Cannon Beach, OR Summary

photo by yipper

Cannon Beach has a population of 1,220 and is 25 miles south of the Washington border, off US-101. It has a 31⁄2-mile white-sand beach, which is punctuated midway by Haystack Rock, the third-largest coastal monolith in the world. The beach is vast and expansive, with rugged coastal outcroppings combining with superb ocean vistas to always provide a visual and sensory treat.

Cannon Beach also has a vibrant artistic community and is a town designed for walking. The exploration and discovery of its many art galleries, bookshops, and fine restaurants is a popular pedestrian activity. Strict building codes have helped Cannon Beach maintain its earthy, rustic appearance.

Haystack Rock is an inspiration for all visitors to Cannon Beach and for those who live there, ever changing with the seasons and always in the foreground of Cannon Beach’s stunning sunsets. At 235 feet, it is the beach’s centerpiece and one of the most popular attractions on the Oregon coast.

A designated marine and bird sanctuary, its tidal pools are home to a diverse collection of starfish, crabs, anemone, and limpets. Several species of birds nest on Haystack Rock in the summer, including the colorful and unusual tufted puffin, which has a white face, orange bill, and tufts of feathers above the eyes.

Cannon Beach’s status as a marine garden means the removal of any life forms within a 985-foot radius is forbidden, as is climbing above the barnacle line onto the rock.

Ecola State Park is located just north of the city limits, offering fabulous views of the beach, Haystack Rock, and back along the coast north to Tillamook Rock Lighthouse. The park’s magnificent scenery makes it a favorite spot for weddings and special gatherings with its acres of forest, grass, and hiking trails. The park is open during the day only.

The world’s tallest Sitka spruce is located in an old-growth fir and spruce forest a few miles from Cannon Beach, in Klootchy Creek Park. It is 216 feet high and 52 feet in circumference, and more than 700 years old.

Each November the Stormy Weather Arts Festival celebrates the more unpredictable winter storms and mists that swirl around Haystack Rock and sweep in off the coast. Writers, singers, composers, painters, sculptors, and magicians emerge from their homes and join together for a festival of theater, poetry, and art.

Cannon Beach’s famous Sandcastle Contest is held every June and draws competitors from all around the world. It is said to have begun when a tsunami washed out the bridge into Cannon Beach in 1964 leaving the residents stranded with little to do. It has grown to become one of the largest sand-building contests on the West Coast.

There are many excellent restaurants in wonderful locations and after-dinner sunset walks on the beach are very popular.

Astoria Regional Airport is about 20 miles north of Cannon Beach, along US-101, Portland International Airport is about 70 miles southeast, and buses service the area.