Headed to the Pacific Northwest and looking for a great spot on the coast? Then you have to check out Cannon Beach, Oregon! Cannon Beach is a very popular coastal town in the Pacific Northwest region. Most recognized for Haystack Rock, this beach town should be added to your PNW road trip itinerary. To be honest, although it is the beach, you may not always be greeted with sunny warm beach weather you may be used to finding further south in California. You are in the Pacific Northwest after all. We spent two nights in this area in July. The first night was sunny, but still chilly, and the second night was cloudy, gloomy and yes, chilly.
Although the weather may not always be reliable, Cannon Beach still won’t disappoint with it’s stunning views and dramatic coastline. Alright, let’s get you to the beach!
Getting to Cannon Beach
Cannon Beach is located about 80 miles west of Portland, Oregon so it is relatively easy to access for both locals and tourists. If you are flying, the closest airport is Portland International Airport. If you do not have a car, you can catch one of the two buses that travels between Portland & Cannon Beach each day. To purchase tickets, you can go through Greyhound or Amtrak. You can also fly into Seattle International Airport, then you would have about a 4 hour drive to Cannon Beach.
As one of the best beaches in Oregon, it is definitely a spot you can’t pass by. As with most beaches, the best time to visit is during the summer. If you are wanting warmer weather and less chance for rain, I would recommend visiting between July and September.
There are several things to explore and discover in Cannon Beach. From local shops, galleries, parks, beach campfires and surfing, there is something for every type of traveler. Cannon Beach is also a great spot to unwind, slow down and just relax from your busy life.
The most visited attraction in Cannon Beach is Haystack Rock. If you are wanting to snap some Pixel Perfect photos of Haystack Rock, there are a few things to consider.
Getting to Haystack Rock
The first piece of the puzzle is how to actually access Haystack Rock. This unique rock is right on the beach and can be seen from many different vantage points. If you are wanting to get right up close and personal with Haystack Rock, I recommend parking along South Hemlock Street. Just be sure to pay attention to parking and residence signs so you don’t come back from the beach with a parking ticket. There is a free small parking area near Haystack Lane and E Chena Street.
Once you park, you are going to want to find a set of stairs off of the street between Forest Lawn Road and Viewpoint Terrace. The stairs lead you down a path between houses and take you to the beach right in front of Haystack Rock. Another option is to find parking along the beach and walk along to water until you reach Haystack Rock, you can’t miss it!
When to Visit Haystack Rock
The other thing you will want to consider is the time of day to take your Pixel Perfect photo. Depending on what type of photo you are aiming for, will definitely determine the time of day you visit.
If you are wanting to capture your shot during sunset and you are visiting in the summer months, you will want to set up on the beach south of Haystack Rock to capture your photo. Also, keep in mind the sun sets quicker in the summer months. If you are visiting in the winter months hoping to capture the sunset, then you will want to set up east of the Rock.
As always for any sunset photo, you want to be sure you arrive with plenty of time before sunset to set up your camera and any other gear you may have. It also is beneficial to show up early because unless you have a secure parking spot, you never know how far you might have to walk to your photo location.
BE FLEXIBLE! You may have the perfect plan to capture your Pixel Perfect photo of Haystack Rock at sunset. You figured out where to park, where to set up your camera and what time to catch the sun go down. But the thing we can’t always plan for is the weather. If your travel plans are not flexible and you only planned a day or two to be in this area, you can’t always guarantee the weather is going to cooperate.
I was that person. I researched everything and was ready to get a picture of Haystack Rock like the ones I saw when researching this beautiful spot. Guess what? The night I had planned to take sunset photos during our PNW road trip, it was misty, cold, windy and gloomy. So all that to say, you are in the PNW and sometimes weather doesn’t allow things to go according to plan. However, you can still get some great shots, they might just be different than you envisioned.
Tides
One thing I didn’t realize before visiting, was how vastly different the world around Haystack Rock changes depending on the tide. Most of the time, water is surrounding the Rock and you are advised not to walk or swim near Haystack. You can view the amazing structure from more of a distance. However, when it is low tide you are introduced to a whole new world of marine life around Haystack Rock.
March through October the Haystack Rock Awareness Program is set up to help educate and show beachgoers what they are seeing. They set up barriers to encourage people not to disturb the marine life. Even during the months they are not there, I encourage you to continue to not disturb the ecosystem. At low tide, you can get up close and personal with Haystack Rock and capture it from a different perspective. Check out tide information here!
So if you are able to, stick around and snap some photos of Haystack Rock when the tide is in and at low tide.
Places to Visit Near Cannon Beach
Seaside, Oregon
Seaside is a fun beach town a couple of miles north of Cannon Beach full of shops, restaurants and plenty of coastline to play on the beach. When comparing Seaside and Cannon Beach, I would definitely say Seaside airs more on the tourist side but we found accommodations to be cheaper in Seaside compared to Cannon Beach.
Ecola State Park
Ecola State Park was a hidden gem that offered one of my favorite views of the Oregon coast. There was no fee to enter the park, however you had to pay a small hourly fee to park. There are several hiking trails in the park, some even leading down to the beach. If you are just looking for a great view, you can park and walk a short distance to a couple different vantage points of the ocean. One allows you to look down the coast with the lush green mountains and whitecaps crashing on the beach. You can even spy Haystack Rock! If you continue to walk around the path, you will come to another overlook that looks over the vast Pacific Ocean and has a great view of the Tillamook Lighthouse. The Tillamook Lighthouse is no longer active but has been deemed a historical landmark.
Tillamook, Oregon
Tillamook is a very small town that is home to Tillamook Creamery. You can take a free tour of the creamery and get some samples of their cheese. The best part of the visit… the ice cream! I recommend getting 3 scoops so you can try even more flavors. The wait for ice cream can be long, especially in the summer, but it was worth the wait. The Creamery also has a couple of food court style restaurants offering lunch options and a gift shop where you can find both edible and non edible souvenirs.
If you are looking for more travel tips and inspiration in this area, check out our other Pacific Northwest posts. Love the photos you see? Check out the photography tab and find your favorite print! If you found this post helpful, be sure to share it with your friends.
Happy Exploring!
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