Cape Blanco Lighthouse
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Hikes to this destination:
- Cape Blanco Loop Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
- Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
- Latitude, Longitude: 42.83698, -124.56364
- Elevation: 245 feet
Description
If you’re here during the tour season, someone will greet you at the parking area and tell you when you can take a tour (Tickets for those 16 and older are #2): These popular tours are conducted April through October, Wednesday to Monday, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. There’s a greeting center here with a mural of Oregon Coast lighthouses.
Construction of the lighthouse was completed in 1870, with most materials arriving by sea. The spruce forest that covered the headland was leveled to provide visibility. The Cape Blanco Light is the oldest continually operating beacon of Oregon's 12 lighthouses. The station also has the highest perch, at 245 feet above sea level, of all the lights. James Langlois, who lived here for 42 years, holds the record for the longest service of all Oregon light keepers. Mabel Bretherton, who began a period of service here in 1903, was the first woman light keeper in the state.
Since this is a Coast Guard Reserve, you can’t hike beyond the lighthouse lawn to reach the westernmost cliffs in Oregon, but you may spot deer browsing among the thickets. There's are views from the lighthouse grounds north to Gull Rock, Castle Rock, Blacklock Point, and an extensive swath of beach beyond. To the south, Port Orford Heads and Humbug Mountain stand out prominently, but you can see all the way to Cape Sebastian. This cape sees some ferocious winter storms, so stay away at those times!
More Links
- Cape Blanco Lighthouse (Lighthouse Friends)
- Cape Blanco Lighthouse (Enjoy Port Orford)
- Cape Blanco Light Station (Cape Blanco Heritage Society)
Contributors
- bobcat (creator)