Kyle Jones
Moderator
I'll be in Ilwaco for a night over Labor Day weekend. I'll have one sunrise for sure, and I'll skip out of family stuff for sunset if it looks like it will be special.
So what should I shoot?
So what should I shoot?
Cape Disappointment
- Thread starter Kyle Jones
- Start date
It's been a few years since I was there Kyle, so my memories might not be the most helpful.
The North Head Lighthouse is very cool.
Off of the trail to the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse (this lighthouse was my favorite because you can see Oregon in the distance) there were side trails down to some of the lagoons, and also some down to the coast. Not all of them were necessarily official trails, but what I liked was the lagoons were cool, and the ones that led down to openings to the ocean had like small islands or rock outcroppings with trees on them.
If you only have a sunrise, I think the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse area is the way to go, though I think in general it's more of a sunset location.
The North Head Lighthouse is very cool.
Off of the trail to the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse (this lighthouse was my favorite because you can see Oregon in the distance) there were side trails down to some of the lagoons, and also some down to the coast. Not all of them were necessarily official trails, but what I liked was the lagoons were cool, and the ones that led down to openings to the ocean had like small islands or rock outcroppings with trees on them.
If you only have a sunrise, I think the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse area is the way to go, though I think in general it's more of a sunset location.
AlanLichty
Moderator
I have spent quite a few nights out at the Cape Disappointment campground but less around Ilwaco itself. Ilwaco would be better for viewing the far shore and you might have some night shot opportunities of Astoria/Meglar Bridge. You will also have cellular data connectivity from Ilwaco which is not possible at all from the park itself.
Sunset if you get a good one - the primary beach for the park is just west of the campground and has tons of driftwood. It is entirely a sand beach however with no tide pools between the lighthouse and the jetty. There are a number of trails inside of the park. I have posted some shots from the one that leads from the campground area to the lighthouse including this one:
For a sunrise you may have more interesting subjects looking back towards the Columbia instead of the Pacific. The Meglar bridge can be quite picturesque with the right conditions and the coastal mountains have some opportunities as well. Lots of old pilings along the shore lines can make some interesting shots as well.
Sunset if you get a good one - the primary beach for the park is just west of the campground and has tons of driftwood. It is entirely a sand beach however with no tide pools between the lighthouse and the jetty. There are a number of trails inside of the park. I have posted some shots from the one that leads from the campground area to the lighthouse including this one:
For a sunrise you may have more interesting subjects looking back towards the Columbia instead of the Pacific. The Meglar bridge can be quite picturesque with the right conditions and the coastal mountains have some opportunities as well. Lots of old pilings along the shore lines can make some interesting shots as well.
AlanLichty
Moderator
Some shots from the beach near the campground (both iPhone images). First is a sunrise looking north towards the lighthouse and the second a sunset facing SW towards the jetty.
Kyle Jones
Moderator
Very cool Alan, thanks for the tips. I'll have to see what the weather holds. With clear skies I may try some night shots. My family is actually from Ilwaco, I just haven't been there with a chance to photograph anything.