Haystack Hill, Cannon Beach OR, 11/21/15

Haystack Rock from Haystack Hill
Haystack Rock from Haystack Hill

We spent this past weekend (drove south on Friday, 11/20, drove back today, 11/22) in Cannon Beach, OR.  I had checked the area for hikes and found one I thought would be interesting.  Haystack Hill, which according to the trip reports culminated at a viewing platform placed directly across from the local attraction, Haystack Rock.

Viewing platform
Viewing platform

And I was so happy to find the platform.  It was a slightly confusing (and therefore rather fun) route.

First, just finding the trail head was not easy.  I walked south thru Cannon Beach, had to detour once because the street I was on disappeared for a couple of blocks.  Then I had to follow a tsunami evacuation route through a couple of private backyards and, finally, someone’s driveway.

But I did eventually spy a trail and started up.

There were plenty of side trails and I checked them all out.  One of them led to the top of the hill, elevation about 200 feet.  Elevation at the trail head was 10 feet.  A little different elevation profile than the one we are used to east of Seattle.

Anyway, the trail itself was OK:

The trail
The trail

All told, the round trip was just under 4 miles with not enough elevation gain to even talk about.  I found out this morning, driving into Ecola State Park with Jan, that I could have had a much longer and tougher hike had I headed a couple of blocks west and then north.  Good to remember for our next visit.

Here is the local attraction from the beach north of the rock:

View of Haystack Rock from the north
View of Haystack Rock from the north

And here, to jog my memory later, is where we had breakfast on Saturday – excellent stuff!

Breakfast on Saturday
Breakfast on Saturday

I love Cannon Beach, at least now I do, having experienced it off-season.  Great town (we saw “Once Upon a Mattress” at the local theatre), great environment.  We will be back.