Cannon Beach, Oregon – the place you want to be

Stef Zisovska
Haystack on Cannon Beach in Oregon - Author: Tiger635 - CC BY-SA 3.0
Haystack on Cannon Beach in Oregon - Author: Tiger635 - CC BY-SA 3.0

Cannon Beach is a beach town in Clatsop County, Oregon. The beautiful thing about Cannon Beach is that this is not just one more beach in the US, but one of the most spectacular shorelines in the entire country. There are plenty of people who pick this spot as their favorite, top of the top places where they come back over and over again. But visiting Cannon Beach during the summer months can be a challenging thing to do, no matter how much you want to go there.

However, nothing is impossible if you know how to organize your trip in advance and make early bookings at your favorite hotel. This way you won’t have to worry about how busy it will get by the time your vacation dates arrive.

Cow elk near Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach – Author: Tiger635 – CC BY-SA 3.0
Cow elk near Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach – Author: Tiger635 – CC BY-SA 3.0

June, July, and August are the busiest months at Cannon Beach, but there is enough room for everyone north and south of Haystack Rock, which is the most famous feature in the area. As a matter of fact, the only time you’ll see Cannon Beach really crowded is in June during the sandcastle building contest. So, if you don’t like to see a lot of people, avoid going there in June.

The temperatures during the summer months never rise to more than 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, while the nights are chilly throughout the whole year. Make sure that all the people that you’re taking to Cannon Beach wear layers and have warm clothes with them.

Swimming in the ocean is not the most clever idea in the world when you visit Cannon Beach. The water is cold throughout the whole year, and there are strong currents that raise issues of safety regardless of your swimming skills. If you are a surfer, then you will love the waves here, but don’t even think about getting into the ocean without a wetsuit.

Looking northwest up the beach – Author: Postdlf – CC BY-SA 3.0
Looking northwest up the beach – Author: Postdlf – CC BY-SA 3.0

Most of the Oregon coast seems to be difficult to approach, but this is not the case with Cannon Beach as you can reach it easily from Highway 101, which runs north-south from Washington to California. The closest big city is Portland, Oregon, only 80 miles away. As for moving around town, you won’t have any worries. This is a small town, and you can get from one end to the other in 30 minutes by foot. Don’t worry about where your accommodation is located because you can walk to the beach without a problem. If you still need transport for any reason, the Canon Beach shuttle runs around town every hour, and the price of the ticket per passenger is only one dollar. If you want to head outside of town, north or south, don’t hesitate to go with your car. Cannon Beach is a very stroller-friendly town if you have young kids.

If you want to have a less crowded beach experience, then head to Chapman Point to the north and spots south of Tolovana Wayside. For a unique lunch experience, you can pack a picnic meal and enjoy an epic Cannon Beach sunset from the long sandy shore.

Haystack Rock northwest face – Author: Kirkouimet – CC BY-SA 4.0
Haystack Rock northwest face – Author: Kirkouimet – CC BY-SA 4.0

The best day trip from Cannon Beach is to Ecola State Park. The park’s name means “whale” in the Chinook language. Grey whales can be seen in March while they’re migrating, while Orcas pass by in May. Also, you can see sea lions on the rocks from April to June. By the way, Ecola State Park is full of dense forest, and many people consider the park to be a hiking paradise because of the thick, lush greenery. One of the hiking trails leads to Indian Beach, another surfing gem that will blow your mind. Enjoy Cannon Beach and good luck!

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stef-zisovska

stef-zisovska is one of the authors writing for Outdoor Revival