Cannon Beach & Northern Coast: Private Day Trip from Portland

A stunning vantage point over the Pacific Ocean, the Northern Oregon Coast makes for a refreshing day trip from Portland. Your driver-guide will help you uncover the rugged beauty of the beaches, forests, and natural wonders of the area, taking you on a scenic route through some of the best-known towns as well as hidden gems.

On this private full-day excursion, you will:

• Enjoy round-trip transportation to and from your hotel in Portland;
• Step back in time to Portland’s Golden Age at the Camp 18 Museum;
• Take in the breathtaking views at Ecola State Park;
• Explore the charming Cannon Beach;
• Marvel at the stunning Haystack Rock;
• Discover the enchanting beach and limestone caves at Hug Point State Park;
• Pass through Oswald West State Park, the largest on the Oregon Coast;
• Take a fascinating hike through an old-growth forest harbouring massive Sitka spruce to arrive at the secluded Short Sands Beach and legendary Smugglers Cove;
• Revel in the beautiful coastal vistas at Neahkahnie Viewpoint.

No trip to the Pacific Northwest would be complete without seeing (or dipping your toes into) the Pacific Ocean. The Northern Oregon Coast offers a mix of scenery, history, nature, and culture that ensures it is well worth the trip from nearby Portland.

Your excursion will begin from your hotel in Portland city centre, where your driver-guide will pick you up and head westwards towards the coast. On the way, you will make a stop at the unique and historical Camp 18 museum. With its open-air exhibits, Camp 18 gives visitors an insight into Oregon’s rich logging history. You will see a range of authentic artefacts and machinery used in the logging industry, which brought great prosperity to the Portland area in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. You will then journey onwards to your next stop and your first taste of sea air: Ecola State Park. The park is known for its dramatic ocean views and excellent hiking trails. You will be able to enjoy a spectacular view of the famous sea stack-studded coastline, which has served as the backdrop for many Hollywood movies, including Point Break, Twilight, and The Goonies.

The next stop of the day will be the charming city of Cannon Beach. Known for its natural beauty as well as its arts scene, you will be given plenty of time to explore the myriad of galleries, boutique shops, cafes, and restaurants, as well as stroll along its wide sandy beaches. You will also get a closer look at Haystack Rock, the largest and most famous sea stack in Oregon. Rising a whopping 235 feet from the shore, this stunning basalt rock formation serves as a wildlife refuge and is surrounded by tide pools filled with marine life. As such, it is an excellent place for beachcombing and tide pooling.

After your in-depth exploration of Cannon Beach, your next stop will be Hug Point State Park, where you will find another wonderful beach with sandstone caves, a waterfall, and a 19th-century road carved into the headland. You will also get the chance to visit Oswald West State Park, the largest in Oregon and considered by many to be the most scenic. Within the park, you will find the lovely Short Sand beach, famous for its peaceful atmosphere and ocean views. From there, you will embark upon an enchanting hike through an old-growth forest harbouring massive Sitka spruce, western red cedar, and Douglas-fir trees, eventually reaching the secluded Smuggler Cove. Protected by a crescent-shaped bay, you will soon see why this picturesque inlet is popular with surfers and photographers alike. Urban legend suggests pirate treasure lies buried somewhere near Smuggler Cove, although it is yet to be found. Before returning to Portland, the final stop of the day will be at Neahkahnie Viewpoint. Located at the foot of Neahkahnie mountain and overlooking the town of Manzanita, it enjoys unrivalled panoramic coastal views and is the perfect place to end our enthralling day on the Oregon coast.

Your driver-guide will then bring you back to Portland, where you have the option to return to your hotel or another location of your choosing in the downtown area, invigorated from a memorable day discovering some of the most beautiful places in Oregon.