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 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.
Ceremony Spots at Cannon Beach
- Haystack Rock Beach — Classic Oregon coast ceremony at the base of the iconic 235-foot sea stack
- Ecola State Park — Indian Beach Overlook — Elevated coastal bluff ceremony with sweeping views of sea stacks and the Oregon coastline