Haystack Rock and tide pools in Cannon Beach
Haystack Rock rises 235 feet from the edge of the shoreline, according to the Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce's visitor pages.
A protected place
Above the high tide line the rock is part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Its intertidal area is one of Oregon's seven Marine Gardens. Tufted puffins nest on the rock from April through July, and the Chamber says June and July are the best months to see them.
The Haystack Rock Awareness Program
The Chamber says the Haystack Rock Awareness Program started in the mid-1980s to protect the ecosystem and inform visitors. From mid-February to late October, during daytime low tides, it offers interpretive programs at the base of the rock, with microscopes for small creatures and spotting scopes for nesting birds. Schedules and tide charts are available at City Hall, local businesses and the Chamber's visitor center.
Visiting the tide pools
The rules below come from the Chamber's pages.
- Do not remove any animal or material within 300 yards of the rock.
- Do not climb the rock or enter seabird nesting areas. Dogs must be leashed.
- Walk only on sand or bare rock, and avoid barnacle-covered rocks.
- Arrive an hour or more before low tide. Minus tides are best, and the lowest ones come in summer.
- Move slowly and watch quietly. Never turn your back on the ocean.
Check NOAA tide predictions and the visiting page before you go.