Waikiki Beach in Washington? Exploring Cape Disappointment State Park

Yeah, so there's a beach in Cape Disappointment, Washington, called Waikiki beach. This small cove is considered a good spot for beginning surfers.

The beach was named "Waikiki" after a Hawaiian sailor's body washed up here after his ship was wrecked attempting to cross the Columbia River Bar in 1811.

Quick History:

The name Cape Disappointment was given by Captain John Meares' in 1788 to reflect his disappointment when he thought he had failed to find the Columbia River. A river that sailors had spent years trying to find. He was obviously mistaken, but the sand bar and heavy fogs kept him from realizing his mistake. It wasn't until 1792 that Captain Gray found a channel past the sand bar and named the Columbia River after his ship, the Columbia Rediviva.

Lewis and Clark also landed their ship here in November 1805 during their journey. It's cool to think that it was just over 200 years that Lewis and Clark probably walked the same trails that can be found there today.

Anyway, my friend and I started off at Waikiki beach to let the doggos get their zoomies out, then walked about to the starting point for McKenzie Head trail. It's only a half mile up this trail, but it gets steep. On the way up, you can see McKenzie lagoon on your left, then a little further up the trail but still on the left, the South Cape Disappointment lighthouse, which has been there since 1856.

At the top of McKenzie Head, you have a pretty good view of the ocean, although the shore is about a mile out from the old military bunkers up there. The waterline used to be just underneath the steep hillside, but after 1917, when the jetty was built, sediment began accumulating and built up to where it is today.

We went past the old gun mount, which is now a small pool, around the right of the bunkers and climbed up to take some pictures. Here is a picture of the jetty from the top of the bunker.

After a quick break to admire the view, we explored the abandoned ruins, which feel pretty creepy. Walking through the forest-lined entrances makes you feel like you're Indian Jones. However, he probably would have remembered to bring a flashlight.

Our phone lights did well enough but seemed to add to the "creepy vibes" since you could only see the silhouettes of leftover pipelines, air ducts, and other miscellaneous things.

Nature really has taken over here since the bunker was decommissioned after WWII.

After we walked the half mile back down Mckenzie Head (way easier than going up), we crossed the street to the Cape Disappoint

ment North Head trailhead. This is a 3 mile, out-and-back trail that leads to the North Head lighthouse. This gorgeous trail varies from open ocean views to dense, lush forests.

I think it's easy to get into the habit of watching so closely where you're walking that you forget to look up (For me anyway.) But wow, the scenery was different and gorgeous every time I looked up. The trail doesn't go straight up one way, then back down the other way, but instead has ups and downs each way. Which is nice, so you don't have to act like you're not dying as you head up to the lighthouse.

The lighthouse is closed more now due to being short-staffed, but we didn't try to go inside. We noticed a sign for "Bells View Overlook Trail from the parking lot," and we decided to try that since neither of us had been up there before.

It's a paved, half-mile walk, and you're surrounded by coastal forest until you reach the overlook, which opens up to a great view of the Long Beach peninsula. From so far away, the waves seem to move slowly.

We stood there for a while, taking in the view, feeling the breeze, listening to the birds and waves, then found a spot to eat our snacks and crack open a couple of drinks.

The dogs enjoyed the secluded space we found, as they got to run around off-leash and chase each other without bothering anyone.

Several times during our adventure, I took a moment to reflect on how this area is one of a kind. Where else in the world can you find this landscape? There is so much diversity here in the plant, animal, and marine life. I feel very lucky to be able to explore and call this place my home. (For now!)

Enjoy the rest of the pictures we took from Cape Disappointment, and thanks for reading!