17 Best Things to Do in Cannon Beach, Oregon

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

© Coaster Theatre

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

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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

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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

© Jeffrey Hull Gallery

Located on the second level of Sandpiper Square in the heart of downtown Cannon Beach, the Jeffery 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

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Located in the Cannon Beach Mall, the Imprint Gallery is a fine art gallery that showcases a collection of works by regional, national and international artists. Spread over two floors, the museum exhibits a variety of mixed media ranging from paintings and ceramics to sculptures on the first floor and original prints and the art of printmaking on the second floor. A gallery and a studio can also be found on the second floor and the museum hosts art classes and printmaking demonstrations to visitors throughout the year.

183 N Hemlock St, Cannon Beach, OR 97110, Phone: 503-436-4466

© Lost Art of Nursing Museum

The Lost Art of Nursing Museum honors the ‘lost art’ of nursing and celebrates the vocation throughout history. Housed in the home of Melodie and Gary Chenevert in Tolovana Park, the museum showcases when nursing was celebrated and when it was bold, noble, and patriotic to be a nurse. It features an array of exhibits showcasing fine reproductions of vintage artwork that captured nurses at work, books, and magazines with nurses as cover girls and advice columns written by nurses, as well as pins, posters, buttons, and greeting cards. The museum also houses an outstanding collection of Red Cross and wartime posters, poems, advertisements, sheet music and other memorabilia celebrating nurses.

3285 S Hemlock St, Cannon Beach, OR 97103, Phone: 301-208-8060

© Vintage Viaje

Vintage Viaje is an eclectic store that sells a unique selection of home décor and vintage clothing that has been carefully sourced from around the world. The locally owned store is a favorite spot for locals who want to find something special from handmade jewelry to one-of-a-kind items of clothing and a variety of unusual home décor. The store has a wealth of items from around the globe with a focus on items from Guatemala and other countries in Latin America.

247 N Hemlock St, Cannon Beach, OR 97110, Phone: 503-217-4422

© Newmans at 988

Located on Hemlock Street and helmed by award-winning chef John Newman, Newmans at 988 is a fine-dining restaurant that serves classic French Italian cuisine with a distinct focus on Genoa and the Piedmont region in Italy. Housed in a cozy converted beachside cottage with just ten tables, elegant décor, soft lighting, and a chic, intimate ambiance, Newmans at 988 serves an á la carte or an ever-changing prix fixe menu featuring exquisite farm-to-fork dishes like lobster ravioli with hazelnut sauce, chicken marsala pasta, and crispy crab cakes. The cuisine is accompanied by a hand-curated selection of fine wines and spirits from around the world, and the restaurant is open for dinner only, Tuesday through Sunday.

Newmans at 988, 988 Hemlock Street, Cannon Beach, OR, Phone: 503-436-1151

© Pelican Brewing Company

The Pelican Brewing Company is an airy and spacious craft brewpub that produces year-round, rotating taps, large-batch draft series, barrel-aged collections, and limited-edition vault brews. The locally owned and operated brewery was founded in Pacific City in 1996 and has become a craft beer industry leader with several pubs and tasting rooms around the state. Pelican Brewing Company offers guided brewery tours and tastings and serves gourmet pub fare in a laid-back atmosphere with both indoor and outdoor patio seating. Pelican Brewing Company is open for lunch, dinner, and tastings, daily.

1371 S Hemlock St, Cannon Beach, OR 97110, Phone: 503-908-3377

© Pig 'n Pancake

The Pig 'n Pancake is a classic diner chain that serves hearty homestyle breakfasts and lunch daily in a laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere. Located in a charming wooded setting with lovely views over downtown Cannon Beach, the casual restaurant serves over 35 varieties of breakfast, including homemade pancakes, waffles, egg dishes, and a range of omelets. Lunch items range from fresh salads, homemade soups and chowders, fish and chips, and vegetarian options, and the restaurant can be hired for private events and functions. The Pig 'n Pancake is open for breakfast and lunch, daily.

223 S Hemlock St, Cannon Beach, OR 97110, Phone: 503-436-2851

© EVOO Cannon Beach

EVOO Cannon Beach is all about fresh, locally sourced food made from scratch and enjoyed with friends. Owners Chef Bob Neroni and Lenore Emery-Neroni host a unique dinner show at EVOO, which includes a demonstration, a cooking lesson, and dinner all in one. The cooking and dining space at EVOO feature a fully-equipped kitchen where the chefs prepare dinner, demonstrating tricks of the trade, and giving cooking tips for diners to take home. The seasonally changing menu features a three-course meal made with freshly prepared ingredients and paired with wine and coffee at the end. EVOO Cannon Beach is open for lunch and dinner, Wednesday through Sunday.

188 S Hemlock St, Cannon Beach, OR 97110, Phone: 503-436-8555