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Cape Lookout State Park – reviews, photos

13000 Whiskey Creek Road, Tillamook, OR
Hotel amenities
Cape Lookout State Park
4.0 of 5 stars 11 Reviews
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11 reviews from our community

    Trip type
Traveller rating
    6
    4
    1
    0
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Date Rating
portland, oregon
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
11 helpful votes 11 helpful votes
“A good campground, but choose your site carefully.”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 15 September 2009
7
people found this review helpful

We (three adults and a large dog) just finished a two-night weekend stay at Cape Lookout. This was only our second time camping in Oregon, so I don't have a lot of experience to compare, but we did a lot of research before going so here's what I can say:

Campground: the staff were very helpful and knowledgeable. The grounds were kept super clean the whole time we were there. Water spigots were a short walk between every other campsite, very convenient. There were a few access points to the beach, but no view of the beach from the grounds. The day-use fee kept the traffic down around the sites.

Sites: the sites are extremely varied - everything from flat, no-privacy sites to fully wooded sites. All the sites had sturdy picnic tables and firepit areas. If you are tent-camping and want privacy, aim for the eastern edges of the A or B loop (but not near the bathrooms). The western A and B loop don't have a lot of vegetation between sites, so there isn't much privacy (but more natural light). The eastern sites are pretty well shaded. The yurts and full-hookup sites were in a heavier forested C and D-loop area. The yurts looked great - the ones along the western edge of the C loop had the most space between sites.

Weather: September is supposed to be the warmest month, but it was still quite chilly in the mornings and evenings. Bring lots of layers, and prepare for chilly nights. One night there was fog that might as well have been rain because it left a layer of water on everything. The second night we had actual rain, and some very strong winds that relocated some of our gear into the bushes around our site (another reason to aim for the wooded sites). The forecast was for "occasional showers". Also, I was under the illusion that there wouldn't be bugs on the coast. Wrong! Bring bug spray, keep your skin covered and don't wear flip-flops. I ended up in urgent care after a bad reaction to some sort of mosquito, and my feet were covered in ant bites from wearing sandals while I cooked dinner. My mistake, but ouch!

Fellow campers: Lots of kids riding bikes. The second night we had a group of raucous, drunk college kids next to us. Despite reading that the rangers are pretty vigilant about noise control, we had to go over around midnight and ask them to keep it down. Other than that group, everyone was polite and quiet.

Facilities: The bathrooms are well lit, kept clean, and offer very welcome semi-warm showers. Your best bet for getting a shower without waiting is around dinnertime or later, after 6pm. Some extra mirrors in the bathroom would be nice, because every time I was there, women were using the sink areas to blow-dry and curl their hair or put on makeup (seriously, gals?) and they had to move everything so I could wash my hands. One time I even saw someone running a crockpot in the bathroom to make chili while they showered. Hmm...

Activities nearby: We did the 2.4 mile Cape Hike (its 2.5 miles uphill from the campground to the trailhead, FYI). It was a good hike, but with some fairly muddy spots, so be prepared and wear closed shoes. The views along the way were just as good as the Cape view at the end, so enjoy the journey. We also went crabbing in Netarts Bay. It was our first time, but we didn't really catch enough crabs to make it worth the cost (around $75 for 3 people with boat, gear and licenses, and we caught maybe 15 small crabs). The folks at Netarts Bay RV Park helped us get started, but they weren't especially patient or helpful (in fact they seemed a little inconvenienced when we asked questions).

Overall, I would recommend this campground, but make sure you pick a site that works for your needs. If you want the totally isolated camping experience, this location isn't for you. The nearby beach and activities are best for people who don't need a lot of hands-on attention.

  • Stayed September 2009, travelled as a couple
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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Ask pdx3818 about Cape Lookout State Park
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Iowa
1 review
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“Park cabin at Cape Lookout State Park”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 4 July 2008
1
person found this review helpful

There are only four cabins at this state park but they are very nice cabins in the trees around fifty yards from the beach. The park is very well kept and the beach is wonderful for walking. Some sunsets are beautiful there and I'm attaching a photo I took of a particularly colorful sunset.

  • Liked — quiet
  • Stayed September 2005, travelled with family
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
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Ask ezwryder about Cape Lookout State Park
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Lk. Stevens, WA
1 review
6 helpful votes 6 helpful votes
“100 yards from the beach and no wind chill!”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 29 July 2007
6
people found this review helpful

We were looking for camping within a SHORT walk to the beach that still had showers, etc. and we found it here. The beach is just over the breakwater which has its back to the "A" sites. At high tide the beach is only around 50 yards from the breakwater, but I went out at low tide and was stunned to see the beach had receded about 1/4 mile. It was fantastic as the tide slowly chased me back in with tidepools forming and flooding over all around. Sites are very well laid out; the ones to the south, east & north are shaded, while those in the middle are sunnier. Stay clear of a couple central A/B sites near the sewer pump station - you won't like the breeze from that direction. ENJOY!
Jonesie

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Ask JONEZENATOR about Cape Lookout State Park
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Hanau
Senior Contributor
45 reviews 45 reviews
Reviews in 23 cities Reviews in 23 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
“Schoner Campingplatz”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 7 May 2012
Google Translation

  • Stayed April 2012, travelled as a couple
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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Ask KerstinHanau about Cape Lookout State Park
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