The Haystack Rock Awareness Program (HRAP) has been a City of Cannon Beach program since 1985.

Our program operates a Beach Interpreter Program every February through October. Our dedicated team of Interpreters are out on the beach during every daytime low tide. They are present to answer questions, point out interesting sights, offer inspiration, and share with visitors aspects of tidepool etiquette as well as educate visitors on the state and federal laws and agencies that manage the area.

HRAP has a small but mighty team! Our program is made up of three year-round staff members, several Interpreters, OSU Sea Grant Scholars, Interns, and between 60-200 volunteers!

Despite our similar names and mission, Haystack Rock Awareness Program (HRAP) and Friends of Haystack Rock (FOHR) are two separate entities.

HRAP is a City of Cannon Beach program whose mission revolves primarily around conservation through education. Please see the page on Our Partners for more information on FOHR.

Haystack Rock is protected by regulations on both the federal and state level.

All land above the mean high tide line (barnacle line) is overseen by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. This land is designated as a Wilderness Sanctuary and designated as a Wilderness Sanctuary and is closed to the public at all times. While not open to the public, responsible tidepooling and viewing are encouraged.

All beaches in Oregon are public and thus the region below the mean high tide line (barnacle line) is overseen primarily by Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

The Cannon Beach Police Department will also patrol and respond to calls at Haystack Rock.

Additionally, the Oregon Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) and Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) provide additional designations and regulation via the Oregon Territorial Sea Plan and Rocky Habitat Management Strategy. Currently, Haystack Rock is designated as a Marine Garden (Marine Education Area).

Haystack Rock is home to sensitive shore birds, houses hundreds of nesting sea birds, and is prone to erosion.

All land above the mean high tide line (barnacle line) is overseen by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. This land is designated as a Wilderness Sanctuary and is closed to public use. While not open to the public, responsible tidepooling and viewing are encouraged.

The rocks below the barnacle line that are exposed at low tide is the home to millions of sea creatures. We encourage people to follow proper tidepool etiquette and avoid stepping on rocks that have creatures living on, under, and around them.

The ocean and rocky shore habitats are complex ecosystems that face many challenges due to climate change, habitat loss, and increased human traffic – we aim to minimize our impact to preserve this area as much as possible for future generations.

Collecting shells or animals is not allowed at Haystack Rock without a permit.

The harvesting of invertebrates and marine aquatic vegetation is strictly prohibited. However, a single mussel may be harvested to be used as bait.

As of May 1, 2026, drone use is prohibited on Oregon State Parks properties and ocean shores, this includes Cannon Beach and its surrounding beaches. It is also important to know that harassing or disturbing a nesting seabird with a drone is federally illegal even if done unintentionally. Therefore, we suggest you keep your drone at least 500 feet away to ensure you do not unintentionally disrupt or cause harm to the wildlife sanctuary, especially during the spring through fall nesting season. Please see the Drone Regulations page for more details.

Yes, fires on the beach are common in the summer time.

Here are some ways you can prevent wildfires

• Be aware of burn bans in effect

• Keep your fire 25 feet away from dune grass

• Never leave your fire unattended

• Beach fires should never be extinguished with sand, only water

• Only natural, untreated wood and paper may be burned. Burning driftwood is illegal.

Dogs are welcome on most ocean beaches and state parks. Dogs are allowed to be off leash as long as they are under voice control of their owner; however, at and around the Haystack Rock Marine Garden, dogs must be kept on leash. This not only protects your furry friends, but also the nesting sea and shore birds that call Haystack Rock home.

The nearest public restroom is located at 1188 S Hemlock St.

From Haystack Rock, it is about a 12 to 15 minutes walk to the restroom - so it’s best to go before you head out!

The Oregon Coast has unpredictable weather patterns. Wind and temperatures can range drastically in a day, we generally recommend rain gear, boots or water shoes, and layers.

The great thing about tide pooling is you don’t need much beyond appropriate clothing and your own sense of wonder and discovery. Plan on getting your feet and hands wet and to spend a decent amount of time in a crouching position while you explore. Since many tidepool creatures are quite small, a macro lens for photos or a magnifying glass can be two helpful optional tools. If you are bringing your cell phone, we recommend using the mobile apps iNaturalist and Seek to help with species identification and logging.

The forces that cause ocean tides is a complex system, generally they are created by gravitational pull of the moon and sun relative to earth. There is additional centrifugal force placed on oceans due to the earth and moon revolving round their center of mass. We generally see the highest high tides during the winter and the lowest low tides during the summer due to the earth’s tilt relative to the moon and sun. Together these predictable forces are in part what allow for regular tide calculations; however, tides will also be impacted by less predictable forces such as wind, storm, rivers, and pressure changes. Sometimes these unpredictable forces can make a high or low tide earlier, later, higher, or lower than the calculated tide table states.

Tide estimates are provided by the National Ocean Survey and National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) based on reference station averages and adjusted actuals; for Haystack Rock we use estimates done for North Jetty, WA.

Generally, there will be two high tides and two low tides every 24 hours, each shifting about 50 minutes later each day. For some 24-hour periods there will only be three tides with the fourth tide occurring after midnight. Tide heights are measured in feet and tenths of a foot with a fixed reference of 0.0 (zero). The smaller or more negative the number, the lower the tide. When we refer to a “minus tide” this means below sea level, leaving more land exposed; minus tides are the most ideal tide conditions for tide pooling.

Yes! Haystack Rock is home to the largest on-shore Tufted Puffin Colony in the Continental United States.

Tufted puffins nest at Haystack Rock from April through August. Look for them outside their burrows on the grassy null on the north side of the rock. You may also spot them flying around.

The puffins tend to be the most active in the morning to early afternoon, but activity can vary daily. We recommend trying to spot them between 8 AM to 11 AM.

They can be difficult to spot and distinguish with the naked eye, we recommend using spotting scopes and binoculars during morning low tides for optimal puffin viewing.

Don’t have a pair of binoculars? We have some you can borrow! Ask one of our Interpreters (red jackets) to borrow a pair.

This brownish foam is actually due to diatoms! Diatoms are a type of phytoplankton (or algae) which commonly have ‘blooms’ (rapid reproduction and increase in population size) periodically. These blooms occur in response to larger amounts of nitrates entering the ocean system from rivers, for us primarily the Columbia River. When these blooms happen, larger amounts of decaying organic matter in the form of sea foam (in this case brown sea foam) washes up to shore. The North Coast tends to see these large blooms most regularly during the spring and early summer, but they can happen any time during the year.

Brown foam from diatom blooms often cause concern with the public, especially since the foam doesn’t look like ‘typical’ beach foam (which itself is still made of various dissolved organic material including other species of phytoplankton) because the brown foam from diatom blooms can sometimes have an ‘oilier’ appearance and look more like it could be caused by an oil spill or other pollutant. Rest assured, this is oil-like foam is still completely natural and normal.

It may not be the prettiest, but these blooms are a part of a healthy thriving ocean environment and essential to the food web. Part of the reason for the large razor clam population in our region is due to the dense plankton populations; like any ecosystem the more densely populated the ‘bottom’ of the food web, the better it is for species closer to the top such as whales, sea lions, seals, and sea birds. In that way, we have these single celled algae to thank for much of our rich biodiversity here.

So, don’t worry, the ocean is still safe to walk in, surf in, and fish in!

Give it space! All marine mammals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). This federal law makes it illegal to move, touch, harass, feed, or kill marine mammals.

In the event that you encounter a marine mammal, whether alive or deceased, please notify the Marine Mammal Stranding Network at (541) 270-6830 or the Seaside Aquarium at (503) 738-6211. We ask that you also inform our program so we can take necessary measures, such as placing signs to establish a safe zone around the animal, and assist in contacting the relevant authorities for further assistance.

It is important that beached seals or sea lions be left alone and both people and pets are kept away from the animal. Often, these animals are healthy and just in need of rest. Young pups, who may appear abandoned, are often just resting and waiting while their mother rests or hunts for food.

Injured seals and sea lions are not rehabilitated in Oregon, except for endangered species such as the Guadalupe Fur Seal which may occasionally be seen on our shores. Our partners at the Seaside Aquarium are part of the Marine Mammal Stranding Network and can rescue these animals if feasible. Additionally, if a marine mammal is found on the shore dead, please contact the Seaside Aquarium who will help to arrange a necropsy.

Our partners at the Wildlife Center of the North Coast (WCNC) work to rescue and rehabilitate seabirds, native birds, and most native terrestrial mammals. If you find injured, sick, or orphaned wildlife please call the WCNC Wildlife Rescue Hotline at 503-338-0331.

Wildlife Rescue Tips

• Always contact your local wildlife rescue center before interacting with sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife.

• If capturing the animal is necessary, cover its head and body with a towel or clothing. Be sure to keep the animal away from your face, and hold it down low by your hips. Be aware that wildlife can cause injury especially when feeling threatened.

• Keep the animal in a cardboard box or kennel with holes large enough to allow airflow. Keep a towel on the bottom of the container, ensure the lid is closed, and keep the container in a dark, quiet place.

• Avoid excessive contact with the animal. Stress is a common killer to injured wildlife so give the animal space. Be sure to keep children and pets away.

• Do not feed or give water to the animal without first speaking to your local wildlife rescue.

• Keep the animal warm, especially if it is wet.

• In the case of abandoned wildlife, please contact your local wildlife rescue before intervening. The parents may be nearby even if not visible.

If you find injured, sick, or orphaned wildlife while our program is on the beach, please let us know! Depending on availability, we can rescue and arrange the transport of the injured animal to WCNC. If our program is not present, please contact WCNC directly.