Cape Arago Lighthouse

Cape Arago Lighthouse is located near Charleston and Coos Bay, Oregon. The current lighthouse was constructed in 1889 and it was decommissioned in 1993. The Coast Guard removed the Fresnel lens from the tower, and placed it on display at Coast Guard Air Station North Bend. On January 1, 2006, the light was discontinued. The footbridge to the island is fenced off, as are the surrounding grounds on the mainland. As of 2009, the lighthouse is not open to the public.

This is probably the most difficult Oregon seacoast light to find, but the lighthouse can be viewed from various points along the coast south of the lighthouse. The best viewpoints maybe on the way into Shore Acres State Park. You might be able to get a closer view of the lighthouse by hiking up to the end of the bluff on the north side of the beach. However according to some accounts, these trails are not well maintained and may be quite dangerous.

In 2008, a bill was passed transferring the Cape Arago Lighthouse to the Confederated tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians. According to the legislation, the tribes must make the Light Station available to the general public for educational, park, recreational, cultural, or historic preservation purposes.

Charleston, Oregon
longitude: -124.375411, latitude: 43.341264