Ecola State Park
4.8(4.3K)google
4.8(198)yelp
Hiking TrailScenic LookoutFamilyOutdoorPhotography SpotOcean ViewMust-SeeBeachForest
Overview
Ecola State Park is a state park located approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Cannon Beach in Clatsop County in the U.S. state of Oregon on the Oregon Coast. It is administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The park was home to the Tillamook and Clatsop for millennia before European colonization.
Practical Info
Every day6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Suggested Duration2-4 hours
Best TimeSunrise from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM or late afternoon after 5:30 PM from May through October is the magical window. This headland park sits perched on a craggy cliff edge blanketed in old-growth Sitka spruce temperate rainforest. The low-angled sun rays pierce the mossy forest canopy to cast dramatic long silhouettes, framing the sweeping coastal panoramic view from Ecola Point overlooking the misty sea stacks below.
Getting TherePerched dramatically on the rugged headland just north of Cannon Beach. Driving is the exclusive means of transit: leave highway US-101 North following the brown state park emblems, merge onto Ecola State Park Road, and ride this narrow, winding single-lane paved forest corridor for 2 miles up the coastal ridge straight to the paved cliffside lots. No public transit routes serve this wilderness ecosystem preserve.
Travel Tips
- The main access road (Ecola Park Road) to Ecola Point and Indian Beach sits on highly unstable coastal cliffs and suffers catastrophic washouts and tree falls after winter rain. Check the Oregon State Parks active alerts prior to departure. Motorhomes or trailers exceeding 24 feet in length are permanently banned due to sharp hairpin turns.
- A mandatory $5 daily vehicle permit is required and must be purchased via the credit-card-only automated machines at the entrance and displayed on the dash. Due to extremely finite parking spaces, rangers implement strict one-in-one-out vehicle metering during summer middays; avoid 1-hour queues by entering before 08:00.
- Indian Beach is notorious for violent hidden rip currents and submerged razor-sharp sea stacks; do not enter the water without advanced ocean surf experience. When trekking the Clatsop Loop, coastal mud and damp wooden footbridges are coated in slick moss; heavy-lug, waterproof hiking boots are vital to avoid fractures.
Reviews
Positive
- Standing on the cliff-edge viewing deck offers sweeping views of Cannon Beach and sea stacks amid the surf; the rugged coastline view is top-notch.
- The trails winding through giant Sitka spruce old-growth forests are serene, leading all the way to secluded Indian Beach to watch surfers—tons of fun.
- The park hosts numerous ocean-overlooking lawns and wooden picnic tables with clear signs; accessible ramps ensure seniors reach the main lookout.
- A few dollars per car covers a full day of world-class coastal vistas—exceptional value—and herds of Roosevelt elk are often seen near the forest edge.
Heads up
- Due to cliff-side locations and heavy rains, the main access road frequently suffers landslides or washouts, causing abrupt months-long closures.
- Parking at Indian Beach is very limited, and being coastal, the restrooms are mostly chemical portable toilets, lacking cleanliness and smelling bad.
- The forested forest trails are perpetually muddy and slick with exposed roots and deep puddles; without waterproof hiking boots, wiping out is common.
- There are no concessions or vending spots selling food or water inside; if you plan to hike all day, you must pack in all supplies yourself.