A headland, a tide table, and no schedule at all
Cannon Beach, Oregon · 3 nights · May–October · up to 6
The whole town runs on the tide table, and once you accept that, the trip plans itself. Low water is when Haystack Rock has tide pools around its base and Hug Point has a beach at all; high water is when you eat. Ecola State Park is the headland above the town and the walk out to the point is short enough to do twice. Three nights is right — the drive from Portland is under two hours and the town is four blocks wide.
The ending
A grass point on a headland above a mile of empty beach, sea stacks standing off it, and fog that is either arriving or leaving because those are the only two states it has.
That is Ecola Point. See how private it is and when it’s open, or build the rest of the trip around it.
Do
- Ecola State Park Hiking
- Haystack Rock Tide Pool Exploration
- Hug Point Beach Day
- Cannon Beach Cooking Class
Eat
- Newman's at 988
- Stephanie Inn Dining Room
Stay
- Stephanie Inn
- Surfsand Resort
What if it rains?
It will. This coast is worth more in weather than out of it, and the cooking class exists for the afternoon that does not let up.
Ecola Point or Haystack Rock?
Ecola for the moment, Haystack for the day. The rock is the postcard and there are people standing in front of it; the headland is a five-minute drive and mostly cars passing through.