Cannon Beach Travel Guide

Cannon Beach, Oregon is a small seaside community on the Pacific Coast.

Things to Do in Cannon Beach

The small beach town fills up in the summer with those looking for a quiet beach in the Pacific Northwest. Visit the beach to see the magical beauty up close. Cannon Beach is famous for Haystack Rock, a large rock formation rising high out of the deep blue sea in front of the shore. The beach is great for swimming or just laying out in the sand.

Take a break from the water for a day and check out the Cannon Beach History Center and Museum to learn about the area’s history or spend a day in the grass at Ecola State Park and go for a hike on one of the numerous nature trails in the park. Head out of town and make a trip to Hug Point State Recreation Site, to the south of Cannon Beach. This park is filled with trails and activities all beside the Pacific Ocean.

Best Time to Visit Cannon Beach

The best time to visit Cannon Beach is from June through September, when you’ll get the warmest and driest weather.

A Local's Guide to Cannon Beach

Vacationers searching for beach vacation rentals should look at Oregon. The small coastal city of Cannon Beach, in Clatsop County, is located in the northwest and has become a popular tourist spot for the long, sandy shore.

There are many beautiful, natural sights to see in and around Cannon Beach. And with a beach house visitors will be just minutes from the shoreline.

With only around 1,600 people living in Cannon Beach, it is a sleepy, quiet place. The town fills up in the peak summer months but still remains mostly unspoiled and full of natural beauty.

William Clark, one of the leaders of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, described Cannon Beach as the grandest and most pleasing prospects which my eyes ever surveyed, in front of a boundless Ocean. The viewpoint was called “Clark’s Point of View”.

There are plenty of rentals including features like a pool and hot tub, and are dog friendly. Hidden villa cottages are the perfect place for families and friends to spend a week or two.

Vacation rental homes in Cannon Beach are ideal to have all the comforts of home for tourists to explore the Pacific coast. Between beachfront rentals and ocean view apartments, there are beautiful places to stay in this resort.

See & Do

One of the main landmarks at Cannon Beach is Haystack Rock, home to hundreds of birds from a variety of species as well as having tide pools around the base with lots of wildlife. Tufted Puffins can also be seen from early spring to mid-summer and sea stars, anemone, limpets and crabs are found in the rock pools. The huge rock is just 235-feet from the edge of the shoreline. It was created millions of years ago after a lava flow. At low tide, beachgoers can walk up to the rock and explore it.

Haystack Rock sits in the Pacific Ocean, is part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge and is a protected area. It is also one of the seven Marine Gardens in Oregon state. This means no creatures, shells or rocks can be taken from an area of 300 yards around the rock itself.

The best time to visit the rock is around one hour before low tide as it gives beachgoers time to visit the rock and get back before the tide starts to come in. Visitors are reminded to keep a close eye on the tide and never turn their back to the ocean.

Another beauty spot to visit is Arch Cape. The community in Clatsop County is named after the arch in the coastal rocks and is just four miles south of Cannon Beach.

Beaches

A beach getaway is a perfect time to relax and enjoy nature. One of the best places to visit to see the area’s wildlife is Ecola State Park. Another of the beach towns is Arcadia Beach which has tide pools and a picnic area. Alternatively, take a trip to Hug Point to see the sea caves, boutiques and galleries. There are also lots of restaurants, bars and cafes in town Cannon Beach.

Cabins in Cannon Beach

Cannon Beach is a town surrounded by natural wonders. Haystack Rock is a permanent feature on the shoreline, waterfalls flow onto the beach at Hug Point, and there is plenty of marine life to spot in the tides pools. This small town on the Northern Oregon Coast is a delight to visit at all times of year, with tons of outdoor recreation opportunities and lovely ocean view homes.

It's hardly surprising that in 2013, National Geographic listed it as one of the 100 most beautiful places in the world. The nearby city of Tolovana Park makes for a great day trip, as does a visit to the Ecola State Park or one of the other state parks in the area.

Downtown has a huge range of art galleries, boutique shops, restaurants, and Cannon Beach vacation rentals. For views of the Pacific Ocean every morning, book a Cannon Beach cabin rental on the shore, many of which are dog-friendly. A beach house is the best type of vacation home to be close to nature, most of which come with full kitchens for your convenience. A great example of the type of rental homes available in Cannon Beach are the Hidden Villa Cottages.