NORTHWEST:  CANNON BEACH

Cannon Beach is a charming stretch of Oregon coastline known for its wide sandy beaches, misty sunsets, and relaxed small-town vibe. Just offshore rises Haystack Rock, a towering sea stack that’s one of the most photographed natural landmarks in the Pacific Northwest. At low tide, colorful tide pools appear around its base, revealing starfish, anemones, and crabs, while seabirds nest high on its cliffs. Together, ocean drama and quiet coastal beauty give Cannon Beach its timeless, storybook feel. ​

Here are 5 fun and interesting facts about Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock:

• Haystack Rock is taller than a 20-story building. It rises about 235 feet from the shoreline, making it one of the tallest sea stacks on the Oregon Coast.

• It’s a federally protected wildlife refuge. Haystack Rock is part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, providing nesting grounds for seabirds like tufted puffins, common murres, and cormorants.

• Low tide turns the beach into a living aquarium. During minus tides, colorful tide pools appear around the rock, revealing starfish, anemones, sea urchins, and crabs — one of the best tide-pooling spots in the Pacific Northwest.

• Cannon Beach got its name from a shipwreck. The town is named after a U.S. Navy cannon that washed ashore from the wreck of the Shark in the mid-1800s.

• You can actually walk right up to Haystack Rock. Unlike many sea stacks that sit offshore, Haystack Rock is directly accessible from the beach at low tide, letting visitors explore its base on foot.

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Bonus Puffin (Bird) Fact: Tufted puffins can carry up to 10 small fish at once in their beaks thanks to a special hinge in their jaws that lets them hold prey while still catching more — which makes nesting season at Haystack Rock especially impressive to watch.

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