Washington State is home to rugged coastal landscapes that have vexed mariners for centuries. With fierce winds, frigid waters, and quickly changing conditions that can turn a sunny day into a life-or-death situation, the need for navigational aids is an absolute necessity.
For centuries, lighthouses were the main way to aid ships to the inner coastal waters or around treacherous rocks. These buildings could be seen sometimes up to 20 miles offshore and were a beacon for mariners after making a long trip up the West Coast or across the Pacific.
While some of the lighthouses in Washington remain operational today, many have been decommissioned. They are now tourist destinations for folks who want a glimpse into how life may have looked 100+ years ago along the coast.
Let’s take a trip through the lighthouses of Washington as they range from remote outposts to cozy buildings just miles from bustling downtown Seattle.
Cape Disappointment Lighthouse – Ilwaco, Washington
Cape Disappointment Lighthouse stands on the north side of the dangerous Columbia River Bar: an area also known as the Graveyard of the Pacific for the 100s of shipwrecks that litter the area.
The lighthouse is located within Cape Disappointment State Park and requires a 2.4-mile round-trip hike to get there. It sits high on a bluff with incredible views of the Columbia River Bar and Oregon’s Fort Stevens State Park to the south.
Despite its somewhat rough appearance, the lighthouse is still operational and used as a navigational aid. A small shack next to the lighthouse is staffed by Coast Guard personnel who assist ships transiting the bar during rough weather conditions.
North Head Lighthouse – Ilwaco, Washington
Also located within Cape Disappointment State Park, the North Head Lighthouse sits just to the North of the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse and looks out directly over the expansive Pacific Ocean. During the summer months, the lighthouse is open to tours that will even take you up to the top, where you can take in the views and check out the lens.
The nearby light keeper’s quarters are available as a once-in-a-lifetime vacation rental experience.
Grays Harbor Lighthouse – Westport, Washington
At 107 feet tall, the Grays Harbor Lighthouse is the third tallest on the West Coast and the tallest in Washington State. Located in Westport, Washington, it stands watch over the entrance to Grays Harbor as it has since it was built in the late 1800’s.
Today, visitors can take tours of this still-operational lighthouse where, on a clear day, you can even catch a glimpse of Mt. Rainier from the top.
Mukilteo Lighthouse – Mukilteo, Washington
Located just north of Seattle in the nearby city of Mukilteo, the Mukilteo Lighthouse is one of the few wooden lighthouses on the West Coast. Because of its location on the east side of Puget Sound where it is protected in part of nearby Whidbey Island, the lighthouse isn’t subjected to the harsh conditions that most other lighthouses in the area have to contend with.
The lighthouse still serves as a working navigational aid, and the attached Victorian-style home, which was once used by the Coast Guard, is now a museum run by the city.
Alki Point Lighthouse – Seattle, Washington
The Alki Point Lighthouse, along with the nearby West Point Lighthouse, watches over Elliot Bay and provides navigational help to the frequent marine traffic coming in and out of Seattle. Originally, the only guidance for ships navigating these waters was a lantern hung on the side of a barn. In the early 1900s, the lighthouse was built and still stands in its current location.
The lighthouse is operated by the Coast Guard, which occasionally offers tours of the space.
West Point Lighthouse – Seattle, Washington
Alki Point’s neighbor to the north, the West Point Lighthouse, stands as Discovery Park’s crown jewel. This lighthouse is notable in that it was the last lighthouse in Washington to be fully automated. For the first 100 years of operation, a lightkeeper was required to manage the original kerosene-powered and, eventually, electric-powered light.
There are no public tours of the inside of the lighthouse, but visitors can walk through the park down to the beach where the lighthouse sits and enjoy the views out over Puget Sound
Point No Point Lighthouse – Hansville, Washington
Built in 1879, the Point No Point Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in Puget Sound. Located on Point No Point on the west side of the sound, this 30-foot-tall lighthouse was, for years, an extremely isolated location for the lightkeepers, as no roads led to the area, and all supplies were delivered by boat.
Today, the lighthouse is the main attraction of Point No Point Park, which is managed by the county. The nearby lightkeeper’s quarters are still standing and can be rented as a vacation home for those seeking a unique lodging experience. Don’t worry; taking a boat to the area is no longer required.
Admiralty Head Lighthouse – Whidbey Island, Washington
The Admiralty Head Lighthouse is a well restored, 30 foot tall lighthouse on the western side of Whidbey Island. The lighthouse itself has been decommissioned as a navigational aid for over 100 years now and today it stands within Fort Casey State park where visitors can tour the grounds and peek inside the lighthouse.
Browns Point Lighthouse – Tacoma, Washington
One of the smallest lighthouses you’ll find almost anywhere, the Browns Point Lighthouse was originally set up as a lantern on a 12 foot tall post. Later on a wooden framed lighthouse was built followed by the current version in 1933.
The grounds around the lighthouse still hold the original light keepers cottage where a volunteer lives and provides tours every Saturday.
Point Robinson Lighthouse – Vashon Island, Washington
Standing on the idyllic Vashon Island since 1885, the Point Robinson Lighthouse is a near identical twin to the Alki Point Lighthouse located just to the Northeast. This lighthouse has a long history as an active navigational aid and the light keepers quarters were staffed until the late 1980s!
Today the lighthouse stands within Point Robinson park where locals and visitors can enjoy access to the water, peek around the lighthouse, and even stay in one of the two restored keeper’s cottages.
New Dungeness Lighthouse – Sequim, Washington
Standing as the second oldest lighthouse in Washington, the New Dungeness Lighthouse has been in continuous operation watching over the waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca since 1857. Originally the lighthouse stood at 100 feet tall but structural issues resulted in it being lowered to its current height of 63 feet.
The lighthouse is located at the end of the Dungeness Spit which juts 5 miles out into the Strait. Members of the New Dungeness Light Station Association staff the lighthouse 24/7 and run tours every day of the week.
Lime Kiln Lighthouse – San Juan Island
Standing watch over the ominously named Dead Man’s Bay, the Lime Kiln Lighthouse is one of the newer active lighthouses in Washington. It was first lit in 1914 and is still an active navigational aid today.
The light helps ships navigating the swift currents that run through Haro Straits between San Juan Island and Victoria Island. During the summer months the lighthouse is open to visitors through tours with Lime Kiln Point State Park.