- Cannon Beach
Cannon Beach is a long, soft-sanded beach where dogs can walk on leash. There are lots of big beach houses along the edge of the cliffs overlooking the beach. This beach is famous for its Haystack Rock that protrudes from the ocean and is accessible at low tide.
2. Short Sand Beach
I paid $12 for an out of state parking pass to access this beach, but it was totally worth it. I walked Oswald West trail to get to the Cedar Crossing beach trail, but there is a network of multiple trails that will take you out to the beach, so you can choose whichever route you would like. All of the trails were so beautiful, with lots of rivers and cascading waters along them. This is the type of place I wouldn’t mind getting “lost” wandering around the trails and then finding my way out. It took us about 0.5 miles to reach the beach. The beach is a gold sand beach with some cool rivers and waterfalls that flow directly into the ocean. There was only one other person there when I went on a March weekday, a surfer, so I let Max run the length of the beach off leash. Short Sand Beach is a really great spot because it gives you a combination of hiking trails and beach, as well as lots of fresh water options if your dog gets thirsty. Altogether with the trails and the beach we put in about 2 miles, but you could easily do more or less. I couldn’t recommend this beach enough.
3. Cape Meares Lighthouse
If you want to hike on your visit to Cape Meares Lighthouse, there is a trailhead at the top of the “driveway” that leads to the lighthouse. Alternatively, you can enter the driveway and park at the larger parking lot at the end. There is a downhill, paved path to the lighthouse, which makes the walk back an uphill incline. The lighthouse is free to visit and has a seasonal gift shop. There are some other viewing decks to check out as well. Built in 1889, the lighthouse is known for its powerful first-order Fresnel lens. The lighthouse is only 38 feet tall, making it the shortest on the Oregon coast.
4. Devil’s Punchbowl
There is a smaller parking lot located at the top of the hill and closest to Devil’s Punchbowl, as well as a larger parking lot further down the hill and requiring a longer walk. The entire cliff is fenced off with a walking path around it and an aerial view of the punchbowl. There are also lots of grassy areas for your dog to walk around. This was a quick stop, but worth it to see the unique hollow rock formation. I guess during low tide you can also take a trail down to explore the bowl itself.
5. Yaquina Head Lighthouse
Built in 1873, the lighthouse is 93 feet tall, making it the tallest lighthouse in Oregon. Dogs are allowed on the trails that are on the grounds and in the tide pool area down on the beach, but not up close to the lighthouse itself. However, I still believe this lighthouse is worth a visit. Due to its size, it is still possible to get a good view of it from a distance, especially if you stand on top of the tall hill located at the center of the parking lot. Max enjoyed exploring that beach, although the rocks on the beach are very large and it feels as though you are walking on a ball pit. There are a lot of stairs to get down to the beach, but the view is worth it. There is a fee to enter Yaquina Head Lighthouse, but my annual national park pass covered me. They even gave Max a treat at the window!
6. Governor Patterson State Park
A short path from the parking lot opens up to a large beach with massive pieces of driftwood and tree trunks scattered across the sand. Further down the beach you will also find some large sand dunes, which Max had a blast exploring. We arrived early on a rainy morning and the beach was deserted, so I let Max off leash to explore the driftwood and sand dunes. He had so much fun and even met another friendly dog out exploring.
7. Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint
There is a $12 parking fee for out of state residents to visit the viewpoint. The cliff is fenced off with a short, paved path around the perimeter. There is a long wooden staircase that leads down to the beach. Be careful that you don’t get stuck on the beach during high tide because parts of it are only accessible when the tide is low. This was a quick stop for us to take in the views from up top the cliff and explore the beach a little bit.
8. Samuel H Boardman Scenic Corridor
This is a 12 mile stretch along US-101 that has many scenic overlooks and places to pull over and take pictures. The rugged coastline is known for its dramatic sea stacks, secret beaches, and scenic viewpoints. Our favorite spot was the Nature Bridge Viewpoint and we even hiked some of the trail there.
