Ecola State Park
Oregon · State Park · Pacific Northwest Region
Oregon Coast cliffs with Haystack Rock views, sea stacks, and misty forested headlands. Indian Beach is a secluded crescent tucked between headlands. Ecola Point looks south along miles of rugged coastline.
- Best season
- Year round (summer for clear skies)
- Permit required
- Varies
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Max group size
- 50 people
- Permit info verified
- April 2026
Permit Information
Oregon State Parks Special Use Permit. Most Oregon Coast state parks do not require a permit for a simple ceremony as long as the group is under 50 people and there are no decorations, rental furniture, arches, or props. If you exceed that, an Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Special Use Permit is required. Base cost is $150 for an Oregon Coast wedding (includes a $100 non refundable application fee plus a $50 day use fee covering up to 50 guests), then $1 per person over 50. As of Januar…
Planning Your Day at Ecola State Park
One-Spot Day
Ecola sits at the north end of Cannon Beach, 90 minutes west of Portland. Base in Cannon Beach itself for proximity to Haystack Rock and the full Oregon Coast experience. Two ceremony zones in the park: Indian Beach (secluded crescent reached by short trail) and Ecola Point (grassy headland panorama of Haystack Rock and Cannon Beach). Pair them in one day, ceremony at Indian Beach in the morning, portraits at Ecola Point at sunset. $5 vehicle day use fee covers both sites. Ceremonies under 50 guests with no decor do not require an OPRD permit.
Ceremony + Portraits Split
Indian Beach is the intimate wild option, a short downhill trail drops you onto a crescent of sand between forested headlands with sea stacks offshore. Up to 20 guests comfortable. Ecola Point is the grand overlook, a short paved walk from the main parking lot to a grassy bluff with Haystack Rock and the Cannon Beach coastline stretching south. Up to 25 guests. Indian Beach is more private, Ecola Point is more accessible. Most elopements pick one, larger gatherings default to Ecola Point for parking and restrooms.
A Note on Light
Summer (June through September) has the clearest weather and warmest evenings, peak season also means tourist crowds. Shoulder seasons (April through May, October through November) are quieter with better light and dramatic sky conditions. Winter storms produce cinematic coastal imagery but the unpaved trails to Indian Beach get dangerously slick. Fog is common year round and transforms the forest into something otherworldly. Oregon Parks and Recreation Department review period is 120 days as of January 2026, apply early if a permit is required.
Ceremony Spots at Ecola State Park
- Indian Beach — Secluded crescent beach framed by forested headlands with dramatic sea stacks and surf
- Ecola Point Viewpoint — Panoramic view of Cannon Beach, Haystack Rock, and the rugged Oregon coastline stretching south