The parking lot paving project at Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge, Lighthouse and State Scenic Viewpoint is very nearly complete, and the popular site has reopened to the public. In addition to a newly paved surface, the renovated parking lot has 12 more vehicle parking spaces, three designated RV parking spaces, new curbing, and new pavement markings, and the sidewalks and trails surrounding the parking lot have also been repaved. The park opened up for public use on Tuesday morning May 1st, with only minor asphalt edge remediation and the thermoplastic work remaining to be completed. The remaining work should not take more than one day and can be done with visitors in the park. This project, which began in September 2006, was funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Western Federal Lands Highway Division administered the contract.

Cape Meares Lighthouse and State Scenic Viewpoint is sandwiched between the two parcels of Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge protects rare old growth Sitka spruce and hemlock forest, and seabirds and peregrine falcons nest on the vertical seacliffs of this Refuge. The Park and Lighthouse are managed by Oregon State Parks, and the Friends of Cape Meares Lighthouse and Wildlife Refuge welcome visitors and operate the gift shop. With nearly half a million visitors each year, the parking lot, viewing decks, and trails at this spectacular location have been in need of upgrades to accommodate the ever expanding visitation. Over the past few years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided funding to construct two high-quality viewing decks and to design and install interpretive panels on the decks and trails. The viewing decks allow visitors a spectacular view of Three Arch Rocks and Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuges out in the Pacific, as well as migrating gray whales, seabirds, and sea lions. The interpretive panels help visitors understand what they are seeing. The parking lot upgrade is the final component of the improvement project for this well loved Oregon coast gem.