Cannon Beach’s vast sandy beach and dramatic views of Haystack Rock make it one of the most iconic destinations on the Oregon Coast — and it has been for generations. For more than 100 years, visitors have escaped the fast pace of daily life to beachcomb, surf, gaze at majestic sea stacks and bask in the town’s magical feel.
For almost 60 of those years, Surfsand Resort just north of Haystack Rock has been the perfect home base for coastal adventures. Today thoughtful amenities and captivating oceanfront views make it a destination that matches Cannon Beach’s unique charm. Here’s what to expect on your next visit.
Have the Perfect Beach Day
Surfsand’s many amenities make it easy to have a carefree beach day, no planning or gear required. The Oregon Coast is famously breezy, so take advantage of the resort’s kite concierge to capitalize on the coastal winds. They’ll set you up with an easy-to-operate kite and show you tips for how to fly it. Or participate in Surfsand Resort’s daily SurfSandollar hunt — one of many unique and complimentary amenities at the resort — where guests can find handmade glass SurfsandSandollars dollars hidden around the property.
Cannon Beach is also a surfing hot spot. Nearby Short Sands Beach at Oswald West State Park, nicknamed Shorty’s by locals, is the place to be on a summer day. It has an exposed beach break that offers consistent surfing year-round — but keep an eye out for dangerous rips. Stop by Cleanline Surf for rental gear and information on conditions, and beginners should consider taking a surf lesson with an expert guide at a local shop.
Take a break for lunch or dinner at Surfsand’s Wayfarer Restaurant & Lounge, which has the same epic view as the resort. Their dishes feature fresh, local ingredients with menu highlights including creamy clam chowder, signature crab bake and beer-battered fish-and-chips.
Learn About Local History
The beachfront Surfsand Resort has been a part of the fabric of Cannon Beach for decades, and the resort is surrounded by monuments of even older history. Haystack Rock, a 15-million-year-old basalt sea stack, rises 235 feet and commands the view from the resort’s west-facing rooms. Be sure to make time to take in the stunning silhouette it adds to every sunset from the resort’s beachfront grounds, where nothing comes between you and the ocean.
History can also be found in the names of nearby sites. The town of Cannon Beach got its name from three cannons from the U.S.S. Shark that washed ashore on its sandy beaches after the vessel wrecked in 1846 attempting to cross the Columbia River bar. You can learn more at the resort’s museum-like wall installations that tell these stories and others — like that of nearby Hug Point State Recreation Site, where stagecoaches traveling the coastline had to “hug” the edge of the rocks to get around the point. During low tide, you can still see wheel ruts carved into the rock of the original roadbed.
See Tide-Pool Creatures and Tufted Puffins
Seeing the wildlife that call the shoreline home is one of the activities that makes the Oregon Coast such a special place to visit. At the tide pools located at Haystack Rock, you can find sea stars in acrobatic poses, sea urchins with vibrant-colored spines and crabs scurrying from rock to rock. For optimal viewing, visit one hour before low tide, and remember these are sensitive ecosystems, so follow tide-pool etiquette and safety tips.
Haystack Rock is also home to a colony of tufted puffins, the iconic black sea bird noted for its thick red bill and impressively long yellow head tufts. These birds, which mate for life, return to the area each spring to reunite with their partners and produce a single egg, then nurture their puffling to independence. Spot the tufted puffins from April to September, and look out for volunteers with the Haystack Rock Awareness Program, who are at the beach during set times every day to answer questions about intertidal and seabird ecology.
When the sun starts to sink, extend your time on the beach by partaking in the resort’s popular bonfire experience right on the beach. During the summer, Surfsand offers community bonfires complete with s’mores where you can trade stories with other guests. Or opt for a private bonfire, where staff will take care of setup and cleanup and provide all the fixings for s’mores — all you’ll have to do is toast your marshmallows and savor the sound of the surf.
