NORTH COAST • OREGON COAST CITY GUIDE
Cannon Beach, Oregon
Cannon Beach is a small North Coast town with a huge visual identity: Haystack Rock, long sandy beaches, forested headlands, tidepools and a walkable arts-focused village.
HISTORY & CHARACTER
A little Cannon Beach history
The community was originally called Elk Creek. Its modern name traces to a cannon from the U.S. Navy schooner Shark, which wrecked at the mouth of the Columbia River in 1846. A cannon from the wreck later washed ashore south of town, and the name Cannon Beach eventually stuck.
Cannon Beach developed as a coastal destination while retaining a small-scale village feel. The town’s galleries, public art and long-running Sandcastle Contest reflect a creative community identity that sits naturally beside the area’s much older natural landmarks.
The surrounding headlands also connect the town to the Lewis and Clark story. In 1806, William Clark and members of the Corps of Discovery crossed what is now Ecola State Park while searching for a beached whale.
DID YOU KNOW?
Haystack Rock is alive with wildlife
Haystack Rock rises about 235 feet above the beach and is part of a National Wildlife Refuge. Its tidepools protect colorful intertidal life, and tufted puffins nest on the rock in spring and early summer.
LANDMARKS • SCENERY • EXPERIENCES
Things to see & do in Cannon Beach
Most of Cannon Beach’s best experiences are outdoors and close together, making it easy to mix beach time, wildlife watching and forest walks in one day.
01
Haystack Rock & tidepools
Visit at low tide to see sea stars, anemones and other intertidal life around the base of Cannon Beach’s famous sea stack. Keep a respectful distance from wildlife and nesting areas.
02
Ecola State Park
Drive or hike through Sitka spruce forest to ocean overlooks, Indian Beach and trail segments with views of offshore rocks and Tillamook Rock Lighthouse.
03
Hug Point
South of town, this shoreline stop combines a beach, seasonal waterfall, sandstone cliffs and remnants of an old roadway carved into the rock.
04
Downtown art & village streets
Cannon Beach’s compact center is known for galleries, public art and a pedestrian-friendly village atmosphere that feels distinct from a larger resort town.
Around Cannon Beach
Cannon Beach, Oregon coastline near Haystack Rock. Photo via Pexels.
Haystack Rock at sunset in Cannon Beach, Oregon. Photo by Jennyfromtlock via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).
NATURE & WILDLIFE
Wildlife to watch for
Look for Roosevelt elk in meadows and forest edges, bald eagles overhead, harbor seals offshore and gray whales during migration. Haystack Rock supports nesting seabirds, including tufted puffins in season, while its protected tidepools contain sea stars, anemones, mussels and other marine life.
SEASONAL WEATHER
What the weather feels like
Typical daytime high / overnight low ranges. Coastal weather can change quickly, so treat these as seasonal guideposts rather than a forecast.
Spring
Highs about 53–60°F • lows 40–46°F
Summer
Highs about 62–68°F • lows 49–54°F
Fall
Highs about 56–65°F • lows 44–52°F
Winter
Highs about 48–53°F • lows 38–43°F
OREGON ON SCREEN
Cannon Beach on Screen
Ecola Point and Indian Beach have played memorable roles in The Goonies, Point Break, Twilight and Kindergarten Cop. The headlands, forest and open Pacific views make the area instantly cinematic.
The film-trail signs at Ecola State Park identify several locations. Check current park conditions before visiting, stay on marked trails and give wildlife plenty of space.
Photo: Casey Helton, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
GOOD TO KNOW
Practical tips for Cannon Beach
Check the tide table
Low tide opens access to tidepools and wider stretches of beach. Rising water can cut off rocks and coves, so keep track of the ocean while exploring.
Expect busy parking
Summer weekends and holidays can fill downtown parking quickly. Arriving earlier in the day makes beach access and Ecola State Park easier.
Keep wildlife wild
Haystack Rock is protected habitat. Stay off closed areas, avoid touching tidepool animals and give elk plenty of room if they appear near town.
LOCAL HISTORY • CULTURE • STRANGE & TRUE STORIES
Stories from Cannon Beach
Fresh stories connected to Cannon Beach appear here automatically when they are tagged Cannon Beach-blog.
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THE COAST KEEPS GOING
Explore more of the Oregon Coast
Keep traveling town by town for more local history, viewpoints, beaches, wildlife and stories from communities up and down the coast.