Touch Grass: Cape Meares Lighthouse
Photo credit: Adrian Keller Feld
Out on the Oregon Coast, a two-hour drive from Reed, sits Cape Meares Lighthouse, the shortest lighthouse in the state, with a scenic viewpoint and plenty of parking. While it is far out, classes within the Blue Humanities, an oceanic subset of Environmental Humanities, were able to take an interdisciplinary field trip there on Saturday, October 5. This field trip brought over 30 Reed students out to the Cape and nearby Tillamook County Museum for wide-ranging discussions about the sea’s meanings in literature, art history, and beyond.
The Oregon Coast, as a whole, is a fantastic destination, so while a trip out there requires some planning and crucial time off, it is well worth it. Cape Meares is a worthy stop on such a trip for views and the potential for whale watching, depending on the season and one’s luck. According to the State Parks website, “during our Whale Watch Week programming [sic] in December and Spring Break, volunteers are stationed here to help visitors spot migrating whales.” In addition to the ocean, there are terrestrial things to see at Cape Meares as well, with the website highlighting the octopus tree, “named for its thick, sprawling limbs. From a turnoff at the park entrance, a 0.8-mile trail heads north through a forest of old-growth spruce that's part of a National Wildlife Refuge. Take the .25-mile spur trail to the largest Sitka spruce tree in Oregon.” These sites also have clearly visible trail markers, so it is easy to find the right path.
Visiting Cape Meares is free, and in the summer the lighthouse has a gift shop open as well. There are restrooms on-site, up a small hill by the parking lot. There are multiple nice viewing spots connected to the paved paths of the parking lot, making this destination accessible in some ways, though the bathrooms are up a dirt path. For more trip planning specifics, check out the Pines and Vines page on the lookout. With many different spots around to sit and watch the water, multiple trails for trees, and some areas for picnics in the grass or at tables, a trip to Cape Meares Lighthouse can take as long as one wants. Ultimately, the best way to show the allure of the lighthouse is through photos, hence the few connected to this article. To learn more visit the viewpoint’s section on the Oregon State Parks website. So, go out and touch grass at Cape Meares Lighthouse!