Untitled Document

Cape Disappointment State Park

HABITAT:

1,964-acre park w/ Pacific Ocean beach, Columbia River estuary, fresh- and saltwater wetlands, and forest.

BIRDING:

In Beard’s Hollow spring-early summer, watch and listen for Marsh Wrens, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Swainson’s Thrushes, Warbling Vireos, Black-throated Gray and Orange-crowned Warblers, Chestnut-backed and Black-capped Chickadees, and Wilson’s Snipe. On the coast summer-early fall, enjoy a visual feast of Brown Pelicans; Brandt’s, Pelagic, and Double-crested Cormorants, and nesting colonies of Caspian Terns. Year-round park residents include Bald Eagles, and Western and Glaucous-winged Gulls. Some Heermann’s Gulls are possible Aug-Oct. Turkey Vultures soar April-Sept. Watch beaches for migrating Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plovers, and Western and Least Sandpipers, and edges of freshwater lakes for Killdeer, Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, and Spotted Sandpipers. Peregrine Falcons hunt Dunlin in winter.

VIEWING:

Seven trails in park offer variety. Beard’s Hollow - Take 0.1-mile trail to beach. North Head Lighthouse - Take short trail past lighthouse and scope Black Oystercatchers on cliff below; and Sooty Shearwaters, Parasitic Jaegers, and Common Murres skimming over ocean. First North Jetty - Scope cormorant rookery on cliffs to east. Second North Jetty - Amble north along Benson Beach. Look for Osprey nest in tree by Lake O’Neil.

ACCESS:

Beard’s Hollow - From Hwy 101 at milepost 11.5 in the town of Ilwaco, turn west onto Hwy 100 loop. Drive 1.8 miles. Turn right (west) into Beard’s Hollow parking area.
North Head Lighthouse - From Hwy 100 loop at 2.2 miles, turn right (west) onto North Head lighthouse Rd. Drive 0.4 mile to parking lot.
North Jetty areas - From Hwy 100 loop at 3.4 miles, turn right (southwest) into Cape Disappointment State Park. Drive straight 0.4 mile to parking on left (east), and 1.2 mile further to North Jetty parking area and beach access. For O’Neil Lake, turn right (northwest) past state park entrance station; park at lake, walk along shore.

MORE BIRDING:

Hwy 100 loop dead-ends at 3.8 miles at Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. From center parking area, hike 0.75-mile trail to Cape Disappointment Lighthouse.