Cannon Beach
Cannon Beach, OR
Dominated by Haystack Rock, a 235-foot sea stack rising straight out of the sand, with tidepools at its base and a walkable small town just behind the dunes.
Haystack Rock draws visitors, but the town stays walkable and low key, and low tide pooling keeps locals coming back on their own schedule.
How we score beachesLow tide is when you can walk right up to Haystack Rock's base tide pools, so check a tide table before you drive out.
Dogs are welcome on the beach on leash or under voice control year-round, with leashes required near Haystack Rock's tide pools.
Rain is the default here from October through April, so July and August are when the town actually dries out and fills up. Water stays cold year round, usually in the 50s, so wading is about as far as most people go without a wetsuit.
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