Haystack Rock & Marine Garden
The Iconic Sea Stack
At 235 feet tall, Haystack Rock is the defining feature of Cannon Beach. Accessible at low tide, the surrounding Marine Garden is a protected habitat where you can observe sea stars, giant green anemones, purple sea urchins, limpets, and hermit crabs in their natural environment. Haystack Rock Awareness Program (HRAP) volunteers are on the beach during low tides to answer questions and protect the ecosystem.
Full Haystack Rock GuidePuffin Watching
Tufted puffins are one of the Pacific Northwest's most beloved seabirds, and Haystack Rock is one of the most accessible places to see them. Every April, puffins return to their burrows on the upper rocky ledges of Haystack Rock and the surrounding sea stacks to raise their chicks. The season runs through August, with peak activity from May through July.
The distinctive tufted puffin has a black body, white face, bright orange bill, and yellow-golden plumes above the eyes in breeding plumage. They're hard to miss — and fun to watch as they take off and land clumsily from the rocky ledges. Binoculars strongly recommended.
Ecola State Park
Just north of Cannon Beach, Ecola State Park offers some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in the Pacific Northwest. Old-growth Sitka spruce forests cascade down to dramatic sea cliffs, and hiking trails wind through the lush green canopy to reveal panoramic ocean views, sea stacks, and the distant Tillamook Rock Lighthouse.
- →Indian Beach — a remote, stunning cove accessible by trail
- →Tillamook Head Trail — 6-mile round trip with dramatic views
- →Ecola Point Viewpoint — easiest access to sweeping panoramas
- →Day-use parking fee applies; arrive early in summer
Art Galleries & the Sandcastle Festival
Cannon Beach has nurtured an arts community since the 1960s. Hemlock Street, the main drag through town, is lined with galleries showcasing painting, sculpture, photography, and crafts from Oregon and Pacific Northwest artists. The quality is genuinely high — this isn't souvenir-shop art.
The annual Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest, held each June, transforms the beach into an open-air sculpture park. Professional and amateur teams construct elaborate castles, animals, and sculptures that draw thousands of visitors. It's one of the oldest and most prestigious sandcastle competitions on the West Coast.
Outdoor Activities
Surfing & Beach
Cannon Beach gets swells from the Pacific, and while it's not a surf mecca, the breaks at the north and south ends of the beach are fun in the right conditions. Several shops rent boards and wetsuits. The wide, dramatic beach is also perfect for kite flying and long walks.
Horseback Riding
Several outfitters offer guided horseback rides on the beach and through Ecola State Park. Riding at sunset with Haystack Rock in the background is a genuinely special experience. Book in advance for summer weekends.
Wildlife Watching
Beyond puffins, Cannon Beach is home to harbor seals, sea lions, bald eagles, and grey whales (during migration in spring and fall). The rocks south of Haystack Rock are a good spot for watching harbor seals haul out. Binoculars are your best friend here.