Cape Disappointment Lighthouse

The lighthouse is located at Cape Disappointment State Park in Ilwaco, Washington, right at the mouth of the Columbia River. It sits on a high bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, marking the entrance to one of the most dangerous river bars in the world. The park is easily accessible from Highway 101.

The lighthouse is still an active aid to navigation operated by the US Coast Guard, so the interior is not typically open to the public for tours. However, visitors can hike the surrounding trails in the state park to get an up-close view of the tower's exterior. The path leads you right to the base of the historic black-and-white structure.

The area, known as the "Graveyard of the Pacific," is notoriously treacherous due to massive shifting sandbars and huge waves where the river collides with the ocean. Hundreds of ships have sunk in these waters throughout history, which is why the lighthouse was built. Even today, ships must wait for highly trained bar pilots to guide them across.

The historic lighthouse tower stands 53 feet tall, sitting on a bluff that elevates its light beam well above the ocean waves. It was constructed in the mid-19th century to protect maritime traffic. It remains one of the oldest operating lighthouses on the Pacific Northwest coast.