Oregon the majestic! The North Oregon coast has it all – fabulous rainforests right on the edge of cliffs overlooking crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean. How did I not know of your beauty earlier?
Just a 1.5 hour drive to the west of Portland is the slow, casual, coastal town of Cannon Beach where some of Oregon’s best hikes are just minutes away. *
*On the way to the Oregon coast from Portland make a quick stop, to fill up your water bottle with fresh water from a fountain, right on the side of Highway 26 West inside the Clatsop State Forest. How convenient!
Exploring the North Oregon Coast
Cannon Beach
The town of Cannon Beach is a charming, quiet, small coastal town with one main road (Hemlock) and a stunning coastline. This includes a dramatic coastline with crashing waves over giant crashing waves with large rock protrusions jutting out of the sea while cliffs line the beach. Both just north and south of Cannon Beach proper are old-growth rainforests with trails overlooking the coast.
In Cannon Beach food options include:
Seaside
The cute town of Seaside has little local shops and restaurants close to the shore. Broadway is the main road which leads up to the beach. Plus lots of arcades for the young ones or the young one in you! Rec breakfast at Pig ‘N Pancake.
Hiking on the North Oregon Coast
I found that all the trails in this section of North Oregon are maintained with care and well thought out with bathrooms at the trailhead and adequate signs for trails and splits on the trail. I couldn’t help but sing “America the Beautiful” during all my hikes! All the hikes included here are just minutes from Cannon Beach which is an awesome place to make your home base.
Ecola State Park Hike (just north of Cannon Beach)
Clatsop Loop Trail
Clatsop Loop Trail is an absolutely beautiful almost 4 mile loop trail through a rainforest with cliff views of the stunning Tillamook Rock Lighthouse (1.2 miles off the shore upon a giant boulder). The path is surrounded by majestic mossy Sitka Spruce pine trees and ferns in the deepest green! The sounds of crashing waves is the background tune for this gorgeous hike. I hiked clockwise – the first half is the more interior trail and is a wider path. The second half of the trail meanders through the trees with spectacular Pacific Ocean views peeking through. An amazing hike! Good to know: There’s actually a bathroom at the halfway point, and also at the start of the trail.
Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach
To approach the spectacular rock, go at low tide when the ocean water recedes and walking to the rock is possible. Park at the public access area on West Gower Street. It is possible to stroll right up to the haystack and discover the anemones, crabs and urchins in the many tide pools surrounding the rock. Best time to go is sunset! Check the tide charts here.
Oswald West State Park Hike (just south of Cannon Beach)
Cape Falcon Trail (part of the Oregon Coast Trail)
This 2-4 foot wide well-maintained trail meanders beside a babbling brook and eventually crosses it. The almost 4 mile trail includes mild inclines and declines, well-spaced out with roots to tackle from the giant pine trees, in this old-growth rainforest. So much fun! The latter portion of the out and back trail leads to expansive views of the crashing waves of the Pacific from well above it. On the way back follow the “day use picnicking area” sign to take the short jaunt out onto the beautiful rocky (“Short Sand”) beach in the cove.
Hug Point
Go at low tide! (I missed that important key element!) Apparently there are beautiful waterfalls plus caves and tidepools on this short hike. Walk down from the parking lot to the beach and head north (right). Walk around the giant rocks into the cove to see the sites.
Check the tide charts first, so you can hike the trail and also get back to the parking lot before high tide.
Helpful links to book your travel here
