Home is where the heart is. This area was my stomping…read more grounds for many moons! I use to go to Ecola state park, regularly growing up. Go on hikes,look for rocks shells,surf, get lost in nature, just sit in the grass and watch the ocean. Here is what you can do at Ecola State Park: Hiking & Walking: Explore trails ranging from easy strolls to challenging hikes through Sitka spruce forests. The Clatsop Loop Trail follows the path of1806 explorers, while the Oregon Coast Trail offers longer, scenic treks. Indian Beach: A popular, secluded cove for surfing, sunbathing, and tide-pooling to see sea stars and anemones. Viewpoints: Take in spectacular vistas from Ecola Point, including views of the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse ("Terrible Tilly") and distant Haystack Rock. Wildlife Viewing: The park is known for herds of elk grazing in the meadows, as well as sightings of bald eagles and migrating gray whales. Picnicking: Enjoy lunch at the picnic areas located on the grassy bluffs with ocean views. Photography: The dramatic, moody coastline provides excellent opportunities for photography. Oregon State

Forgive me for this late review. I should have written it long ago, but perhaps the trees and the…read moreocean were patient enough to wait. The drive through the forest is a passage into another world. Sitka spruce and hemlock lean over the road as if they are curious about you. At the end of the road the land opens and the Pacific announces itself in vast gray blues and greens, broken by sea stacks that rise like stubborn monuments. The trails are generous. Some wander to secret beaches, others climb to high points where the ocean and horizon meet like two old friends. Indian Beach is a gathering of tide pools, surfers, and quiet sand. Crescent Beach feels private, almost hidden, with the company of seals if you are lucky. Wildlife belongs here as much as people. Elk graze, eagles soar, and sometimes whales turn the water into theater. The park offers all of this without asking much in return, except that you take your time. Bring layers because the wind and mist move through the park like they own the place. Take your time. Sit, watch, breathe. This park gives you a rare combination of accessibility, natural beauty, and serenity. I regret not praising this place sooner. Ecola State Park holds the kind of beauty that makes you feel both small and fortunate. Five stars, without hesitation.

Stumbled across this quaint little spot driving south after visiting Cannon Beach and I have to say…read moreit's a great place to spend some time! There is parking right at the beach access with a restroom (though from reading it's not always open) and if you're looking for a less crowded option on the coast, you should give this a visit. Some interesting seascapes to take in and a small waterfall (Hug Point Falls) to discover as well.

Yes you need to come here. Beautiful site and beach. Parking is easy but be prepared to do some…read morewalking.

This was a destination I had been looking forward to visiting for years after seeing pictures and…read morehearing stories of other peoples' experiences at Cannon Beach ! First, the drive here along Route 26, from Portland, was just stunning as you drive through the forested areas. On this occasion a blanket of fog enveloped the valley and the pictures just don't do it justice as to how it looked in person. I went during the "off-season" right at the end of October and for me this was a great time to visit, as there were not too many people on the actual beach and it also made parking much easier. You can park in areas off the street, however, be careful as much of it you are not allowed to park on. If you park at "Haystack Rock" Public Parking it's just a short walk to the Cannon Beach Access. On this particular day a big storm was moving in and it really created a great atmosphere to photograph in with the moody skies and the ocean getting a bit more turbulent as the waves crashed into the seastacks. Would have loved to catch a sunset here, however, will have to do that on another visit and maybe a different time of the year to compare experiences. The trip didn't disappoint and highly recommend stopping here and exploring other parts of the Oregon Coast!

The "Goonies Rock" is no where near Astoria like the movie makes it out to be. No matter what, it…read moreis absolutely worth the drive. Parking is non-existent because you have to walk down a pathway between two houses to get to there, I mean of course there are probably areas North or South of the actual rock but I am not aware of them myself. We were lucky and able to find a spot directly across the pathway that just happened to have someone pulling out. Walking down that pathway, I took a video and love how it shows the beauty of the area just opening up. It was more than I could have wished for after growing up loving the movie Goonies and was delighted that we got there when we did. Tide was out, so the dreamy tide pools that you see associated with the northwest coastlines were accessible and all the wonderful wildlife that live within them. Also, we were able to watch the sunset, which was cloud covered but who cares. While walking around, it first started with just rolling up my pants, so then having a misstep and one of my shoes getting soaked so then I was like, oh well, off with the shoes and walk around freely to be able to go rock to rock or wade around to get to the numerous tidepools. All worth the super cold feet later on in the car. There is just something about seeing everything in the wild vs in various zoos or aquariums. It was by far my favorite part of our trip to Portland and something I'd love to revisit again, regardless of the distance and drive back.

Love this little park, which was walking distance from our Vrbo rental house. I had to burn some…read moreenergy off of my two year old son, before our long drive to PDX. And I found this park on Yelp. I used my nav & the walk was only seven minutes one-way. When we arrived, nobody was around, maybe it was because it was only 7:45AM, lol. My son had a blast with the swings & slides. So elated to have discovered this fun park.

Great park! Big playground. Public bathrooms. Picnic tables (covered). Small boat launch. Good spot…read morefor an outdoor music event. Also got an adjacent bumpy bike area to ride and jump bikes. Kids loved it!

Bathe yourself in the forest, of springs and creeks and trails and the beach…read more It's an easy walk through old growth forest though there are also trails that involve more effort. Short Sand beach is a favorite spot for surfers. There are restrooms at the parking lot and seasonal restrooms as well.

such a great place to pull over and let the dog/kid blow off…read moresome steam! great trail network, obviously maintained. parking lot is clean, with a trash can and there's also bathrooms. i enjoyed the first hike we did down to sandy short beach so much that the next day i stopped again and walked the old growth trail which was short but stunning! if you're not from the pacific northwest and tou want to see why so many people flock here i. the summer, set aside an hour or two to explore in here. it's so pretty!

Cannon Beach is one of those magical coastal towns that feels like stepping into a postcard. Yeah…read moreit looks exactly like the postcard. From the moment I arrived, I knew this was the spot to have bonfires. The beach itself is wide and inviting, and Haystack Rock towers out of the ocean just off the shore, a stunning icon that draws everyone's eye. But it's not just the shoreline that makes Cannon Beach special. You can walk along the neighborhoods and enjoy the cute little shops. Downtown is small but charming. I loved walking through the artsy streets filled with galleries, specialty shops, and cozy cafés. I was able to slow down away from city life, shop for a handmade memento, and sit with a latte watching the waves. On a breezy afternoon, I saw people flying their kites and took advantage of the open beach breeze, so fun to watch. If you want a beautifully scenic beach getaway that's both peaceful and inspiring, Cannon Beach is absolutely worth a stop.

Cannon Beach is stunning -- especially Haystack Rock with its dramatic waves, wide shoreline, and…read morefresh ocean air. It's the kind of place you naturally want to return to. The only downside is beach access. If you follow Google Maps from downtown, it may lead you to a stair-heavy entrance with no ADA access and very limited parking -- not ideal for strollers, wheelchairs, or anyone with mobility needs. Tip: skip the default route and go to W. Gower Street instead. It's flat, easy, stroller-friendly, and takes you directly onto the sand without stairs. Also, expect strong wind along the shoreline. A hooded windbreaker is highly recommended -- even on calm-looking days, the wind can be surprisingly intense. Overall, Cannon Beach is a 5-star destination. Just knowing the right access point and coming prepared for the weather makes the experience even better.

A short hike from the parking lot trailhead leads you to this beach. I was surprised since there…read morewas a restroom with plumbing right next to the beach, in addition to the one at the trailhead. I guess it gets very busy during the summer. The trail is well marked and well maintained, with only one or two muddy areas which are easily navigated to avoid getting wet. I wasn't able to get close to Blumenthal Falls on the north end of Short Sand Beach due to the tide and waves, but I could see it from the end of the trail on the beach. It's on of the very few waterfalls in the PNW that cascades into the Pacific Ocean. Very pretty! The beach itself is very picturesque as it's located in a cove surrounded by mountains. Several benches are present to let you take it all in.

We always drive right by, as most of the year parking is impossible. Luckily we decided to pull off…read morelast weekend, so glad! Varied winding trails from the parking lot through gorgeous trees. The trails go off in different directions with decent signage along the way. Let's be real, the Oregon coastline is gorgeous no matter where you decide to stop off, and Short Sand is no different. Two creeks emerge from the trees flowing onto the sands and into what feels like a huge "cove" with great waves (at least this day) and a lovely beach. Beautiful spot! I can see why it's so busy during most of the year, but it's sooo peaceful right now during the winter!

This is an absolute must place for your Oregon trip…read more This place is so peaceful, calming, birds flying, people and kite watching, a nice place to sit and just listen to the waves. A wonderful park.

Arguably the most beautiful beach on the Oregon coast. Part of the Oregon State Parks system,…read moreTolovana Beach State Park is open dawn to dusk -no overnight parking or camping- with free parking (cars & bikes), clean bathrooms, easy beach access for most people but those with mobility issues may have a more difficult time. There are nice picnic tables sprinkled throughout the parking lot and a kids playground on the north side of the lot. The Tolovana beach is a gorgeous place to fly a kite, take a walk and look for seashells but the water is a tad too cold for swimming imho, but you can catch a breathtaking sunset almost any time of the year. To the north is Haystack rock on Cannon beach, a towering 235 foot basalt sea stack that is home to many tidepool creatures and nesting seabirds, like the Tufted Puffin. Be aware that dogs are allowed off-leash on the beach if well-behaved. And if you're hungry, Mo's Seafood is right next-door with equally great views in the diningroom. What more could you ask for?

Horse camping May 2026 site H10…read more Nice! Pipe stalls. Potable water at each site. Manure pit nearby. Wheelbarrows also. Clean full flush toilet bathrooms. Showers one camp group over. Easy access to the beach.

This is one of my all time favorite camping state parks. Close walk to the ocean to catch the…read moresunset. We were lucky enough to catch the Northern lights while camping here, so this place will always hold a place in my heart for that experience alone. Our annual Mothers Day trip was a blast so hubby and I came back to enjoy the park again with our new puppy. We love how close it is to town and make our way out for a nice dinner or to grab an ice cream cone and walk through some cute local shops. We love the quaint little towns surrounding the well kept state park. We got to see a bunch of Elk around and it was a cool experience.

We stopped here on the way from driving from Seaside to Tillamook. We had intended to drive to…read moreLincoln city but never made it that far. Anyway, we stopped at the park which is quick turnout with parking, then a short walk to the beach. Parking is free but the lot small. The beach and views from it are spectacular. I envy the people who live close by the park or on the Oregon coast in general. They are lucky people because the Oregon coast is among the most beautiful in the world. Arcadia beach and Ecola State park (a few minutes north of Arcadia) are absolutely must-see when driving Pacific coast highway 101.

This little state park has free parking, pit toilets, and a short walk to the beach with stairs…read more The location is beautiful and much less crowded than near by Cannon Beach.