A Tour of Cannon Beach, Oregon

One of the most trendy, coveted, coastal communities in the state of Oregon is Cannon Beach. The scenic beauty of the rock cropping monoliths on-and-offshore, including the famed “Haystack” rock, will make your beach strolls and photographs unlike none other.

Cannon Beach is nine miles wide and has the most pristine beach I’ve ever seen…in many areas, not even a sign of sea debris—just miles of smooth sandy beach…with the occasional dune. You can fly a kite, watch sea creatures in the tide-pools or just relax on the beach.

Cannon Beach was named for a cannon that was discovered on the beach from an old Navy schooner that wrecked while attempting to leave the Columbia River in the mid 1800s. However, the first recordings of the area date as far back as 1806 when William Clark, of the Lewis and Clark expedition set foot. As a matter of fact, there is a viewpoint called “Clark’s Point” which can be accessed by hiking a trail from Indian Beach in the Ecola State Park.

There is a vibrant art scene in Cannon Beach, with a number of wonderful galleries and culinary choices. And, the city is certainly setup for strolling; visitors will enjoy the quaint bookstores, shops and bistros.

The iconic symbol of Cannon Beach, Haystack Rock, is a diverse ecosystem and is a vital habitat for an abundance of seabirds—thus climbing and exploring are not allowed, however enjoyment can still be had at a distance.

For hikers, there are many trails to the water through the thick conifer forests of Ecola State Park. Ecola Point, near Ecola State Park, has a viewpoint and picnic area where you can see the panorama of Cannon Beach, Haystack Rock and the coastal range. This spectacular view is one of the most photographed on the Oregon coast. A two mile trail connects Ecola Point to the horseshoe-shaped Indian Beach, and a six mile trail leads to Tillamook Head (and yes, “Tillamook” is the name of the well known cheese…the factory is about an hour south of Cannon Beach).

There are a number of great restaurants to choose from while in Cannon Beach, one even made the Mike’s Road Trip Best of 2010 list, the EVOO Cooking School. If you want to treat yourself to an outstanding meal, you simple must try the EVOO Dinner Show, it’s unlike anything you’ve experienced before. I also had dinner at a really cool place with an eclectic menu called, “Sweet Basil’s Cafe,” I would definitely recommend it and they have pretty modest prices too.

If you’re looking for a place to stay while in Cannon Beach, there are a lot of great options, however few have a better location right on the beach than The Ocean Lodge, which is where I stayed. Here are a few others:B&B Inns, Seaside Oregon, Seaside OR, B&B’s. Bed and Breakfasts, Seaside OR

If you’d like to see more of my pictures of Cannon Beach, click here. If you are from Cannon Beach or have visited, please post a comment with some of your favorite activities and/or places. If you enjoyed this post with video, please hit the “like” button below and share with your friends and family.