Haystack Rock
Tide pools and puffins at low tide.
Astoria and Cannon Beach
Oregon's northern coast, with the huge Haystack Rock, Lewis and Clark's winter camp, and The Goonies' town.
Cannon Beach's 235-foot Haystack Rock has tide pools with puffins in summer. Up the coast, Astoria is the oldest American city west of the Rockies. Lewis and Clark's Fort Clatsop is here, along with the Astoria Column and a great maritime museum. Ecola State Park has the postcard views.
- Best Time
- June–September
- Time Needed
- 2–3 days
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Check before you go; hours vary by season
- Getting There
- About two hours by car west of Portland.
What to See
1 of 4 are freeEcola State Park
The classic overlook.
Fort Clatsop
The rebuilt Lewis and Clark camp.
Astoria Column
Climb 164 steps for a Columbia River view.
Know Before You Go
- Summer weekends fill up, and the water is cold.
Where to Stay
Stay in Cannon Beach or Astoria.
Where to Eat
Our picks are on the way.
Editor's picks. Nobody paid to be on this list.
Something wrong or out of date?
Traveler Reviews
Sign in and mark Astoria and Cannon Beach as visited to write a review.
Go Next
If You're NearbyPortland
Oregon
Food carts, Powell's City of Books and rose gardens, with the Columbia River Gorge an hour away.
Full Guide
Must-SeeOlympic National Park
Washington
Three parks in one: glacier-capped mountains, the mossy Hoh Rain Forest and wild Pacific beaches with sea stacks.
Full Guide
Last checked 2026-11-02. Part of the Pacific Northwest list.