Intro
If you’re looking for a charming coastal community in the Pacific Northwest that offers stunning hikes, wildlife sightings and a rich local history as things to do during your stay, then the peninsula of Long Beach in Washington State is perfect for you. This small beach town has lots of things for visitors who enjoy the outdoors to do year round. Even in the winter time, this peninsula is still rich with wildlife and roaring ocean waves. It is certainly worth a visit during any time or season.
Another great thing about prioritizing outdoor activities during your travels is that they are either free or very cheap compared to other tourist attractions. So your wallet can also rest easy knowing that Long Beach, Washington has some stunning and magical natural places to explore that won’t break the bank. Let’s now look at what nature lovers can do in Long Beach!
Table of contents
Stunning Outdoor Things To Do in Long, Beach Washington
Cape Disappointment State Park
Where the Pacific Ocean and the Columbia River meet lies this beautiful 1,882 acre state park.
Cape Disappointment State Park has stunning ocean shorelines, coastal forests and even a freshwater lake for you to explore. This is a fantastic spot for nature lovers, history fans and is super family friendly.
Activities
There is certainly no shortage of things to do in Cape Disappointment. Upon your arrival, you could explore the beaches or bring some bikes for bicycling. This state park is also great for bird watching and you may get lucky and see a bald eagle or two! There is also camping and boating as well as crabbing. Cape Disappointment has many hiking trails throughout the park which all offer various scenic views. The hiking trails you can do in this state park are:
- Bell’s View Trail
- Benson Beach Trail
- Cape Disappointment Trail
- Coastal Forest Loop Trail
- Discovery Trail
- McKenzie Head Trail
- North Head Trail
And don’t forget to check out the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center which follows the story of the Expedition. You can also tour the historic North Head Lighthouse constructed in 1898 which once served as a guide for ships that were approaching the mouth of the Columbia River. Despite the name of this park, it will not disappoint.
Pass Needed: The Discover Pass is required to visit Cape Disappointment. You can read more about this pass and how to obtain one on their official website here.
Fun Fact: If you are visiting Long Beach, Washington around Thanksgiving, admission to the state park is free on Black Friday!
Amenities
If you decide to camp in Cape Disappointment, amenities for this park include:
- RV, tent sites, yurts and cabins for camping. BONUS: Do you want a one of a kind camping experience? Well you can rent the Head Lighthouse Keepers’ Residence and Assistant Lighthouse Keeper’s Residences in the park. They offer cozy and modern amenities as well as a breathtaking view of the ocean.
- Fresh and saltwater fishing
- A park store that offers ice, snacks, souvenirs, etc.
- Restrooms with hot showers
- Trailer dump station
Official Website: To read more about Cape Disappointment State Park, their amenities, and how to book or reserve your lodging, you can visit their official website here. You can also look at this brochure of the park which is offered on their website here.
Fort Columbia State Park
Located around 12 miles from the Long Beach peninsula and en route towards Astoria lies Fort Columbia State Park. It is considered one of the most intact historical defense sites along a coastal region. This 593 acre park is majority a heavily wooded hillside with 2.2 miles of hiking trails. Fort Columbia also features 6,400 feet of Columbia River shoreline with sheltered coves.
Activities
Activities you may do in this state park include hiking, beach exploration and bird watching. I will say that on a clear day, Fort Columbia offers stunning views of the Columbia River and you can even see Cape Disappointment.
There is also the Fort Columbia Interpretive Center which highlights the history of Fort Columbia as well as the fur trade and westward settlement.
Pass Needed: The Discover Pass is required to visit Cape Disappointment. You can read more about this pass and how to obtain one on their official website here.
Amenities
Fort Columbia offers restrooms and picnic tables. While there is no camping in Fort Columbia, there are two historic vacation homes that you can stay in year round. The Stewards House and the Scarborough House offer modern appliances and a TV and DVD player.
Official Website: To read more about Fort Columbia, their amenities and how to book their vacation homes, you can visit their official website here. You can also read the state park brochure located on their official website here.
Discovery Coast Trail
While this is connected to Cape Disappointment, the Discovery Coast Trail earns its own spot because it’s over 8 miles long and takes you out of the state park and throughout the golden sand dunes overlooking the ocean. This is a great trail for walking or bicycling. This trail is also conveniently located near some hotels which provide you with easy access if you happen to be staying just walking distance to Discovery Coast Trail. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay, you can check out my post on The Best and Sustainable Hotels in Long Beach, Washington!
The Beach
What good is going to a beach town if you aren’t going to visit the beach? However, I do think it’s important to note that Long Beach, Washington is very different from the one in California in that even in the summer, the ocean is pretty cold. Swimming isn’t exactly very common along the Pacific Northwest beaches although plenty of people do it. I have even done it myself. It all comes down to how brave you are to swim in the cold water.
Regardless, the beach is a very relaxing place to be. I personally spend my time on Long Beach beaches just walking along the beach. It is very peaceful to watch the ocean and look for birds. I have personally seen bald eagles along the Sid Snyder Beach Approach. They are quite a sight to look at. And for anyone who is bringing their dog, the beach is the perfect place for your furry friend to run and sniff to their heart’s content.
There are multiple beach approaches along the peninsula. You can stick to one or explore them all! Wherever you go, the power of the ocean will not disappoint.
Willapa Bay Wildlife Refuge
Not too far from downtown Long Beach is the Willapa Bay Wildlife Refuge. This nature area has thousands of acres dedicated to the protection and preservation of migratory and shorebirds, along with salmon, elk and amphibians.
Activities in Willapa Bay range from birdwatching, hiking, and wildlife photography to shellfishing, boating and camping. It’s a great place to spend anywhere from 30 minutes or several days depending on what you’re looking to get out of your visit.
Official Website: You can read more about Willapa Bay Wildlife Refuge here.
Chinook Park
This quaint little park is located in the town of Chinook which is located just outside of Long Beach. Chinook Park is a great place if you have dogs for letting them roam around and exert some energy. It also offers amazing views of the mouth of the Columbia and Pacific Ocean. You don’t really need much more than 20-30 minutes here, however it is still worth mentioning as a nice place to have a picnic or to just get close to the water.
Other Long Beach Nature Spots
Despite it being a small peninsula, Long Beach has many outdoor spots to explore. Other nature areas on and near the peninsula are:
- Leadbetter Point State Park
- Pacific Pines State Park
- Loomis Lake State Park
Additional Things To Do in Long Beach, Washington
While being outside is amazing for the mind, body and spirit, sometimes the weather doesn’t allow us to be outside as much as we want. And if you’re visiting in the winter, this could be common. Thankfully there are other entertaining things to do in Long Beach such as:
- Kite Museum
- Funland Arcade
- Marsh’s Free Museum
- Horseback riding
- Ilwaco Farmers Market
- Cranberry Museum
Conclusion
You should have a better idea on what outdoor activities there are in Long Beach, Washington. From the sandy beaches to historical hikes into sand dunes and coastal forests, there is no shortage of things to do in Long Beach, Washington. Most of these places are either free to enter or very low cost which make traveling to this stunning peninsula even more appealing. And if you are looking for places to stay during your visit to Long Beach then check out my article on The Best Sustainable Hotels in Long Beach!
