WA Long Beach peninsula via Longview WA

4/20/2021

Mt Rainier and Mt St Helens from Hwy 30, across the Columbia River from Longview WA

Hwy 30 is the shorter route to Long Beach from Longview WA--Cross back over the Columbia River at Astoria

Turn west from the north side of Astoria-Megler Bridge, travel Hwy 101 and pass through or stop in the historic, now tiny, town of Chinook WA, pop. less than 500. For a tiny bit of history ahead of your trip, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinook%2C_Washington

A few miles further on Hwy 101 brings you to Ilwaco. For a town of only about 1000 residents, it has quite a lot to offer. For more info, see https://www.visitlongbeachpeninsula.com/tips-tools/villages/ilwaco/

Day 1 was perfect at the beach--Long Beach WA has a half mile boardwalk along the coast with 3 multiple family sized picnic decks. Nice rolling in a wheelchair, interesting interpretive signs, but not really great views of the ocean from a sitting position. The 9 mile nicely paved Discovery Trail follows the coastline more or less, but the ocean is not in view for a person in a wheelchair. It's a great hike, roll/stroll, or bike for exercise. Lots of sandy trails lead from it to the beach. There's quite a lot to see and do beside the beach at Long Beach, check out https://www.visitlongbeachpeninsula.com/things-to-do

Seaview--south end of Long Beach WA . . . there's a paved path between the beach and businesses, not too long.

Note: Just north of the turn-off for Seaview beach access, Hwy 101 veers east on 40th (Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau is on the corner there), and going forward you are on Hwy 103, aka Pacific Way.

Sid Snyder Drive beach access, is next north of Seaview, and the south end of accessible Boardwalk.
There's a Go-Cart place the corner of Sid Snyder Dr and Pacific Way, and the World Kite Museum is west of it on Sid Snyder. Washington State International Kite Festival is held at Long Beach the 3rd full week of August annually.

The Boardwalk, Long Beach WA--abt a half mile long, wheelchair accessible, but shufflers watch for nails sticking up a little, and somewhat rough surface.

Bolstad Ave--the north end of the Boardwalk at Long Beach WA: city hall, accommodations, restaurants . . .

Some photos of downtown Long Beach WA

More about the Villages of the Long Beach peninsula, WA
https://www.visitlongbeachpeninsula.com/tips-tools/villages/

Day 2 was a WA state park free day, so that's when we explored Cape Disappointment (which was not at all disappointing), the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, and other like venues.

Dismal Nitch/Megler rest area--after you cross the Columbia River north from Astoria OR on the Astoria-Megler Bridge, turn east just a little way to this picturesque place for picnic or a pitstop. The accessible family type restroom has its own exterior entrance, separate from the men's and women's on each end. Every picnic table is set with the view in mind, they are on pavement, and there is a nice walk all along with interesting interpretive signs. Continue strolling/rolling west on a paved trail leading to a Lewis & Clark monument. It's worth seeing. http://columbiariverimages.com/Regions/Places/megler.html

Middle Village/Station Camp Park--head west from Dismal Nitch, or the north end of the Astoria-Megler Bridge
Soon you'll see a raised deck, a quaint old church, and another raised deck at Middle Village/Station Camp. It's worth getting out and taking a walk along the looped trail and the raised decks (though perhaps morning or evening is better than mid-day when it's hot). You can learn about the native peoples, settlers, and the Lewis and Clark experience when they camped near the site. Replica canoes offer a comparison of different styles created by different peoples. You can look through a telescope at labeled points of interest. Cool 3-D bronze map. Here's a July 2020 article about the park from the Chinook Observer newspaper https://www.chinookobserver.com/life/middle-village---station-camp/article_89b70a92-bc97-11ea-9a48-df88993eb096.htm

Fort Columbia Historical State Park--not far (NW) up Hwy 101 from the north end of the Astoria-Megler (and just before reaching the village of Chinook WA), you might miss the turn-off for this park going north, as it comes right after a tunnel. Although the Interpretive Center was closed for COVID, it was an interesting place to drive through, view the views, picnic if you like . . . It's on a very steep hillside, but a wheelchair could managesome areas . You might see more from your vehicle than a wheelchair. Hikers can explore considerably more. The able-bodied can arrange to stay, and there's an entertainment venue. More info at https://parks.state.wa.us/506/Fort-Columbia

Cape Disappointment State Park--go straight west through Ilwaco WA
https://parks.state.wa.us/486/Cape-Disappointment includes a slide show

Beard's Hollow Overlook--photos cannot do this justice. Great spot to lunch and look, if you like. No restroom.

Beard's Hollow Trailhead--nice paved trail through the forest; lengthy hike to get to the ocean view for a wheelchair, off-shoots are shorter for those who can hike.

North Head Lighthouse--follow the signs/maps. An accessible place to explore, with accessible restrooms and interpretive signs, but a manual wheelchair will need a pushy person to ascend the hill. Bell's View Trail is only a quarter mile long (one way), right off the parking lot--said to be easy and paved, but doesn't show that it's ADA. Looks like it has a great viewing platform at the end. The Lighthouse Keepers Loop Trail is half mile paved loop and is marked ADA (at least the south section). 5 min video Long Beach & lighthouses https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KVMYgERk0g&ab_channel=DaveDurkee