Ecola State Park

Haystack Rock was wonderful. In the afternoon around 2−4pm the light makes a real surreal scene along the coast. Very nice.

This place has tourists. But they’re also people. People have clothes and jobs, generally. You will be punished if you kill them.
Aside from that, there is ocean and lava rocks sticking out of the sea.
Probably the most beautiful place ever.
But if you want less people, go to Ecola state park. Indian beach is best. On the north side of town. Some people are there also. You can’t kill these ones either.
Killing is wrong they say.

Do you love the Goonies? Did you go to see the house in Astoria only to find you can no longer walk up to it? Well then come on by this park. From here you can see some iconic images from the film to soothe the heartbreak you are probably feeling from not getting to see the house.
Haystack rock can be seen on the shores below and makes for some great pictures. You can also hike down to the beach or drive down to get closer if you want. This park was also the site of the hideout but has since been torn down. If you do your research you can still see the marks in the land from where it once stood. (For good picture ideas to capture this check out some found online.)
The road up is a very narrow and sometimes not well maintained 2 lane road. Go the speed limit so everyone is safe! It is $ 5 for entry since it is a state park. They take cash and cards. Enjoy and bring a camera!

On January 8, 1806 at modern Ecola State Park, Oregon, Captain William Clark and 12 members of the Corps of Discovery traveled through what is now the park in 1806 in search of a beached whale near present-​day Cannon Beach. After scaling the north slope of Tillamook Head and reaching one of its viewpoints, Clarke described the vista as «…the grandest and most pleasing prospects which my eyes ever surveyed.» You are walking in the footsteps of the Corps of Discovery as well as the Clatsop Tribe. Not only is Ecola State Park beautiful, but it also is a historic place where two civilizations met.
Ecola State Park runs for about 9 miles along the coastline of Oregon between Seaside and Cannon Beach. Ecola State Park is probably most famous for the beautiful scenic views it offers of the coast and Haystack Rock to the south, but there is a lot to do here. There are trails where you can go hiking, you can take trails down to the coast and go tidepooling or surfing at Indian Beach and of course there is wildlife to view as well. Make sure you bring some binoculars especially in the winter or spring because you just may get lucky enough to catch the glimpse of a whale. I’ve noticed that spotting wildlife here is either hit or miss, but usually a miss for me. I have seen droppings but that’s just not the same as actually seeing a critter. In the past I have seen deer and that was a wonderful experience. In the tide pools you’ll be able to see some sea life but you have to time your visit with the tides.
* One of the most important tips I can give you is that it gets «very windy» at the bluffs and it comes in gusts as well. So you may think, it’s not windy but it can pick up in a moment. If you have an umbrella it probably will get damaged or blown away so don’t even bother to take it out of your car. If you are wearing a hat it may blow off your head. I’d recommend taking a jacket with a hood. I have been here at least 10 times and I have seen a lot of things go flying away way too quickly for anyone to catch them. Any maps or brochures you have should be left in the car or kept in a backpack while at the bluffs or you may end up littering a beautiful place inadvertently.
As soon as you enter the park you will drive through a beautiful and thick Sitka spruce forest on a winding road. There are a lot of turns in the road and numerous sloping hills, so be careful with your speed through this area. After a few miles the spruce forest opens up to a grassy bluff which provides the visitor with beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean and the Oregon coast. Even if you only want to come here for the view and no other reason, it is well worth the entrance fee.
If you have enough time to take the trails, Ecola offers cliff side viewpoints of secluded coves, forested promontories and even an abandoned lighthouse. Some of the trails include an 8 mile segment of the Oregon Coast Trail, and a 2 ½ mile historical interpretive route called the Clatsop Loop Trail. Part of the Clatsop Loop Trail and the trail over Tillamook Head follow in the footsteps of the Lewis and Clarke Corps of Discovery.
This park is a great place to relax and also enjoy the Oregon coast. Take some time and check out the trails and hike down to Indian Beach. There is no place to buy food so bring some lunch with you and make a day of it.

This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been! Go to Indian Beach! So breathtaking! You will not be disappointed! Lots of sea creatures to see and play with. There are beautiful picnicking areas that are hidden away and private so you don’t have to be surrounded by people. Lots of hiking with an amassing beach overlook. I can’t say enough. You will love it!

Beautiful park. $ 5.00 parking fee. Hoped to see wildlife, but only saw their poop. Lots to gaze at from mountains to ocean.

This is one of our favorite beaches in Oregon. The beach is absolutely beautiful. There are a few hikes that offer breathtaking views. The hikes are not too extreme but do offer a workout. There are two vault toilets near the parking area but it is a long walk from the beach. If you like hikes with lots of eye candy, this place is a must see!

I dearly love this park! Take it slow on the narrow winding roads. Best view in OR, in my opinion.

We hiked to Indian beach. It was well worth the three miles. Played football with the family on the beach. Great day.

One of my favorite places to hike on the North Oregon Coast. My dog loves it too!
The drive up is narrow, curvy, shady and almost two miles. Pay the $ 5 fee at the machine outside the booth. Plenty of parking in the lot and a good amount of picnic tables, as well as open grassy areas. Go left to visit the view point. Go right to hike the 1.5 mile trail to the beach. The trail is very well maintained and easy to follow… don’t worry about getting lost! I would rate it as easy/​moderate since there are inclines to get your heart going. There were a few muddy areas during my visit, which was a surprise since it hasn’t rained it awhile. Although here is a sign about cougars, i wouldn’t worry about it… all I saw were a few bugs flying around. The beach is beautiful, but seems to be pretty busy with families, dogs, and surfers.

5 stars for presenting the best views of the Haystacks at Cannon Beach. This is a relatively small park, there is a fair amount of parking, and a $ 5 fee for daily use. Totally worth it given the views are breathtaking. Unlike CA, where there are beaches, this is truly the coast line and it can be foggy and cold. Even in the summer days there can be fog, so check the weather forecast before you visit. Highly recommended for the vistas. A classic photo vantage point. A must for anyone driving the Oregon Coast.

$ 5 for day use here (until 10pm). They had a machine that took both cash and credit which was nice.
The views here were STUNNING. If you think of the Oregon Coast and have an idea of what the perfect photo would look like, it would be here. The views are pretty spectacular. Also, if you’re up for a hike, those views are nice too. It gets muddy after some rainfall so please bring runners/​hiking boots if you’re doing the trail. Also, as of this week, the trail was closed connecting Ecola to Indian Beach. You can do a bit but it doesn’t connect all the way so you’ll have to drive/​bike/​walk on the road.
We saw some elk around 8pm so that was a pleasant surprise!
Indian Beach was nice but way too busy. Tons of people and just not as secluded as Cape Lookout or Hug Point.

You drive through a very lush forest on a windy narrow road to enter the park. Park fee is 5 dollars a day or if you have the annual Oregon state parks permit it’s usable here. There are quite few trails you can wander around and feel like you are the only one in this wilderness. There’s a great view of cannon beach and Haystock rock. There’s also some picnic tables where you can have a nice lunch! If you are in cannon beach, not to be missed!

I was torn between a 4 and a 5 but, for the Oregon Coast and its limitations (cool weather, not being amenable to swimming), Ecola State Park gets 5 stars. And, by the way, it also costs $ 5 to get in. That is, unless you have the $ 30 annual pass to all of the state parks. So, by giving it 5 stars, I will not have to address the feeling of «oy vey, I feel so guilty» for having given it any less.
Ecola is sort of the «view restaurant» of the Oregon State Parks system. Sure, you could partake in more activities, such as seeing additional coves and hiking along some trails, but most visitors are here for the grandeur of the scenic view looking south toward Haystack Rock. Not only that, from roughly the same area, views toward other promontories, islands, and forests are available, either to explore or photograph. (Well, you won’t easily be able to explore the islands).
It is extremely easy to get here from Cannon Beach. The access road is on the north end of town and is well marked. Note that the access road into the park is windy, heavily shaded (read: poor visibility), and often narrow, such that getting two larger vehicles through in some points might take some gymnastics.
The name Ecola has always struck a chord. I don’t know its etymology. When a kid, it reminded me of some type of cola. Then, as hypochondria set in, it reminded me of E. Coli. Then, upon traveling more, I noted that it rhymes with other places in the U.S. such as Pensacola and Apalachicola, both in Florida, so it most likely is an Indian name. After all, there is Indian Beach within Ecola State Park. It’s always interesting knowing how places are christened. So, if at the Oregon Coast, and especially if at Cannon Beach, do not miss Ecola State Park to savor its 5 star views and, potentially, your 5 star photographs.

The Ecola State Park is a must-​visit when in the Oregon Coast. With only $ 5 entrance fee, you can explore the coastal route used by Captain Clark which he called the «steepest, worst and highest mountain I ever ascended» in the winter of 1806. The park wraps around Tillamook Head and features nine miles of Pacific Ocean shoreline. The picnic area is a great place to just stand and soak up the view. You get an unobstructed view of Hay Stack Rock (spot where they filmed the bicycle scene in the «Goonies» movie). Opposite Hay Stack Rock is the inactive Tillamook Rock Lighthouse. There is a view deck below the picnic area about a half mile trek. Nothing like a bird’s eye view of the gorgeous Oregon Coast!

Yes, this park is as amazing as advertised. The views over the pacific, over nearby Cannon Beach and the familiar Haystack Rock, over Tillamook Rock Lighthouse are all obvious reasons to check it out. If that doesn’t do it for you then maybe the beautiful hiking trails will convince you to go. If you still could care less then maybe you’ll go knowing that parts of THE GOONIES movie was filmed at this park! The Fratelli Family hideout? Brand’s hilarious bike scene? Yup… filmed at Ecola State Park. Seriously… it’s a beautiful place and should be on your list of places to see should you visit the Oregon coast.
$ 5 entrance fee. Easily worth it.

From a surfer’s point of view:]
I love this park! $ 5 day pass is required, just spend it!
because while the rest of the rift raft head over to seaside and cannon beach for free, I get into this park and have huge piece of mind that I won’t be picking up someone else’s trash, that my stuff is going to be «okay» if I turn my back, and at the least there is always going to be a great view of the surf.
Parking lot:]
I love the parking lot proximity to the beach, trail head, garbage, and toilets.
Upon entering at the bottom you pay or show your parking pass, go three miles in on a beautiful drive down a narrow road that winds throughout mother natures’ veins. Twice now I have had some amazing elk/​deer (not sure which 4 legged animal it was?) off in the trees, pretty awesome for mother nature lovers.
The first parking lot you see on your way in is the overfill, try to head in further to the main parking lot, now if that is full, just drive full circle around and head back to the overfill.
Surf:]
I can’t tell you if the surf is amazing or not that depends on mother nature’s mood. I can tell you what I do love about Ecola state park is: the long stretch of beach and how little I have had to deal with kites and smokey bonfires at this park (seaside is kite attack central). when surfing it is just nice to be able to unload and be on the beach front and off of it just as easily.

This is a beautiful park and well worth the $ 5 entrance fee. I hiked the trail down to Crescent Beach, and it was a relatively short, 1.5-mile moderate hike down to the water, at which point we walked up and down the shore among the dramatic cliffs.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get to spend too much time at this park, but from what we saw and did, I would definitely recommend it. It’s not as crowded or populated as Cannon Beach, so the park and the beaches feel much more secluded and quiet, which I appreciated.

Well worth a short side trip from Cannon Beach! You can’t really get much of a view of Cannon Beach if you stop along the small strip in town, gotta take the harrowing cruise up into Ecola State Park for the really gorgeous views. It’s worth the five dollar entry fee, as someone mentioned, you can pay for it via debit machine at the entrance. There’s an ample parking lot, plenty of picnic benches if you want to bring some food with you. Was able to take some nice photos and glad we did this as we were driving down from Seattle along Highway 101 to Tillamook, then onto Portland.

Ecola State Park is very picturesque. It was one of the filming locations in the movie, The Goonies so you may recognize this location. It is located in Cannon Beach. As you get off the Cannon Beach exit on US-​101, there is a sign on your right directing you to this park.
As this is a Oregon State Park, there is a $ 5 day fee. Though you don’t pay it until you reach the pay meter nearly 2 miles up the road. The road getting up to park is incredibly narrow, so make sure to go slowly and watch for cars on the other side.
After receiving my parking receipt, I reached an intersection. One to head to the viewpoint and one to Indian Beach. I decided to go to the viewpoint and parked in the big parking lot that they have there. After getting out, I was amazed to see one of the most gorgeous views that I have ever seen in my life.
There is a great view of the Pacific Ocean here as well as of the many rocks just off Cannon Beach. You can also see the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse from here. Though you need to walk on one of the side paths to get a better shot.
As the park is located at a higher elevation above the water, there is also plenty of trees and other flora to be seen here as well. Not only does this park offer a great view, but there are also picnic tables here making it a great spot to have a nice outdoors lunch.
Though both are worth visiting, I have to say that I liked Ecola even better than my trip to Cannon Beach down below. The viewpoint offers sweeping ocean views and a better look of the surrounding area.