The tallest lighthouse in Washington has 135 steps you can climb, and it’s open four days a week this fall
Most people photograph Washington’s tallest lighthouse from the sidewalk and keep walking. That’s a missed opportunity, because the Grays Harbor Lighthouse in Westport lets you go all the way to the top.
The tower stands 107 feet tall. Inside, 135 cast-iron steps wind up to the lantern room, and the whole climb costs about the same as a coffee.
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Why this lighthouse is worth the stop
Grays Harbor Light was lit in 1898, and it was built with some serious muscle. The octagonal brick walls are four feet thick at the base, and the whole thing sits on a twelve-foot sandstone foundation.
Here’s the twist: when it went up, the tower stood about 400 feet from the high tide line. Sand built up around the jetties over the years, and today the ocean is roughly 3,000 feet away. The lighthouse didn’t move. The beach did.
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How the climb works
Climbing costs $5 per person, and you’ll need to be at least 5 years old and 40 inches tall. Pets can’t make the trip, and kids can’t be carried up, so little ones need to manage the stairs themselves.
This fall, the tower is open Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in October. In November it’s the same days and hours, with tours on the hour. From December through January, it drops to weekends by appointment only.
The staircase is a tight spiral of metal steps, so I’d wear shoes with real grip and skip the flip-flops. And honestly, a gray, moody fall day is the best time to be up there. The Pacific looks its most dramatic when the weather’s doing something.
Make a day of it in Westport
The lighthouse sits about a block from Westport Light State Park, which has an accessible concrete boardwalk trail running along the beach. Stay on the marked paths, since the dunes and sand cliffs here are unstable.
If you stop at the Westport Maritime Museum first, show proof of your visit at the lighthouse to get $1 off each climber. For surf spots, the marina, and the rest of the town, check out our guide to things to do in Westport.
So, are you the type to stay at the bottom and take the photo, or will you take all 135 steps? Tell us which camp you’re in.
Trip tips: grab a rental car to get out here, lock in your hotel before the good rooms are gone, or skip both and book a camper van instead.
Rules and fees change — always confirm current requirements before you go.
