Cannon Beach, Sand beach and coastal town in Oregon, US

Cannon Beach is a small coastal town and a sandy beach along the Oregon coast in Clatsop County. The shoreline is wide and open, bordered by the prominent sea stack known as Haystack Rock rising directly from the water near the shore.

The town takes its name from a cannon that washed ashore in the 1840s after a nearby shipwreck and was later recovered. Over time, the area drew artists and travelers, gradually growing from a remote coastal spot into a recognized community.

Haystack Rock, the tall formation rising from the water near the shore, is a protected seabird sanctuary where puffins and other birds nest. The tide pools around its base draw visitors who crouch down to spot sea stars, crabs, and anemones between the rocks.

The beach and town are open year round, though the Oregon coast weather can shift quickly even in summer. Bringing warm layers is a good idea, as fog and wind can set in at any time of day.

Cannon Beach sits in Clatsop County, Oregon, about 3,900 km west of Washington, D.C., on the Pacific shore. Its climate is mild, averaging 9 °C, with July the warmest month at about 16 °C and March the coolest at about 5 °C. Rain is heavy: roughly 2,320 mm a year, and December alone brings about 341 mm.