24 Hours in Cannon Beach, Oregon

If you've read our post about Cape Falcon, you may be aware of how enamored we are with the majesty of the Oregon Coast. Rather than doing another Oregon trip where we drive 8 hours to play for 5, we decided to spend the night this go round. If you're keen for an overnight getaway that will give you the ideal mix of rest, renewal, and adventure, we've got you covered.

Inn at Haystack Rock.

Stay... The Inn at Haystack Rock is a lovely collection of cottages in a charming neighborhood that's walking distance to just about everything (including coffee and the beach). Our suite had spa robes, a soaking tub, a fireplace, a little patio, and a full kitchen. There's also a darling courtyard with a fountain, a mural, cherry trees, and benches hidden beneath aromatic flowering vines.

A cup of Insomnia on the beach and sights along Hemlock Street.

Coffee (and a stroll)... We already mentioned Sleepy Monk in our Cape Falcon post (still recommended, especially for their gluten-free baked goods), but this time we decided to try a new cafe: Insomnia Coffee. Insomnia makes an exceptional latte--full-bodied (even with almond milk) and perfectly balanced (even when you order decaf). The baristas also made K a killer mocha and remembered Bella's order from the day before, which won major brownie points. The town of Cannon Beach is also a lovely place to stroll, with dozens of charming shops flanking Hemlock Street.

Walks along the beach.

Beach... Pretty much any place you enter the beach in Cannon Beach will be beautiful. We lucked out and go a sunny, 70 degree day, so we had proper beach weather in April. We checked into our hotel, walked to Insomnia, and then went straight to the end of the road to enter the sand from there. The sand at Cannon Beach is squeaky, which was a great source of amusement for us all. An internet search says this quality is due to high concentrations of feldspar and exceptionally round, smooth grains of sand.

Restaurant... Our second visit to Public Coast Brewing Co was just as delicious and chill as our last visit (detailed here). We opted for gluten-free fish & chips with the local catch (cod); gluten-free onion rings; and a root beer float made with Tillamook ice cream. It was the perfect post-beach/pre-hike experience to fuel our sunset excursion.

Shots from South Neahkahnie.

Hike... We decided to catch the sunset from South Neahkahnie Mountain Trail, which turned out to be pretty epic. It's worth noting that the turnoff for the trailhead is extremely easy to miss, so if you're aiming for sunset, you'd be wise to allow extra time. The hike is 3.4 miles with a 1,066 ft elevation gain--if you don't take a wrong turn. I was rushing to make sure we didn't miss the sunset and happened to go off on a side hike which involved crawling under downed trees and skirting rock ledges and added some mileage. The All Trails page notes that this is a popular trail, so you're likely to see other hikers. Much to our joy, we only saw birds.

Panorama from the summit.

Also note that to get to the view here, you have to climb a giant pile of rocks. Apparently there's a path around the back, but in typical future wild fashion, we didn't see it and went the hard way. I like to think that made the view even sweeter, but it's certainly safer to follow the trail, so you may want to go that route. This wouldn't have been doable with Evie, so while it is dog-friendly (on-leash), it might not be a great idea if your pup is prone to pulling or gets worried about you being high up, as Evie does. If you go at sunset, be sure to bring flashlights/headlamps. There are lots of rocks and roots and possibly the most switchbacks we've ever seen on a trail, so going back down in the dark would be a recipe for disaster without light of some kind. That being said, this was an unforgettable hike, and one we'd definitely recommend.

On our way to check out the puffins' nesting grounds.

Puffins... It turns out the beautiful Tufted Puffin nests on Haystack Rock from April-July. They can be seen in the morning at low tide when you can walk out close to the rocks. We were pretty tuckered out from our hike the night before, so we didn't get to the rocks until about 8:30am. There were a few dozen people bird-watching when we arrived. They told us we'd just missed a little group of puffins, so if you go it's worth trying to be on the beach at low tide or maybe 30 minutes before for the best chance of a sighting. The Haystack Rock Awareness Program also offers interpretive programs on the puffins and other wildlife that can be spotted in the area.

Breakfast... After our puffin search, we headed to the Local Grill & Scoop for breakfast. We were the first customers and got to enjoy the town while it was still half-asleep, which was a treat. There's something magical about a sleepy weekend breakfast, especially when you can sit outside in a light chill with hot food and drink. In addition to the standard breakfast fare, Local Grill offers gluten-free bread, almond milk cappuccino, and a dog-friendly patio. We will definitely be returning on our next trip.

Candy... You'll find other sweets shops closer to Local Grill & Scoop, but keep walking until you come to Bruce's Candy Kitchen. It's a charming, family-owned and run shop that has in-house made saltwater taffy and fudge, along with a wide array of unique sweets (Prosecco gummy bears anyone?)

Go Karts & Mini Golf... Captain Kid is technically in Seaside, but we're including it since it's only a 10 minute drive and it's a great thing to do on an overcast day or on your way out of town. Our second day in Cannon Beach, the temperature was about 20 degrees lower than it had been the first day, so we were very happy to have an activity that lent itself to being a bit more bundled up. We played a fun round of mini golf and then hit the go karts. It was a great way to end our mini-vacation before driving back north.

We hope you enjoy your 24 hours (or longer) in Cannon Beach as much as we did.

Happy journeying,