description Haystack Rock (Cannon Beach) Overview
Haystack Rock is a basalt sea stack at Cannon Beach on the northern Oregon coast, rising approximately 72 meters above the beach. Formed from ancient volcanic rock and subsequently isolated by coastal erosion, it is accessible on foot at low tide but surrounded by water as the tide rises. Its intertidal area supports sea stars, anemones, crabs, and other organisms, while the upper rock provides nesting habitat for seabirds such as tufted puffins.
insights Ranking position
Haystack Rock (Cannon Beach) ranks #30 of 255 in the Monolith ranking, behind Half Dome, ahead of Mount Augustus (Burringurrah).
help Haystack Rock (Cannon Beach) FAQ
Can you walk out to Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach?
Yes, visitors can reach the base across the sand during sufficiently low tides. The route disappears as the tide rises, so tide tables and local closure signs should be checked before approaching.
Can visitors climb Haystack Rock?
No, climbing is prohibited because the rock is a protected nesting habitat within the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Visitors should also avoid touching or removing animals from the tide pools around its base.
Which birds nest on Haystack Rock?
Tufted puffins are its most famous seasonal residents, usually arriving for the spring and summer nesting period. Pelagic cormorants, pigeon guillemots, and several gull species also use the approximately 235-foot sea stack.
Was Cannon Beach's Haystack Rock featured in The Goonies?
Haystack Rock appears in the Oregon-coast imagery associated with The Goonies, the 1985 film shot around Astoria and Cannon Beach. It should not be confused with another Oregon formation also called Haystack Rock at Pacific City.
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