Skip to content
BusinessesGrow
Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach, OR

Photo: John Manard, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicOutdoor AdventureFree

Haystack Rock

On the beach, about 1.5 miles south of downtown Cannon Beach · Cannon Beach, OR

Why you should go…

Haystack Rock is a 235-foot basalt sea stack rising from the shoreline at Cannon Beach, and you can walk to its base at low tide. The tide pools hold sea stars, anemones, crabs, chitons and limpets, and they are one of Oregon's protected Marine Gardens. Tufted puffins nest on the rock from April through July. Stay on sand and bare rock, since climbing above the barnacle line is prohibited to protect wildlife.

  • #sea stack
  • #tide pools
  • #beach
  • #puffins
  • #oregon coast

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Haystack Rock, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Cannon Beach

    Free

    Chamber of commerce and visitor center for the artist beach town of Cannon Beach, Oregon.

    0.7 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Ecola State Park

    Under $25

    Hike forested headland trails to ocean bluffs, sea stacks and the tide pools and surf of Indian Beach.

    2.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Captain Kid Amusement Park

    Under $25

    Family-owned outdoor amusement park in Seaside with go karts, mini golf and a small roller coaster.

    6.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Sightseeing
    Family Favorite

    Seaside

    Free

    Official visitor bureau for the Oregon Coast town of Seaside, home to the historic beachfront Promenade.

    7.9 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Fort Clatsop

    Under $25

    Step inside a log replica of the fort where the Lewis and Clark Expedition spent the winter of 1805 to 1806.

    18 mi awayMore like this

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Columbia River Maritime Museum

    Under $25

    Oregon's official maritime museum on the Astoria waterfront, with a historic lightship and exhibits on the treacherous Columbia River Bar.

    22 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums