Hiking and Biking Trails - Long Beach, WA

January 4, 2014

Categories: Long Beach | Washington Coast

Updated 1/01/2022 ~

The Long Beach Peninsula on the Washington Coast has approximately 26 miles of scenic hiking and biking trails. Enjoy meandering through grassy dunes, old growth forests, rocky headlands, and beautiful wetlands. Featuring two lighthouses and spectacular ocean and coastline views!

The Discovery Trail

Photo by Gary Windust

The Long Beach WA Discovery Trail features a unique 8.5 mile long paved trail. This amazing hiking and biking trail is a legacy of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial. The trail stretches from the Port of Ilwaco to the north end of the Long Beach boardwalk, with several access points in between. It crosses the Cape Disappointment headlands to Beard's Hollow, where you'll stroll along beautiful scenic wetlands and the Beard's Hollow Lookout featuring spectacular coastline views.

You'll find interpretive markers along the trail, including the skeleton of a gray whale (inspired by Captain William Clark's journals), a bronze condor at the south end of Discovery Trail and Clark's Tree, a 20-foot tall bronze sculpture of a windswept pine. The tree sculpture marks the farthest reach of Clark's journey up the Long Beach Peninsula on November 19, 1805.

The Discovery Trail is ideal for pedestrians and bicyclists seeking an outdoor adventure where you can breathe in the fresh Pacific air, hear the grassy dunes in the wind, and see crashing waves along the coastline. It's a truly refreshing and wonderful experience that you won't forget!

Washington's Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau offers handy trail map that you can download or pick one up in their location in Seaview.

Cape Disappointment State Park

Formerly known as Fort Canby, the Cape Disappointment State Park features 8-miles of hiking trails with climbs through old growth Sitka spruce and Douglas fir trees. The park also features 2 lighthouses, Cape Disappointment Lighthouse and the North Head Lighthouse. Enjoy amazing views of the Pacific and the mouth of the Columbia River. The Cape Disappointment Lighthouse is closed and undergoing restoration, but you can view it from the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center or take a short steep a 1.5 mile hike for the best view. 

Leadbetter State Park

The Leadbetter Point State Park boarders the beautiful Willapa Bay and Pacific Ocean including beach frontage. There is 7 miles of hiking trails with .5 being ADA accessible trails. For more information of the Leadbetter Point Loop Hike and trail maps visit OregonHikers.org.

While planning your hiking adventures, choose from our list of Long Beach rentals for your next vacation at Beachcombers NW, and discover the beauty of the peninsula on the Washington Coast.

Serving Vacation Rental Owners since 2001