This post is going toward my first goal. I mentioned the Cape Arago Lighthouse in a post or two before this, so it wouldn't normally warrant its own post. Lighthouses are one of the "would love to find and see them all" things in the world for me. Waterfalls, covered bridges, counties, national parks, state parks, all lists I have to complete.
The reason the Cape Arago Lighthouse doesn't get much of a post is that you can't go there. This is the only private lighthouse on the Oregon Coast (per the "Lighthouses of the Oregon Coast" brochure I picked up from the lovely information kiosk at Sunset Bay Campground). You can, however, get some pretty good views from the road between Sunset Bay and Shore Acres, and of course from the trail between the two that is right on the ocean. I would guess, but can't be sure, that if you were adventurous enough you could get out to the spit and island that show on the pictures below. One theory I have on this is to find a way to the top of the mini-cape (what's the technical term here?) to the north side of Sunset Bay and then work your way down. My other theory would be to climb out to the north side of the bay (described in the day use area post) and keep going. I was pretty confident in my abilities to do this option, but not confident enough to be able to get back. One of my life goals is to never need a Coast Guard helicopter to come rescue me. Anyway, I of course recommend that you do neither of these. That would be dangerous. Looking at a map, it looks like you may be able to walk from Bastendorf Beach County Park (located just north of Sunset Bay and clearly signed) south down the beach around an outcropping to more beach and a good view of the lighthouse, but again I have no idea.
Here are the specifics:
Fee: No fee (because you can't go there!)
Pets: At the viewpoint, yes
Facilities: None at viewpoint, available in nearby Shore Acres or Sunset Bay State Parks
Attractions: Lighthouse
Attractions: Lighthouse
Camping: Available nearby in Shore Acres State Park
Season: Year round
Coordinates: 43.34129,-124.37538 (Unverified), 43.32929,-124.38088 for the viewpoint (Unverified)
Governmental Agency Land: US Coast Guard (closed to public), Viewpoint - Oregon State Parks & Recreation
Nearest town: Charleston, Oregon (2.6 miles)
Nearest 10,000+ city: Coos Bay, Oregon (7.8 miles)
County: Coos County, Oregon
My rating (out of 6): 2 (It's hard to rate, but it has to have a low rating due to the inaccessibility)
More Information: There are a number of websites with information about this lighthouse. Do a search on Google for "Cape Arago Lighthouse" and you should find plenty.My Current Location: Home - Portland, Oregon
3 comments:
Unfortunately your post is mostly true. The most adventurous and best view of the Cape Arago Lighthouse is to explore by Kayak. Its a popular kayaking route among those that have the expertise to ocean kayak. the other best viewing spot is from Lighthouse Beach, which has two options, you can stay in one of the vacation rentals and have an easy time of getting down to the beach from the private steps, or you can copy the surfers who traverse down a steep hillside between the houses. I recommend the vacation rental route, easier and less dangerous.
Its currently owned by the Coast Guard, but there's been talk to donate it back to the Confederated tribes to take the property over and someday build an accessible museum there, however that is in all likelihood 10-20 years away if it happens at all.
Technically you could get there by foot but its actually illegal and dangerous as the bridge to it was closed for being unsafe. All of us who live here keep hoping for the day they repair the bridge and open it back up.
One other fascinating tidbit: There is one other private lighthouse on the Oregon Coast up by Cannon Beach that can only be accessed by boat and was turned into a morgue. Gives me chills, but some people will pay the steep costs to be laid to rest there.
Katherine : )
That's interesting, thank you for the comment! My belief that this was the only private lighthouse on the Oregon Coast came from an Oregon State Parks brochure, thank you for the correction. Do you have a link or anything with more information about this lighthouse? I can't seem to find anything.
You also remind me that I need to get into kayaking. There are so many great places to explore that you just can't reach any other good way.
I do hope that they open the lighthouse to the public. I hate to see anything like this that should be available to the public be inaccessible. There are certain things that are just meant to be available to all that want to see them.
Thank you again for the comment!
Its a really fascinating story, here's the write up from friends of the lighthouse:
http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=135
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