Scenic Cape Lookout State Park, Oregon: Camping, beaches, trails, paragliding + more!

Looking for the best camping on the Northern Oregon Coast? I haven’t set up camp in every single spot along the Pacific Ocean (yet!), but our new favorite campground is in Cape Lookout State Park, Oregon.

Recently, Maxine, Edie and I stayed at Cape Lookout campgrounds. We were later joined by one of my closest friends and her daughter. The kids built sand castles, rode scooters around the campground and roasted s’mores at this amazingly family friendly camping spot. We moms were happy to chat and “eat” all the sand cupcakes, sand smoothies and sand sandwiches the kids made us.

This state park, next to Netarts and Tillamook, Oregon, is known for more than its beautiful campgrounds. It’s also the landing site of parasailers! You can watch them zoom in for a landing right over your head on the stretch of beach.

Speaking of beaches, Cape Lookout State Park’s 3 miles of beaches stretch wide, ideal for beach combing and playing with kids. You can go whale watching from the beach or up on the cliffs from Cape Lookout Trail.

If you’re into glamping—or doing shoulder season camping with kids in Oregon—you’ll love the yurts and cabins! Both have electricity and covered porches, which is helpful if the weather turns out to be rainy.

No matter the weather, though, I’m betting you’ll heart Cape Lookout State Park camping. I’m head over heels for the campground, beaches and experience of watching the hang gliders. Get ready to fall in love, too.

Cape Lookout camping

Cape Lookout State Park camping is one of my favorite places to set up a tent (or cozy up in a yurt) on the Oregon Coast. The campgrounds are impeccably maintained and have easy access to the beach.

At just an hour and a half from Portland and 15 minutes south of Tillamook, Cape Lookout State Park is an easy choice for camping. Even though it’s close to the Portland metro area, the campground feels like a world away.

Campgrounds nestle among Western red cedars, Sitka spruce, Douglas firs and salal. Trees grow together, their roots twining around each other—and creating a natural jungle gym for kids. Red-winged blackbirds call to each other; keep an eye out for bald eagles soaring overhead.

The Cape Lookout State Park campground includes 170 tent sites, 38 full-hookup RV sites, 13 yurts and 6 cabins with heat and running water. The campground also includes bathrooms with flush toilets and hot showers. Campsites don’t have ocean views—a human-made dune separates the beach from the campground to protect the sites. You can clearly hear the ocean waves from the campground, though!

The park hosts in Loop C sell firewood for $5 a bundle, as well as ice for $2 per bag.

Group sites are currently closed because of COVID precautions. All other Cape Lookout campground reservations can be made on Reserve America.

My kids are already asking to go back to the Cape Lookout State Park campground!

Cape Lookout yurts

When we recently camped at Cape Lookout, we stayed at one of the pet-friendly yurts. Yurts are located in Loop C, just a short walk from beach access.

Oregon State Park yurts have electric and heat, which makes them perfect for shoulder season camping. (The weather in Oregon’s spring and fall can be hit or miss. Staying cozy inside a yurt while it rains makes everyone comfortable!)

Yurts are outfitted with a small table and chairs, a bunk bed and a futon that folds out into another bed. You can comfortably fit five people inside.

I also noticed that yurts now come with an air purifier. These air purifiers are left running after staff clean the yurt between guests. That said, we always leave the yurt door open while we unpack to get some fresh air inside.

Yurts, like tent sites, each have their own picnic table and fire ring. You can fit two cars in the parking spot, though a second car requires a $7 per night additional fee.

Cape Lookout cabins

Cape Lookout State Park is special for many reasons—including the cabins you can rent to glamp on the Oregon Coast!

Six deluxe Cape Lookout cabins are available to reserve in advance. These cabins fill up incredibly quickly—as you can imagine, there’s quite the demand for only a few cabins. To reserve one, you’ll need to be aware of when state parks open for reservations. (Reserve America typically opens a month of calendar days at a time, six months in advance. So in March, you can reserve through September.)

Cape Lookout cabins are equipped with electricity, heat and hot water. They also include a microwave and small fridge. A bathroom within the cabin includes a flush toilet and shower. Bring your own bedding and supplies such as dishes.

You can sit out on the covered porch if it’s raining, and in good weather eat outdoors at the picnic table. The state park includes only six cabins, which are located separately from yurts and tent sites, so you’ll have a more secluded experience with hardly any neighbors.

You’ll need to walk about 250 feet from the parking area down a gravel path to reach cabins. Three cabins are pet-friendly.

Rates for Cape Lookout cabins are $106 per night. This fee may vary depending on when you reserve and if you are bringing pets.

Cape Lookout beaches

The beaches at Cape Lookout are some of my favorite on the Oregon Coast. The beach runs more than three miles, a flat and beautiful stretch where you can find your perfect spot.

Access the beach at Cape Lookout in a handful of places. The easiest to access is from the day use area. Here, park in the lot (which also has restrooms). Just remember to pay the $5 day use fee—the fees are enforced by state park rangers.

A short hill leads from the parking area down to the beach. (I’m acutely aware of the accessibility of beach access points ever since I broke my foot. This point was not easy for me to navigate in my iWalk/peg leg.)

This is the beach where you can watch paragliders land!

Nearer to the Cape Lookout campground, reach the beach via several short trails. You’ll need to walk up a bit over the dune then back down again to the beach. These access points were easier for me to navigate.

Currently, the road to beach access points at the north end of Cape Lookout State Park is closed. If you’re camping here, though, you can walk or bike along this road. Since it’s less easily accessible, the northern stretch of the beach is much less popular. You’ll probably have the whole beach to yourself!

As with any beach on the Oregon Coast, take safety precautions. Be aware of weather and sea conditions. Never turn your back on the ocean. Watch for sneaker waves.

Cape Lookout Trail

As of this writing, Cape Lookout Trail is damaged due to storm damage. A strong wind storm in late 2020 blew down trees, making this trail unusable. Double-check AllTrails or another user generated hiking guide for up-to-date trail status.

This out-and-back trail winds along the cliffs of Cape Lookout, giving you incredible views across the Pacific Ocean. Cape Lookout Trail has little elevation gain. Instead of focusing on strenuous up-and-down trail conditions, then, you can take in the scenery.

Just under 5 miles, Cape Lookout Trail stretches along the peninsula about 400 feet above the sea. You’ll hike through dense forest with glimpses of the ocean before reaching the viewpoint. Here, take a rest on the bench overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

This hike is one of the best spots on the Oregon Coast to see migrating gray whales, which swim along this point close to the cliffs.

Cape Lookout Trail is often muddy so bring sturdy shoes and, if you have them, hiking poles for stability. People have placed boards and branches over the muddiest spots, but you’ll still need to carefully tiptoe around mucky areas. Keep an eye out for exposed roots.

If you’re hiking with kids, keep them nearby. It’s easy to trip in places. When you get near the lookout at the turnaround point, keep children close. The viewpoint is roped off from the cliff but better safe than sorry.

Another tip if you’re hiking with kids: A B-17 bomber crashed here in 1943. Authorities never accounted for all the wreckage. Tell them the story—they’ll love keeping an eye out for plane parts!

Bring your binoculars, too. On a clear day, you can see south to Cape Kiwanda and Cape Foulweather and north to Cape Meares and Maxwell Point.

Campground nature trail

If you park in the lot next to the registration booth (or walk the short distance from the campground), you’ll find the nature trail. This short, family-friendly trail loops through a flat area in the forest.

Markers signal points of interest. Pick up a brochure from the registration booth or look at a digital version here to learn about the area’s plants and history.

At the very least, check out the nature trail to learn the names of the native trees and other plants (like skunk cabbage!).

Cape Lookout paragliding from Anderson’s Viewpoint

Cape Lookout is famous for its parasailing, paragliding and hang gliding. On days with good wind conditions, you’ll see these adrenaline seekers land on the beach mere feet from you!

From the Anderson’s Viewpoint parking lot, soarers walk a short way up the hill to the launch site. They may spend hours gliding over the coastal cliffs, riding winds and taking in the incredible views.

Cape Lookout is also one of the most dangerous paragliding spots on the Oregon Coast. Only experienced soarers should fly here. If you’re new to paragliding, try this sport with an experienced guide or outfitter.

If you’re more interested in watching paragliders than launching yourself into the air 330 feet above the ocean, Cape Lookout State Park is perfect for you, too! From the day use parking lot, walk onto the beach. You’ll see a cone and wind sock that acts as a landmark for paragliders.

You can watch landings from a safe distance directly next to the cone or farther along the beach in either direction. Please be courteous to anyone who asks you to move for safety.

We were thrilled to see people land. Edie can’t wait to try paragliding for herself! She’s already planning a trip with Hubs; I’ll watch (aka try not to panic) from below, once Edie is old enough to try.