Hug Point State Recreation Area, just five miles south of Cannon Beach, boasts a seasonal waterfall, sea caves, and a historic stagecoach road.

distance: 0.5 miles (round trip)
elevation gain: 20 ft.
difficulty: easy
drive time from Portland: 1.5 hours
parking pass: none
tide tables: TidesChart – Hug Point
Oregon State Parks: Hug Point State Recreation Area

To reach Hug Point, drive 5 miles south of Cannon Beach on Highway 101. Turn right at the sign for Hug Point. A small parking lot, restrooms and picnic tables are available for public use. No fees or passes are needed. This area is best visited at low tide.

Hug Point’s stagecoach road was used by early pioneers when traveling along the beach was the only way to access coastal towns. At low tide, the ruts from the wagons are still visible in the sandstone rock and it’s possible to make it around the point to a beach on the north side. Make sure to know where the tides are since it’s easy to get trapped here.

This sea cave was created by ocean waves eroding the the soft sandstone rock.

The old stagecoach road is visible at low tide.

View to the south of Hug Point

This beach can be reached by following the old stagecoach road around the point.

View towards Cannon Beach to the north

As we were getting ready to leave, the sky lit up with bright color so we stayed until it faded.