Haystack Rock

State: Oregon. Type: coastal sea stack, roughly 1.5 miles south of downtown Cannon Beach, Clatsop County. Height: 235 feet, composed of basalt. Designated a Marine Garden by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in 1990 and protected as part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Managed jointly with the City of Cannon Beach's Haystack Rock Awareness Program (HRAP), running since 1985. Averaged about 350,000 visitors a year as of 2023.

Haystack Rock is one of the most photographed landmarks on the Oregon Coast, a 235-foot basalt sea stack that rises directly from the sand about 1.5 miles south of downtown Cannon Beach. Formed roughly 15-17 million years ago from lava flows that once connected to the mainland, the rock has since been isolated by erosion, leaving it standing alone at the edge of the surf along with three smaller companion formations known as The Needles. At low tide, visitors can walk out across exposed tide-pool flats to view starfish, anemones, crabs, chitons and sea slugs, while the rock's upper reaches host nesting seabirds, including tufted puffins, pigeon guillemots and common murres, typically from March through September. Because of this ecological value, the site carries multiple layers of protection: it is a state-designated Marine Garden and sits within the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, with the land above the high-tide "barnacle line" closed to climbing as a wilderness sanctuary. The Haystack Rock Awareness Program stations volunteer beach interpreters on the sand during daytime low tides to answer questions and enforce tidepool etiquette, making a visit both a scenic stop and a supervised nature-education experience.

Haystack Rock sits on the beach about 1.5 miles south of downtown Cannon Beach in Clatsop County, on Oregon's North Coast, roughly 80 miles west of Portland. It is reached on foot from the beach; the closest public parking is at the corner of Hemlock Street and Gower Street beside Cannon Beach City Hall, about a 12-15 minute walk from the rock.

Cannon Beach, on Oregon's North Coast, has a mild, wet maritime climate. Winter daytime highs run around 50°F with lows near 40°F, November and December average more than 11 inches of rain each, and peak summer temperatures reach roughly 70°F in early September. Fog and changeable weather are common year-round, so layered, fast-drying clothing is recommended regardless of season.

Spring through summer (April-August) is prime time, coinciding with tufted puffins returning to nest on the rock and with the best tidepool exposure; summer also brings the driest weather. Winter visits (December-January) can bring dramatic "king tides." Because the tide pools are only accessible at low tide, timing a visit around the tide table matters more than the calendar season — a low tide of 1 foot or lower, ideally a minus tide, gives the best access.

Haystack Rock formed roughly 15-17 million years ago from basalt lava flows that reached the coast from inland sources, and was once connected to the mainland before erosion isolated it as a sea stack. In 1968 a climbing ledge on the rock was reportedly dynamited. Long a target for climbers seeking to summit the visible formation, the site's ecological importance led to formal protection: the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife designated it a Marine Garden in 1990, and it lies within the federally managed Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, with land above the high-tide line closed to public access as a bird sanctuary. The City of Cannon Beach has run the volunteer-staffed Haystack Rock Awareness Program since 1985 to help protect the site while keeping it open to visitors. In July 2023, the area was briefly closed after a cougar was documented there for the first time.

Tidepooling is the main activity: at low tide, visitors walk out onto exposed rock flats around the base to view starfish, sea anemones, crabs, chitons, limpets and sea slugs, often with an HRAP volunteer interpreter on hand to point out wildlife and explain the rules. Birdwatchers come to spot nesting tufted puffins, pigeon guillemots and common murres on the rock face, mainly March through September. Beyond the rock itself, the surrounding beach is popular for walking, kite-flying and simply photographing the formation at sunset.

The rock itself and its tide-pool flats are the central attraction, along with The Needles, three smaller adjacent sea-stack formations just south of Haystack Rock. Downtown Cannon Beach, about 1.5 miles north, has galleries, shops and additional beach access points that pair naturally with a Haystack Rock visit.

Cannon Beach is about 80 miles west of Portland via U.S. Highway 26 and U.S. Route 101, roughly a 1.5 to 2 hour drive. There is no commercial airport in Cannon Beach; visitors generally fly into Portland International Airport and drive or take a shuttle service to the coast. Once in town, Haystack Rock is reached on foot from the public beach access points near downtown.

The beach and rock are accessible at any time, but the tide pools around the base can only be reached at low tide; check a current tide table before visiting. The Haystack Rock Awareness Program's volunteer beach interpreters are on-site during daytime low tides every February through October, per the program's own site.

There is no entrance fee to visit Haystack Rock or walk the public beach. Parking at the nearest public lot (Hemlock and Gower Streets) is free, according to the Haystack Rock Awareness Program's visitor guide, though spaces fill quickly in summer.

Most visitors spend one to two hours at Haystack Rock, timed around a low tide, to walk the beach and explore the tide pools; combining the visit with a stroll through downtown Cannon Beach can extend a stop to half a day.

Downtown Cannon Beach, about 1.5 miles north of Haystack Rock, has a range of beachfront hotels, inns, and vacation rentals catering to coastal tourism, with additional lodging options along Highway 101 in and around the town. No specific properties are named here since none could be confirmed from official sources for this draft.

Cannon Beach's compact downtown, a short walk or drive from Haystack Rock, has a range of casual and sit-down restaurants, cafes and seafood spots typical of a small Oregon Coast beach town. Specific restaurant names are not included here pending confirmation from an official source.

Downtown Cannon Beach, with its shops, galleries and additional beach access, is about 1.5 miles north. Ecola State Park, just north of Cannon Beach, and other North Coast beach towns along Highway 101 are common add-ons for visitors extending their trip.

Portland International Airport (PDX), roughly 80 miles east, is the nearest major airport; most visitors drive or arrange a shuttle from Portland since Cannon Beach has no commercial airport or rail service. A personal or rental vehicle is the most practical way to reach and get around the area.

Consult a tide chart before heading to the tide pools and aim for a low tide of 1 foot or lower; arrive an hour to 90 minutes before the scheduled low tide, and watch for the incoming tide while you're out. Tide-pool rocks are wet and slippery, so walk rather than run and wear sturdy, well-gripping footwear. Climbing above the mean-high-tide "barnacle line" is prohibited to protect nesting birds, and dogs must be leashed at and around the Marine Garden.

Layered, fast-drying clothing suited to unpredictable coastal weather, sturdy rubber boots or grippy sandals for wet rocks, and a tide table or tide app are all recommended by the Haystack Rock Awareness Program's own visitor guide.

Arrive early during the summer months, since the closest public parking lot fills quickly; the walk from the lot to the rock takes about 12-15 minutes. Time your visit around a low tide of 1 foot or lower for the best tide-pooling. Collecting shells, animals or other material within 300 yards of the rock is prohibited, so plan to observe rather than collect.

For any emergency, dial 911. The Haystack Rock Awareness Program can be reached at (503) 436-8064 for visitor questions, per its official site.

Haystack Rock Awareness Program - https://www.haystackrockawareness.com ; City of Cannon Beach - https://www.cannonbeach.org/things-to-do/beaches-and-parks/haystack-rock/

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.