Haystack Rock is a 235-foot (72-meter) sea stack (a vertical column of rock in the sea near the coast formed by wave erosion) in Cannon Beach, Oregon. It is a National Wildlife Refuge where you'll discover colorful tide pools and nesting seabirds like the Tufted Puffins (right).
It is the third-tallest such "intertidal" (meaning it can be reached by land) structure in the world. A popular tourist destination, the monolithic rock is adjacent to the beach and accessible by foot at low tide. The best way to view it is up close, barefoot on the beach at low tide. The Haystack Rock tide pools are home to many intertidal animals, including starfish, sea anemone, crabs, chitons, limpets, and sea slugs. The rock is also a nesting site for many sea birds, including terns and puffins. It's a bird sanctuary and naturalists are often stationed here to guide visitor's through tide pools. Admire—but don’t bother—the marine life that dwells in the tide pools.
Composed of basalt, it was formed by lava flows emanating from the Columbia R. Basalts/Yellowstone Caldera Supervolcanos 15 million years ago. Over 300 separate flows emanated from these calderas. The lava flows traveled hundreds of miles and created many of the Oregon coast's natural features, including Tillamook Head, Arch Cape, and Saddle Mountain. Included is our own Gingko Flow, which in the space of a week traveled over 300 miles to what is now Cannon Beach, burrowing into the soft ocean sediment and in various spots re-erupting on the sea floor (then 1,000 feet lower than it is now), forming secondary, or “submarine” volcanoes. The now-eroded throat of one such formation is Haystack Rock.
Three smaller, adjacent rock formations to the south of Haystack Rock are collectively called "The Needles"
The best way to view it is up close, barefoot on the beach. Haystack Rock is a designated Marine Garden; therefore, do not take anything from the area and do not climb the rock!...even though it's tempting.
Use extreme caution while in this area, the tides are swift and easily catch the unaware visitor. If you plan of strolling the beach, beware of the tides...we don't want anyone drifting out to sea or caught somewhere high on a rock surrounded by raging sea waves. Also, as you stroll the beach, you'll often find sand dollars and a variety of shells. Occasionally you'll find the old-fashioned glass floats.
It is the third-tallest such "intertidal" (meaning it can be reached by land) structure in the world. A popular tourist destination, the monolithic rock is adjacent to the beach and accessible by foot at low tide. The best way to view it is up close, barefoot on the beach at low tide. The Haystack Rock tide pools are home to many intertidal animals, including starfish, sea anemone, crabs, chitons, limpets, and sea slugs. The rock is also a nesting site for many sea birds, including terns and puffins. It's a bird sanctuary and naturalists are often stationed here to guide visitor's through tide pools. Admire—but don’t bother—the marine life that dwells in the tide pools.
Composed of basalt, it was formed by lava flows emanating from the Columbia R. Basalts/Yellowstone Caldera Supervolcanos 15 million years ago. Over 300 separate flows emanated from these calderas. The lava flows traveled hundreds of miles and created many of the Oregon coast's natural features, including Tillamook Head, Arch Cape, and Saddle Mountain. Included is our own Gingko Flow, which in the space of a week traveled over 300 miles to what is now Cannon Beach, burrowing into the soft ocean sediment and in various spots re-erupting on the sea floor (then 1,000 feet lower than it is now), forming secondary, or “submarine” volcanoes. The now-eroded throat of one such formation is Haystack Rock.
Three smaller, adjacent rock formations to the south of Haystack Rock are collectively called "The Needles"
The best way to view it is up close, barefoot on the beach. Haystack Rock is a designated Marine Garden; therefore, do not take anything from the area and do not climb the rock!...even though it's tempting.
Use extreme caution while in this area, the tides are swift and easily catch the unaware visitor. If you plan of strolling the beach, beware of the tides...we don't want anyone drifting out to sea or caught somewhere high on a rock surrounded by raging sea waves. Also, as you stroll the beach, you'll often find sand dollars and a variety of shells. Occasionally you'll find the old-fashioned glass floats.
