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Located just 5 miles south of Cannon Beach, the Hug Point State Recreation Site is the perfect beach to explore when you want a mix of history, marine life wonders, gorgeous scenery, and peaceful headlands. Complete with convenient parking, restrooms, secret beaches, and more, this is one stop along the Northern Oregon coast that’s well worth it.
As you plan your visit, be sure to check the tide chart for the day, as most of the things you’ll want to see are only visible at low tide.
With more than 40 acres, this beach park is great for families visiting with kids, couples looking for easy hikes, or anyone who just wants to take in the scenic views. Keep in mind, though, it can get busy in spring and summer, so plan accordingly.
Visible at low tide, tide pools are a beautiful microcosm of the ocean. Filled with colorful sea stars, crabs, sea urchins, sea slugs, mussels, barnacles, and more, they’re a great way to get up close to creatures you may not otherwise get to see.
Best seen in fall and winter or after a good rain, the Hug Point waterfall is a great spot to let little ones splash or grab a great photo. To get there, exit the beach access onto the shore, turn right, and walk about a quarter mile. Once you round a rock that encloses part of the beach, you’ll be there!
Years of pounding waves have eaten away the soft sandstone cliffs of Hug Point, leaving behind two ethereal beach caves for you to explore. Located near the waterfall, these caves are accessible at low tide and are a great spot to find tide pools. While one cave is relatively shallow, the other extends fairly deep into the rock. Always pay attention to the tides when you’re exploring, and make sure you’re out of there before high tide rolls back in.
Hug Point got its name from the late 19th-century travelers who used to traverse the stretch of coastline by stagecoach. At low tide, they could just barely make their way around the rocks that divide the beach, having to hug the point to avoid the water. Thus, its name was born and has stood the test of time. Keep an eye out for the wheel ruts left in the rocks when you visit!
Getting to Hug Point is easy! Just follow Oregon’s coastal Highway 101 south from Cannon Beach for about six minutes until you reach the Hug Point Beach Access Road and turn right. There’s a decently sized (free) parking area near the bathrooms with a path you follow straight to the beach.
Booking a vacation rental with Beachcomber Vacation Homes offers plenty of options for staying near Hug Point as well as other popular spots like Haystack Rock or Tolovana State Park. Plus, when you book a stay directly with us, you get local expertise to help you plan exciting vacation adventures, and you’ll have the peace of mind that comes with knowing you got the best rate on your stay.
Booking directly lets you bypass the third-party fees of online travel agencies like Booking.com or Vrbo. It also gives you access to specials only available through our site. And as if that’s not enough, all Beachcomber guests get up to $290 in free offers at local businesses thanks to our Xplorie Benefits Program!
So, what are you waiting for? Check out our Cannon Beach vacation rentals and book your stay near Hug Point State Park today!
You can! Hug Point is dog-friendly. Just make sure if your dog is off leash, it’s under your complete control. That means it’s always in sight and responds to your voice commands or other methods of control. You’ll also need to have a leash with you. And as always, clean up after your pup.
To protect our native nesting shore bird populations, drones are not allowed at Hug Point.
Yes! The Hug Point Trail is an easy .7-mile out-and-back trail that takes around 16 minutes to complete, and it’s also dog-friendly. Want a more secret spot? Head right from the parking lot, up a narrow trail past some picnic tables. Just beyond that point, you’ll find a clearing with an excellent aerial view of Hug Point – great for photo ops.
