Winter things to do in Long Beach WA
What actually changes on the Long Beach Peninsula between November and April — seasonal closures, shorter days, winter museum hours, and the safety rules that matter most when the surf is big — with Hill Top Hideaway in Raymond as a warm inland base.
Our things to do in Long Beach guide covers the year-round basics, and our storm watching guide covers where to watch big surf. This page is the winter layer on top: what is closed, what runs on reduced hours, and what is only on the calendar in the off-season. Everything below comes from official park, museum, and agency pages we checked; re-check them the week you travel.
What changes in winter
- North Head Lighthouse: Washington State Parks lists visitor access to North Head Lighthouse as open May to September 30, so in winter plan on the grounds and views, not a tour. Source: WA State Parks — Cape Disappointment.
- North Jetty closure: State Parks posted (October 23, 2026) that the North Jetty at Cape Disappointment closes January 1, 2027 for a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project, anticipated to last until November 30, 2029. A December visit may be your last jetty look for a while; from January on, plan on other viewpoints.
- Cape D Store: State Parks notes the park store is closed in 2026 and into 2027 while a new contact station is built. Bring your own snacks and water.
- Park hours: Cape Disappointment is open 6:30 a.m. to dusk year-round. Dusk comes early in December, so start park days in the morning. A Discover Pass is required for parking.
- Winter schedule: State Parks keeps a separate Winter Schedule page for off-season closures and operating changes. It is linked from the Cape Disappointment page.
Indoor stops that stay open
The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center sits on a 200-foot cliff inside Cape Disappointment State Park, with exhibits on the expedition. It is the obvious windy-day stop, and State Parks runs a live camera from it that you can check before you drive. In Long Beach, the World Kite Museum runs reduced off-season days; third-party listings disagree on the exact winter days, so use the museum’s own Plan Your Visit page before you go. That page lists admission as $6 adults, $5 seniors, $4 children (checked November 4, 2026).
New Year’s Day: Cape Disappointment First Day Hike
The State Parks event listing for Cape Disappointment shows a First Day Hike on Friday, January 1, 2027, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It is a simple, structured way to spend the holiday outdoors. Check the park page that week for any change or weather cancellation.
Winter beach safety, from official sources
Winter swell is what draws people here, and it is also the main hazard. From the National Weather Service sneaker waves page:
- Sneaker waves can run up the beach at least 150 feet onto dry sand, and there can be 10 to 20 minutes of small waves right before one hits.
- Watch the water for at least 20 minutes before you relax on the beach, stay farther back than you think you need to, and never turn your back on the ocean.
- Stay off large logs near the surf line. A single wave can lift and roll them.
State Parks advises that swimming in the ocean on the Long Beach Peninsula is not advised. For tsunami readiness, Washington Emergency Management says ground shaking may be your first and only warning. If you feel a strong or long earthquake, see a sudden rise or fall of the ocean, or hear a loud roar, move inland to high ground right away. The outer-coast sirens are tested at noon on the first Monday of each month with Westminster chimes, so that sound is a test. Source: WA EMD — Tsunami.
Pair it with other winter activities
Off-season peninsula days pair well with razor clam digging (only on WDFW-announced dates), a Discovery Trail walk on a dry afternoon, or bird-focused stops at Leadbetter Point and the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge. Visiting in late November or December? See our holiday getaway guide for verified 2026 peninsula events.
Why stay inland in Raymond
Hill Top Hideaway is an updated 3-bedroom vacation rental in Raymond, WA, operated by Hope and Grace LLC. It sleeps 6, has a washer and dryer for wet gear, and has plenty of room to park. After a cold, windy beach day, you can come back to a full house instead of a single room.
Stay nearby at Hill Top Hideaway
Looking for Raymond WA lodging for this trip? Hill Top Hideaway is an updated 3-bedroom home in Raymond, WA (Pacific County), operated by Hope and Grace LLC. It sleeps 6 and sits about a five-minute walk from the Willapa Hills Trail. Book on the platform you prefer.
Sources
- https://discoverpass.wa.gov/
- https://mil.wa.gov/tsunami
- https://parks.wa.gov/find-parks/state-parks/cape-disappointment-state-park
- https://www.weather.gov/safety/sneaker-waves
- https://www.worldkitemuseum.com/planyourvisit
- https://parks.wa.gov/find-activities/winter-schedule
Last checked against official public sources on November 4, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles). Details change — always re-check the linked pages before you go.