Located only 90 minutes from Portland, this stunning beachside town is the perfect escape during those hot summer weeks when even the AC can’t keep up.
Imagine spending the day strolling along the beach with your toes in the sand while towering sea stacks stand tall over the beach. Or wandering through a lush old-growth forest to a viewpoint where you can look out over the Pacific at a lighthouse that still stands strong despite decades of withstanding the worst weather the ocean can throw at it. Or instead, perhaps strolling through an artsy town filled with whimsical paintings produced by talented artists from around the Pacific Northwest.
Well, this can all be done in the town of Cannon Beach.
Known as Portland’s favorite weekend getaway, Cannon Beach certainly takes the cake as the most popular destination town on the entire coast.
During summer weeks when the temperatures are scorching in the valley you can rest assured that you’ll be joining a long line of cars making the pilgrimage out to the cooling relief of the coast.
But that isn’t the only time to visit, and sitting on the beach isn’t the only thing to do here, so let’s take a look at some of the best things to do in this idyllic oceanside town.
Things to Do in Cannon Beach
Explore the Beach
While sitting on the wide sandy beach at Cannon Beach isn’t the only thing to do in town, it is still one of the best. With miles of sand between Ecola and Oswald West state parks, there is no shortage of space to spread out.
Even though the surf of the Pacific Ocean tends to remain cold year-round, that typically doesn’t deter the littles from heading out and playing in the crashing waves.
If you really want a fun adventure, bring your fat bike. It will allow you to float along the top of the sand and explore the nearly uninhabited stretches of beach to the south of town.
Tidepool Around Haystack Rock
Haystack Rock stands in the pounding surf as an iconic landmark over the town of Cannon Beach. But when the tide goes out the shores around the rock turn into the perfect place for exploring.
Here, you can explore hundreds of tide pools and the base of Haystack Rock itself in search of sea anemones, sea stars, crabs, tiny fish, and maybe even an octopus!
Keep an eye on the ocean as the tide comes back in just as fast as it retreated. The last thing you want to do is walk back with wet feet (or worse!) after getting stuck on a rock.
The best time to tide pool is during minus tides, so check those tide tables before you head out to find the ideal time to explore the area.
Walk through the Woods at Ecola State Park
Just to the north of town sits the expansive Ecola State Park.
This lush preserve of old-growth forests, hidden beaches, and miles of hiking trails is the perfect way to escape the crowds and find a little slice of beachside paradise that doesn’t feel quite as touristy as nearby Cannon Beach.
The small parking lots in the park can fill up early during summer weekends, but this helps maintain a peaceful, uncrowded setting.
Don’t miss the hike up to the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse Viewpoint, where you can try to imagine what life was like for the light keepers working on the remote rock that is home to Terrible Tilly.
Explore the Art Galleries in Town
Cannon Beach has a reputation as being one of the best art towns in all of Oregon. With its steady stream of visitors the town is able to support and promote artists from all over the state and is home to one of most unique art festivals in the region.
Every November, during a time when you might expect the coast to otherwise be a bit of a ghost town, Cannon Beach roars to life with the Stormy Weather Art Festival.
During this weekend event, you can usually expect not-so-great (maybe even stormy) weather, but that’s ok as the galleries around town open their doors and keep everyone entertained with artist demonstrations, meet-and-greets, and live music to fight off the fall blues.
Other art events throughout the year include the Spring Unveiling Arts Festival and the Earth & Ocean Festival.
Explore Hug Point
Hug Point State Recreation Area sits just south of town and is an incredibly fun place to explore.
Here you can explore sea caves carved into the cliffs, round the point at low tide (just be careful not to get stranded by the incoming tide!) to tide pool and enjoy secluded stretches of beach, and even find evidence of the old stage coach road that ran right along the beach before the highway was built!
When the tide is coming in you’ll quickly see why this area is named Hug Point as you’ll be hugging the rocks you try to to make your way back to the parking lot.
