Cannon Beach
Oregon · State Park · Pacific Northwest Region
Haystack Rock, 235 feet of ancient basalt rising straight from the surf just offshore, is one of the photographed sea stacks in the world. The beach stretches for miles in both directions and the town of Cannon Beach sits quietly at the treeline with no high rises in sight. In summer the water sparkles blue green. In November a storm rolls in and the waves are 12 feet tall and the sky is lavender gray and no one else is out there. Both versions are worth showing up for.
- Best season
- Year round, summer for warmth; fall and winter for dramatic light and solitude
- Permit required
- No
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Max group size
- 30 people
- Permit info verified
- April 2026
Permit Information
Oregon beaches are public under the Oregon Beach Bill. Small personal ceremonies on the public beach do not require a permit. Ecola State Park (adjacent, elevated bluff views) requires a Special Use Permit from Oregon State Parks for formal events.
Seasonal Planning
Summer is warm and popular. September through October has softer light, warm evenings, and thinning crowds. Winter storm light is dramatic but waves can reach the upper beach, watch your position. Spring wildflowers on the bluffs above the coast are exceptional.
Planning Your Day at Cannon Beach
One-Spot Day
Cannon Beach one spot days work simply because Oregon beaches are public under the Beach Bill, no permit needed for small ceremonies on the sand. Pick your stretch based on tide tables, Haystack Rock is roughly 0.25 miles south of the main beach access and best at low tide when the rock pools are exposed. Stay for sunset, the sky goes pink and gold behind the sea stacks and the crowd thins.
Ceremony + Portraits Split
The town is compact and the beach runs miles in both directions, so ceremony splits are easy. Beach ceremony at Haystack Rock for sunset, then dinner in town and portraits the next morning at Ecola State Park for the elevated coastal bluff view. Ecola requires a separate Oregon State Parks Special Use Permit but sits just 2 miles north, 10 minutes by car. Couples often book Cannon Beach for a weekend and spread the day across both.
A Note on Light
Haystack Rock faces west, so sunrise lights the rock from behind and sunset lights the sky behind it in silhouette. Both work, pick the mood. Low tide is essential for the classic compositions, check tide tables before booking the ceremony hour. The Oregon coast is famously moody, overcast and misty conditions add atmosphere rather than ruining the shoot. Winter storm light is dramatic but waves can reach the upper beach, watch positioning.
Ceremony Spots at Cannon Beach
- Haystack Rock Beach — Classic Oregon coast ceremony at the base of the 235 foot sea stack
- Ecola State Park, Indian Beach Overlook — Elevated coastal bluff ceremony with sweeping views of sea stacks and the Oregon coastline