Seaside, Oregon Hotel near Cannon Beach

Haystack Rock Rivertide Suites Marine Garden Hiking Trails

Nine miles of wide, walker-friendly beach beckon visitors to Cannon Beach. The scenic beauty of the offshore sea stacks and onshore headlands combine to make a most memorable stroll. Other popular pastimes include flying a kite or communing with the variety of sea creatures found in the many tide pools.

The town of Cannon Beach is known for its collection of some of the best craft stores, shops and galleries. Quaint bookstores and bistros also dot this village that is proud of its earth toned, rustic look.

How Cannon Beach got its name is an interesting story. In 1846, the U.S. Navy schooner Shark was wrecked while trying to leave the Columbia River. A large piece of the schooner’s deck with a cannon and capstan attached washed up on the beach–and the rest is history.

For more information, visit www.cannonbeach.org.

Haystack Rock. One of the main attractions at Cannon Beach is Haystack Rock. At 235 feet high, it’s the third largest coastal monolith in the world. Haystack Rock is protected as part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge as well as a designated National Wilderness Area.  [Top]

Marine Garden. The area below Haystack Rock is referred to as Marine Garden where tide pools overflow with such magical marine life as seastars, anemones, crabs and algae. Collecting, however, is prohibited and visitors need to exercise extreme caution while walking in this very special habitat.  [Top]

Hiking Trails. Many hiking trails to the water can be accessed through the forests of Ecola State Park. Ecola Point features a picnic and viewing area where you can take in the entire panorama of Cannon Beach, Haystack Rock and the Coast Range. A two-mile trail connects Ecola Point to horseshoe-shaped Indian Beach, and a six-mile trail leads to Tillamook Head.  [Top]