Cannon Beach, Oregon

One of Oregon’s most famous landmarks, Haystack Rock is a 235-foot monolith formed millions of years ago by lava flows that have formed many of surrounding capes and headlands on the Oregon Coast. Forming part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, the famous rock and its sea and landscapes are designated a National Wildlife Refuge and Marine Garden, and home to a wealth of marine and wildlife, including puffins other seabirds, sea stars, crabs, nudibranchs, and invertebrates. Haystack Rock can be reached and climbed at low tide and is surrounded by many tidal pools to explore.

Cannon Beach, OR

Home to nine miles of secluded dog-friendly beaches, sloping dunes, charming lighthouses, and towering forests, Cannon Beach’s breathtaking beauty has been inspiring creativity for decades. From Haystack Rock to the waterfalls at Hug Point, this lovely north coast town boasts a good selection of art galleries, as well as luxurious oceanfront lodging, cozy restaurants, and little boutiques. Explore the many art galleries and eclectic shops in town, or take in the vibrant, artistic ambiance that emanates throughout the city with a performance at the local community theater. Stroll along miles of pristine shoreline with your dog as you watch resident wildlife and birds in their natural habitat or discover local marine life at the tidal pool at the Hug Point Recreation Site, just five miles south of Cannon Beach.

2741 Pacific St, Cannon Beach, OR, 97110

For hikers and photographers

Stretching nine miles along the beautiful Oregon coastline, Ecola State Park is a small park perched on Tillamook Head overlooking the famous Cannon Beach, which was made famous in the Hollywood films, The Goonies and Point Break. The park can be explored by driving the scenic Ecola Park Road, which winds its way through pristine landscapes of old-growth rainforest and lush spruce forest, secluded coves, and grassy bluffs overlooking its stunning beaches. The park’s main attractions include Indian Beach, Ecola Point, which doubles as a lookout point and a trailhead for the Lighthouse Trail, and several hiking trails with breathtaking vistas. The park is home to a diverse array of birds and wildlife, ranging from herds of Roosevelt elk, bald eagles, and migrating grey whales.

84318 Ecola Park Road, Seaside, Cannon Beach, OR 97110, Phone: 800-551-6949

Hug Point State Recreation Site is a 43-acre recreation site flanked by the Ecola and Oswald West State Parks that offers a wealth of amenities and outdoor recreational activities. Named for the eponymous Hug Point, which was an infamous corner along the coastline that late 19th century stagecoaches had to ‘hug’ to get around it at low tide, the park offers an array of fun things to do from picnicking and hiking to sunbathing, swimming, beachcombing, and fishing. Located five miles south of Cannon Beach and just north of Arch Cape, the Hug Point State Recreation Site is open to the public and fee-free.

Arch Cape, OR 97102, Phone: 800-551-6949

Situated along a dramatic section of coastline with towering cliffs that drop dramatically to the sea, Oswald West State Park is a 2,448-acre state park with spectacular natural landscapes, beautiful white sandy beaches, and a network of hiking trails. The park is home to lush rainforests, grassy meadows, babbling creeks, and waterfalls, as well as the powder-white Short Sand Beach, which offers excellent swimming, sunbathing, beachcombing, picnicking, and hiking. Attractions in the park include Neahkahnie Mountain, which boasts beautiful views, Cape Falcon, and a secluded cove bordered by cliffs known as Devil’s Cauldron.

Oswald West State Park, Arch Cape, OR 97102, Phone: 800-551-6949

Resting high atop a sea stack of basalt more than a mile off the banks of Oregon’s North Coast, the infamous Tillamook Rock Lighthouse is a legendary Cannon Beach attraction. Nicknamed ‘Terrible Tilly’ due to its torrid history, the now-deactivated lighthouse was commissioned in 1878 and took more than 500 days to finish. The lighthouse earned its ominous nickname due to the stormy seas that can whip up around the lighthouse during erratic weather conditions and creating a dangerous commute for both keepers and suppliers, many of whom were killed on their journey to the lighthouse. Today, the lighthouse, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is privately owned and closed to the public.

Cannon Beach, OR 97110

Attractions for Couples

The Coaster Theatre is a non-profit community theatre that produces and presents a variety of plays and performances for residents and visitors of all ages. The historic site on which the theater is built was established in the 1920s as the Coaster Roller Rink and operated as a fun gathering place for the local community until the 1950s. Portland patron of the arts, Maurie Clark, bought the building in 1972 and founded the Coaster Theatre Playhouse, which has been creating and sharing a plethora of plays, musicals, dance recitals and special performances by talented local artists and musicians ever since.

108 N Hemlock St, Cannon Beach, OR 97110, Phone: 503-436-1242

Tolovana Beach State Recreation Site is a state park located on the oceanfront on the south end of Cannon Beach that is home to beautiful sandy beaches, wind-swept landscapes, and local fauna and flora. Boasting incredible views of Haystack Rock and the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, the park offers an array of outdoor recreational activities, including hiking, beachcombing, sunbathing, swimming, and exploring the tidal pools along the coast. The 235-foot Haystack Rock can be reached and climbed at low tide and is surrounded by many tidal pools to explore, and the famous Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, known as ‘Terrible Tilly,’ is often battered by the wave during stormy weather and offers amazing views.

Tolovana Park, OR 97145, Phone: 800-551-6949

The Cannon Beach History Center and Museum is a small museum dedicated to the history of Cannon Beach and the residents who have called it home for the past 70 years. Established over ten years ago, the museum features interactive exhibits, rotating and traveling exhibits that highlight a collection of historical artifacts and memorabilia of all kinds about the history of the area. Notable features of the museum include the cannon after which the town is named, a replica of a Native American Longhouse, and a collection of old photographs showing residents, and visitors at play. The museum offers a variety of educational programs and field trips, workshops, and free lectures, and is open Wednesday through Monday.

1387 S Spruce St, Cannon Beach, OR 97110, Phone: 503-436-9301

Located on the second level of Sandpiper Square in the heart of downtown Cannon Beach, the Jeffrey Hull Gallery is dedicated exclusively to the coastal artworks of local artist, Jeffrey Hull. A resident of the artistic community of Cannon Beach and primarily self-taught, Hull began his painting career over 40 years ago and studied under three renowned watercolor painters from the Northwest in the early 70s. Hull is best known for his ability to capture the beauty and mood of places where water joins land in soft, subtle watercolors and large format. In later years, he added oils to his painting repertoire, and his works are now exclusively displayed in his spacious gallery.

172 N Hemlock St, Cannon Beach, OR 97110, Phone: 503-436-2600