Oregon Coast Scenic Day Tour: Astoria to Cannon Beach and Ecola State Park
Difficulty
easy
Duration
10 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for most fitness levels; expect multiple short walks up to a mile on varying terrain.
Overview
Spend a full day tracing the northern Oregon Coast from Astoria to Cannon Beach with a naturalist guide. Explore Lewis & Clark history, tidepools at Haystack Rock, and rainforested overlooks in Ecola State Park—balanced with practical tips for timing tides, what to pack, and where to photograph the coast.
Oregon Coast Scenic Day Tour: Astoria to Cannon Beach and Ecola State Park
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The morning fog lifts off the Columbia like a slow exhale as the minivan slides through Astoria’s harbor. Salt and diesel hang in the air; gulls wheel against the brightening sky and the Astoria Column stitches a white stripe into the ridge above town. Over the next ten hours the landscape shifts from rivermouth to open ocean: timbered bluffs that smell of resin, sand beaches rimmed with tide pools, and the squat bulk of Haystack Rock rising like a small empire off Cannon Beach.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Check tide charts
Low tide reveals the best tide pools around Haystack Rock—ask your guide or check local tide tables before the beach walk.
Layer for wind and drizzle
Expect wind off the Pacific; a lightweight waterproof shell and mid-layer are worth carrying even on sunny mornings.
Sturdy shoes
Sand, rocky beaches, and slick boardwalks reward shoes with good tread—leave flip-flops in the car.
Bring binoculars
Binoculars make seabird and marine-mammal spotting far more rewarding—pack them for the Ecola viewpoints.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Tufted puffin (spring–summer)
- Harbor seals and sea lions near rocky headlands
History
Astoria grew from fur trade origins under John Jacob Astor and marks the westward terminus of Lewis & Clark’s expedition; Fort Clatsop is their reconstructed winter encampment.
Conservation
Respect tidepool rules—don’t lift animals or collect shells—and stay on marked trails in Ecola to protect fragile dune and forest ecosystems.
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Adventure Hotspots in Portland, OR
Recommended Gear
Waterproof jacket
Blocks wind and drizzle common on the Oregon Coast.
Sturdy walking shoes
Provides traction on wet sand, rocks, and forest paths.
Binoculars
Helps spot puffins, eagles, and distant cetaceans during migration season.
spring specific
Daypack with water
Keeps layers, snacks, and camera accessible during beach and viewpoint stops.