Indian Beach
Cannon Beach, OR
Indian Beach sits inside Ecola State Park, a pocket cove between forested headlands that's become one of the north coast's more popular surf spots. Tide pools show up along the rocks at the north end, and on a clear winter day it's a solid spot to watch for migrating gray whales offshore.
A genuinely great cove beach with real surf and tide pools, people go out of their way for it, but the small lot means an early arrival matters.
How we score beachesSurfers get here early. By mid morning on a good day the small lot is full and cars start lining the park road.
A day use fee covers the whole park; the Indian Beach lot is separate from the main Ecola Point lot and smaller, so it fills first.
A short paved path and staircase lead from the lot down to the sand.
Leashed dogs are allowed in Ecola State Park.
Winter storm season, November through February, brings the best whale watching and biggest surf, while summer offers the calmest water for wading around the tide pools.
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