Scenic Wonders

Ecola State Park offers year-round recreation for all types of modern-day explorers. Stop for a picnic to feed your hungry adventurers before taking to the many miles of trails. At Indian Beach, you can begin your own expedition on The Clatsop Loop Trail, a new interpretive trail you that gives you the chance to walk in the footsteps of Capt. Clark and his men.

There`s more to the park than this rich history. Surfers ride the waves at Indian Beach and tide pools await your discovery. Keep a watchful eye open for the many species of wildlife and birds that call Ecola home. Spot migrating gray whales during winter and spring.

• $5.00 daily day-use fee OR buy a 12-month permit for $30.00
• OR a 24-month permit for $50.00

These 1 and 2-year permits are good at ALL state park day-use areas.

Haystack Rock is one of Oregon`s seven protected Marine Gardens. Rising 235 feet out of the sand and the sea at the low tide, Haystack Rock is one of the most recognizable landmarks on the coast.

Abundant with sea life, Haystack Rock is home to numerous intertidal animals like sea stars, anemone, crabs and more. Not to mention all the seabirds above the water! Care must be taken to avoid trampling this delicate life, therefore there are rules surrounding human interactions with the site. Note that volunteer interpreters and protectors of the Rock and the life that it supports are on the beach during morning low tides during the summer. They are there to help educate and preserve this amazing place for generations to come, please be kind.

If you are in Cannon Beach, you must stop by to see this beautiful famous rock!

On a clear day, a hike up the mountain is highly recommended. The view is stunning beyond description. The hike is 3 miles round trip, with a 900-foot elevation gain. The trail is located off Highway 101 just south of Oswald West State Park on the east side of the highway. Look for the brown sign with a picture of hikers (between mileposts 41 and 42) and turn east onto the gravel road. The trail starts at the gray post to the left of the parking area.

Difficulty: A moderate but steep 3-mile climb to the summit, gaining 900 feet of elevation. Add 2.1 miles and plan for a shuttle car if you continue to the campground. Open all year.

Hiking Tips:

• The trail starts at a gray post on the left. Steep switchbacks lead up through meadows 0.9 miles to a ridgetop junction.
• Continue straight on a path that contours 0.6 miles around the wooded back of the mountain before emerging at the summit meadow viewpoint.
  • This is the recommended turnaround point, although the trail does continue, dropping for 2 miles to a Highway 101 crossing and then ambling along sea bluffs 1.6 more miles to the Oswald West State Park campground parking lot.

Crabbing and fishing on Nehalem Bay are popular. For a breathtaking view of the bay, fitness and wildlife enthusiasts will enjoy the 1.75-mile bike trail that circles the park airplane landing strip.

Interpretive Programs & Events
Offered Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Programs are open to the public and include:

• Junior Ranger programs for kids ages 6-12
• Evening Programs featuring nature and/or history talks
• Guided Hikes & Special Events

Junior Ranger programs take place at 10:30 am every day and are located in the back of the Amphitheater at the picnic table area. The amphitheater is located before loop D.

Services Include: Camping, Electric, Yurts, Cabins, Showers, Dump station, Horse Camp, Playgrounds, Picnicking, Boating, Fishing, Beach Access, Horse Trails, Hiking Trails, Bicycle Trails

This lovely coastal park is named after past Governor Oswald West and offers camping, picnicking, wildlife viewing, fishing, beach access, hiking trails, old-growth forest, marine life, and restrooms. Not to mention easy access to the ocean and Cape Falcon Overlook.

In the short quarter-mile from the parking area through the park to the beach you`ll feel like you`ve stepped into another time where everyday life is far away. There are several trails that lead to the beach, as well as a trail to the Cape Falcon Overlook and all trails lead through a mature, old-growth forest. Where you can see nurse logs abound and spruce trees growing from the decaying trunks of downed trees. You can also hook up with the Pacific Coast Trail; maps are available at the beginning of the trails.

The cove which contains the beach offers unusual privacy. It is popular with surfers, windsurfers and boogie boarders. Its a wonderful well-known secret that is never too busy and definitely worth the stop!