Camp at Cape Lookout State Park on the Oregon Coast
Last summer, my wife and I spent a few days driving up the Oregon Coast. As we planned our route, we discovered Cape Lookout State Park, due west of Portland and right on the coast. The camping spot was located in the perfect spot to serve as base for two nights as we explored further north, then headed east through Portland to drive home.
If you’re looking for a camping spot along the Oregon Coast, check out all the activities you can do at Cape Lookout State Park, including some nearby activities in Tillamook and beyond.
How to Book Your Campsite
One of the biggest challenges in planning a camping trip is finding a campsite. You often have to plan well in advance. Cape Lookout State Park is similar, in that sites become available six months in advance. So if you want to camp along the Oregon Coast in June, you can book your site as early as January. If your plans are more last minute, it’s worth checking on the site for availability… but no guarantees.
Book your campsite at Cape Lookout State Park online.
The campground offers more than 170 tent sites and 35 full-hookup sites. There are water spouts in the tent loops, so you have potable water for drinking and cooking. If you’re looking for glamping options, you can make a reservation for one of the 13 rustic yurts or six deluxe cabins. There are flush toilets and three buildings with hot showers.
The campground is open year round, but some loops may be closed during the winter months – depending on weather. The standard camp fee ($21-35+) only allows for one vehicle to be parked at the site. There is an additional $7 charge for extra vehicles. The site details vary, so be sure and look at the available sites so you don’t end up on a tent pad that is too small for the tent you are bringing.
There is also a biker/hiker camping area near the cabins and yurts.
Things to do at Cape Lookout State Park
After arriving at the campground and setting up our tent, we decided to take a walk along the beach to look for seashells. More specifically, we were hoping to find sand dollars. My wife had found many that were broken, and our hope was to find a full, unbroken one. We walked along the beach (the Netarts Spits Trail) for more than a mile, before finally deciding to turn around and head back to camp. The beach area extends about five miles north, so 10 miles if you want to make it a round-trip walk/hike.
The sun started to set as we reached the access point to the campground. But before heading in the campground, we took a moment to capture the photo above. It’s one of my favorite photos from the trip – that, and a selfie I shot of us one morning curled up in our sleeping bags.
Cape Lookout State Park has so much more than just combing the beach. If fishing is your think, there are streams that wind their way through the forests. Plus, there are a couple of other hiking trails besides the Netarts Spits.
NOTE: A windstorm in January 2021 knocked over many trees, so as of May 2021, all of the hiking trails listed below are closed.
Cape Lookout State Park Nature Trail (Closed 4/15/21)
The trailhead for this family-friendly stroll is near the registration booth for the park. I wasn’t able to find an exact length of the trail, but my guess would be less than half a mile round trip. Along the path, there are 16 points of interest. The Cape Lookout State Park Trail Guide has them listed, including photos so you can more easily identify the points along the trail.
Cape Lookout Trail (Closed 4/15/21)
Many people have said, if you only have time for one hike while here, this is the one you want to take. The trailhead is south of the campground along the main road (Cape Lookout Road). However, you can hike along the North Trail from the biker/hiker campground area if you want to add about two miles each way to your hike. The roundtrip distance from the trailhead to the end of Cape Lookout is 4.7 miles (nearly 9 miles if you go roundtrip from the campground area). The trail is rocky and muddy in places, but nothing too strenuous. The views of the Pacific Ocean from here are phenomenal.
North Trail (Closed 4/15/21)
The North Trail at Cape Lookout State Park stretches from the biker/hiker campground area south of the registration booth to the Cape Lookout trailhead. This specific portion of the trail is 4.2 miles out and back. There’s a suspension bridge along the route, along with lots of uphills and downhills. It’s listed as a moderate hike.
Oregon Islands South Trail (Closed 4/15/21)
Although shorter than the two other trails described above, the 3 mile out and back trail is a little more strenuous. The trailhead is at the same spot as Cape Lookout Trail. You’ll head south along several switchbacks until you reach the beach. From there, you can enjoy great views of the Cape. Don’t spend all of your energy enjoying the beach, because you’ll need to have energy to climb back up the switchbacks to your car at the trailhead.
Activities in the Area
You could spend days enjoying the sites of Cape Lookout State Park or hiking the trails. You could also enjoy plenty of beach time. But if you’re looking to venture out beyond the cape, here are some other activities in the area.
Tillamook is a 15 to 20 minute drive from Cape Lookout State Park. The city offers several activities for the whole family, incluing:
- Tillamook Creamery (great ice cream stop)
- Tillamook Air Museum
- Blue Heron Cheese and Wine Company
- Tillamook County Pioneer Museum
Fifteen miles due north of Cape Lookout State Park is Cape Meares. This includes a lighthouse, Octopus Tree, scenic views, bird watching and a few hiking trails, too.
Sand Lake Recreation Area is seven miles due south and offers plenty of sand dunes for all-terrain vehicles, 4-wheelers, side-by-sides and more. A couple more miles south is Clay Myers State Natural Area at Whalen Island, offering hiking trails, wildlife viewing and more.
The Details
Address: 13000 Whiskey Creek Rd., Tillamook, OR 97141
Hours: The park is open for day use year round. Camping is open as well and reservations can be made up to six months in advance.
Cost: Campsites range from $21-35+ depending on size and amenities. There is a single day-use fee for those who are not camping, but still want to take advantage of the beach or hiking trails by parking in the day-use area.
Website: https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=134
Phone: (503) 842-4981
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