![]() ![]() Pay your respects to the Peter Iredale shipwreck at Fort Stevens State Park. The author’s family visits the Peter Iredale shipwreck at Fort Stevens State Park. When we visited, one of the short view trails was fully accessible, and we enjoyed a sunny stroll to take in unbelievable views. It’s always a good idea to check trail conditions ahead of time, because depending on the weather, there may be closures due to downed trees caused by windstorms or mudslides. Take a hike to enjoy spectacular views at Ecola State Park.Įcola State Park, another favorite in the Cannon Beach area, is just a short drive from the northern part of downtown and offers a lush network of trails through mature Sitka spruce forest to stunning panoramic views of the ocean and Haystack Rock. Oswald West State Park also features miles of trails along the coastline if you’d like a more vigorous hike. (If, like me, you prefer to stay on dry land, there is a nice secluded beach at the end of the trail affording great views of the ocean.) Along the trail, you’ll have a great opportunity to introduce budding naturalists to the diversity of plants native to the temperate coastal rain forest ecosystem, including ferns, salmonberry, red cedar, western hemlock, Sitka spruce and others. Take the park’s Short Sand Beach Trail (1.2 miles round trip) through the mossy coastal rain forest to spend the day catching the waves. If you want a quintessential Oregon Coast experience, bring or rent a boogie board and head to Oswald West State Park. Hike through the rain forest and try boogie boarding at Oswald West State Park. A dog-paddling expert supervises a boogie boarder at Oswald West State Park. It’s also a good spot for peering into tide pools, depending on the timing of your visit. If you time your tides correctly, you can walk the old stagecoach road with the Pacific Ocean crashing below, or walk around the point to explore more beaches. But I didn’t realize until I got back home and did some research that the path we took was an old stagecoach road that was the only way you could traverse this stretch of coastline until the early 1900s. Explore the caves, waterfall and stagecoach road at Hug Point State Recreation Site.ĭuring our most recent trip to Cannon Beach we visited Hug Point State Recreation Site for the first time, and we wished we had found it sooner! We had a great time exploring the pretty little sandy beach, including visiting the small waterfall and the caves, and following the path along the point. If the beach isn’t enough of a playground for the younger kids, the site also has a play structure located on the north side of the parking lot. While some beaches on the Oregon coast can be windy, we’ve found this beach to be pleasant year round, and it’s a great destination for beachcombing, playing in the sand or surf, or flying your kite. Tolovana Beach State Recreation Site is located at the south end of Cannon Beach and boasts nice views of Haystack Rock (about a mile north) and a long sandy beach to enjoy. Build a sandcastle or fly a kite at Tolovana Beach State Recreation Site. Beachcombers enjoy the sunset view of Haystack Rock at Tolovana Beach State Recreation Site. Depending on when you visit, volunteers with the Haystack Rock Awareness Program may be on-site to answer questions, host interpretive programs and steward the ecosystem. Yet, in addition to providing great photo opportunities, the area around Haystack Rock also features some easily accessible tide pools and provides critical habitat for nesting seabirds. This activity is likely to pop up on all “must-do” lists because Haystack Rock is one of Oregon’s most recognizable landmarks. Explore tide pools near iconic Haystack Rock. Read on for 10 fun activities to do with kids in and nearby this gem of a beach town. Whenever we go, we are blown away by the area and can’t wait to return.Ĭannon Beach, a manageable drive from Seattle, is a small city on Oregon’s north coast that features a long sandy beach with tide pools, sweeping views, a charming downtown, fun historical excursions and hikes through the mossy rain forest. We’ve spent two fun-filled spring breaks and a summer vacation there. ![]() As a resident of Oregon for almost 15 years, I’ve spent a lot of time exploring the popular towns along the coast with my family, including our favorite: Cannon Beach.
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