Haystack Rock
Island Iconic 235-foot sea stack and wildlife refuge
Off Cannon Beach, Oregon, Haystack Rock is a 235-foot basalt sea stack with exposed tide pools and seabird colonies. Photographers, tidepool explorers and birdwatchers visit at low tide to observe tufted puffins and intertidal life.
Haystack Rock is a basalt sea stack rising roughly 72 metres (235 feet) off the shore of Cannon Beach on the northern Oregon coast, United States. It is one of the coast’s most-recognizable natural features and a focal point for beach visitors.
The rock and immediate surrounding intertidal flats offer tidepools and marine life at low tide, and the stack’s ledges serve as nesting habitat for seabirds, including tufted puffins. Visitors commonly come for tidepooling, birdwatching and coastal photography.
Haystack Rock formed from volcanic activity and subsequent coastal erosion that left the harder basalt stump isolated offshore. The feature and its immediate waters are protected as part of regional wildlife conservation efforts and local marine garden designations.
Haystack Rock sits at Cannon Beach in Clatsop County on Oregon’s north coast, commonly reached from the coastal highway and about a one-to-two hour drive northwest of the Portland metropolitan area.
- Height and tidal access: The rock rises roughly 72 metres above sea level and is accessible on foot from Cannon Beach at low tide, but visitors should respect posted access rules and tide schedules.
- Wildlife viewing season: The site is protected for wildlife and marine habitat; spring and summer are best for viewing nesting seabirds such as tufted puffins.
What to See #
- Haystack Rock: A basalt sea stack rising to about 72 metres (235 feet) located directly offshore from Cannon Beach; the rock is a prominent intertidal landmark with access at low tide.
- Tidepools and bird ledges: The intertidal zone around the stack supports tidepools and marine invertebrates and provides nesting ledges used by seabirds including puffins and gulls.
How to Get to Haystack Rock #
Haystack Rock is directly off the shore at Cannon Beach, Oregon. From Portland it is about a 1.5-hour drive west on US‑26; the rock is visible from the town’s main seafront and most visitors walk from the downtown area (a short, flat walk to the beach). Public parking in Cannon Beach is available but fills in summer.
Tips for Visiting Haystack Rock #
- Visit at low tide to explore tide pools around the base (be mindful of posted closures to protect nesting birds).
- Arrive early in summer to avoid Cannon Beach crowds and to get softer light for photography of the rock's basalt columns.
- Use interpretive signs and local visitor‑center staff-the marine garden is ecologically rich and guides add ID tips for anemones, starfish and intertidal snails.
Best Time to Visit Haystack Rock #
Summer is best for tidepooling and birdlife, but mornings are preferable to beat crowds; nesting closures may restrict access to the rock itself.
