Cannon BeachClatsop County, OR

Visibility is an estimate — wind, rain, tide & water alerts.

Getting in

Shore access, walk in off the sand

Best conditions

Come at low water, when the pools open up; a minus tide exposes the most. Tufted puffins nest on the rock from April into late August.

Getting through the gate

Free, and so is the nearest city parking lot.

Parking

Free public lot at Hemlock and Gower streets by City Hall, a 12 to 15 minute walk to the rock. It fills early in summer.

Protection

Above the barnacle line, the rock is part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, a wilderness sanctuary closed to the public, so climbing it is prohibited. The intertidal base is the Haystack Rock Marine Garden, where harvesting invertebrates or marine vegetation is prohibited apart from a single mussel for bait, collecting shells or animals needs a permit, and dogs must stay leashed.

On site

restrooms, parking lot, lifeguard on duty

Watch for

Sneaker waves can rush far up the beach and knock adults down; never turn your back on the ocean, Rip currents can pull swimmers off the beach into deep water, An incoming tide can strand you away from shore if you are not watching it, Tidepool rocks are wet and slippery, so no running or jumping, Water-logged drift logs can be lifted and rolled by waves; stay off them, Lifeguards cover the main beach only from Memorial Day through Labor Day, 11 a.m. to 7:15 p.m., and weekends only in May and September

Checked 2026-07-24. Sources: Haystack Rock Awareness Program (City of Cannon Beach): rules and regulations, Haystack Rock Awareness Program: FAQ (permit rule for collecting), Haystack Rock Awareness Program: planning your visit, Haystack Rock Awareness Program: beach safety, US Fish and Wildlife Service: Oregon Islands NWR rules and policies.