Bottom Line:
Cannon Beach, OR is ~45 minutes south of the Astoria bridge linking Washington and Oregon states over the mouth of the Columbia River. Having done a number of area hikes on both sides of the border in the past few days (Ecola State Park, Cape Disappointment, Kalaloch Beach) we spent our last day hiking to Hug Point and enjoying sunset at Cannon Beach. This beach is popular for good reason - beautiful sand, surf, sea stacks and the iconic Haystack Rock. Sunset was truly magical. Not as warm as summer but certainly a lot less busy!
Stats:
- Distance: ~4 miles; all beach walking; much longer distances possible
- Duration: ~2-1/2 hours
- Road/Parking: Hug Point State Park is ~5 miles south of Cannon Beach on Hwy 101 with a medium-sized lot mere steps from the beach; an Oregon State Park pass is required, or one can get a day pass from the kiosk, which accepts credit cards; Cannon Beach is very long with multiple access points - we parked "downtown", with easy beach access, and walked from there.
- Weather: Sunny with cloudy periods; 40Fs; light wind
- Trail: From the Hug Point parking lot, head north (right) to find a waterfall and set of caves ~0.5 miles up the beach (see video); the waterfall would be very photogenic at sunset, but we had our sights set on Haystack Rock! From Cannon Beach "downtown", hike south to Haystack Rock ~1 mile, and then as far south down the beach as you like. Hard-packed sand makes for easy walking at low tide. The park rangers are setup around Haystack Rock protecting the tidal pools and nesting sites from overzealous tourists that might be tempted to climb all over the rock. Starfish and sea anemone can be found in the pools.
- Takeaway: Beautiful spot and certainly an icon of the Oregon coast. Unlike Seaside, Cannon Beach is fairly small and quaint, so it does not feel overrun - at least in the winter! Tufted Puffins nest on the rock during the summer months, but it was a bit early today. Would love to come back and see them!
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