trail through old-growth forest to the beach.
- Lighthouse Trail: 0.3 mi loop. Paved trail with some elevation change leading to the lighthouse.
- Octopus Tree Trail: 0.1 mi out and back. Easy walk to the unique Octopus Tree.
Related Documents
Hours & Fees
There are no fees for this refuge. The refuge is open year-round from sunrise to sunset. Oregon State Parks runs tours of the lighthouse in the summer.
Weather & Tides
Expect temperatures ranging between 45 and 75 degrees; fog and high winds are common. Incoming tides isolate rocks from headlands; avoid the temptation of strolling to a nearshore rock without knowing the tides.
Activities
Get Involved
Whether you want to further conservation, learn more about nature or share your love of the outdoors, you’ve come to the right place. National Wildlife Refuges provide many opportunities for you to help your community and fish and wildlife by doing what you love.
Services
If you are interested in any services (permits, passes, etc.) contact the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
About
Established in 1938, Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge features vertical coastal cliffs and old-growth forest dominated by Sitka Spruce and Western Hemlock. It is the only place in the United States where three National Wildlife Refuges can be seen from one location and protects nesting seabirds, Peregrine Falcons, and migrating Gray Whales. The refuge also harbors the "champion" Sitka Spruce, the largest in Oregon, and is managed as a Research Natural Area to preserve its unique ecosystems without human interference.