Haystack Rock and Cannon Beach in Oregon, USA

Last updated on 6 July 2024

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We visited Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach

Not only is Cannon Beach a beautiful, sweeping beach that seems to go on forever, but the rock formations are spectacular.

One a trip to Cannon Beach (actually my second!), we made sure we took a wander along the sandy beach, down to Haystack Rock, which is the largest of the rocks just off the coast.

It towers over its siblings in the waters of the Pacific Ocean and makes quite the picturesque beach scene. Being on the West Coast, the sun sets along the watery horizon, the rocks standing out in stark contrast, and … well, hopefully you get the idea…you need to visit.

Cannon Beach Town

But as well as natural beauty, the township of Cannon Beach is possibly one of the sweetest I’ve ever been to, and I’ve been to many an English Cotswold village.

The gingerbread-like buildings and behind their doors are sweet shops with rows of candy, book stores, both with dusty used spines and those with fresh new ones; there are art galleries and Christmas-every-day shops. It’s a mini wonderland of magic.

I hear it’s teeming with visitors in the summer months, all eager to spend their days on the sand, drinking coffee and dining out in the pub-like restaurants that the town has.

Both times I’ve been to Cannon Beach have been in the off-season, spring and autumn/fall. Neither time, therefore, has been very busy, but there’s still a certain hustle and bustle of the locals going about their business, and those keen road trippers venturing up and down the west coast.

Our stay this time in Cannon Beach lasted just one night, but it was enough to do all the things we wanted to do. One of the things we did this time that I didn’t get to do the last time I was there was take the car up to Ecola State Park, which overlooks the ocean and the township in the distance.

It was beautiful up there, and we were even lucky enough to have some elk emerge from the forest and just wander around. Very cool!

Have you wanted to visit Cannon Beach? Or perhaps somewhere else along that coastline?

Let me know, especially if you have any tips, tricks or hot spots for others to check out!