The Iconic Ecola State Park: Everything You Need to Know

Ecola State Park is the perfect place to see the Oregon coast.  With incredible overlooks, 2 great beaches and some cool hiking trails, you won’t want to miss this park.

But why is it Iconic?  Cannon Beach is an iconic location on the Oregon coast, and Ecola State Park overlooks this beach.  AND this park is where much of “The Goonies” was filmed!  So not only do you get iconic Oregon coast views, you also get to see a cool filming location. 

Today we’ll be discussing everything you need to know about Ecola State Park.  From fees, to the view points, to the hiking trails and all the other details you’ll need.  Let’s jump right in.  

Important Links

• Ecola State Park website
• List of Hiking Trails (AllTrails)
• Ecola State Park Trail Map
• Camping Checklist Freebie – A Useful Camping Checklist
• Hiking Backpack Checklist Freebie – Be Prepared on the Trails
• Hiking Journal – Never Forget the Details of Your Favorite Hikes Again!
• Camping Journal – Never Forget Your Camping Trips Details Again!

Location

Let’s start with the location of the park.  Ecola State Park is located in Cannon Beach, OR, just 15 minutes from the iconic beach. If you are headed to the northern Oregon coast, this is a must visit location.

If you’re roadtripping the Pacific Northwest, you’re looking at a 1.5 hour drive from Portland, OR, a 2.5 hour drive from Salem, OR, or about a 4 hour drive from Seattle, WA.  But even with those longer drive times, Ecola State Park is worth visiting!

Hours

Ecola State Park is open from sunrise to sunset each day.  In other words, if it’s daylight, the park is open.  

Fees

Next up, let’s discuss the fees. Ecola State Park has a daily fee, just like most Oregon State Parks.  Even if you are just going to walk on the beach, you have to pay that fee to park. 

The fee is $10 for Oregon Residents and $12 for Out of State Visitors.

At the parking lot there is a QR code that you can scan and use to pay the fee.  BUT you might not have phone service here.  So in order to not risk getting a fine, here are a few suggestions!

Pay Ahead of Time

The first option is to purchase your Day Use Parking Permit online ahead of time.  This pass is valid for an entire day and can be used at all of the state parks for that day.  In other words, if you are planning on visiting Fort Stevens State Park, Tolovana Beach State Recreation Area, and/or Tunnel Beach all in one day, this pass will cover you. 

And the second option is to purchase an Oregon State Parks Annual Pass. This pass gives you access to all of Oregon State Parks and Beaches for 12 months from the month of purchase.  The resident pass is $60 and the non-resident pass is $75. 

The annual pass only makes sense if you are planning on visiting several state parks/beaches on several different days.  Whether you are an Oregon resident or not, the park pass only makes sense if you are planning on visiting any park more than 6 days in the year. If this applies to you, then this pass is the way to go.    

Just make sure the math makes sense before you purchase, or you might be wasting some money.

Let’s take a look at the parking and then we’ll get to all the amazing things you can do in Ecola State Park.

Parking

The main parking lot is known as Ecola Point Viewpoint and can be found here.  This area has a few picnic tables, a gorgeous overlook, flush toilets and about 80 parking spots.  *NOTE: the road to get to this parking lot is quite skinny and Ecola Park Road should be driven carefully.  

The other parking lot is located here and called the Indian Beach Day Use Area.  This lot is MUCH smaller, only holding about 30 cars. The road to get here is also narrow and windy, so drive carefully.  

A NOTE FROM OREGON STATE PARKS: “The road that leads up to Ecola is very tight and has many turns, motorhomes and trucks pulling trailers are not recommended.”

Now onto the fun things!

Things To Do Here

You might be wondering what there is to do in Ecola State Park.  And there is plenty to do!

The first way to spend your time is enjoying the iconic views.  Whether you’re viewing Cannon Beach below, or watching the waves crash on Tillamook Lighthouse, it’s gorgeous here.  You can also have a picnic at these viewpoints.

Next on the list is hiking.  There are many different trails that run through the park, including 8 miles of the Oregon Coast Trail (OCT).  Here is a list of the trails straight from AllTrails.  And here is a PDF trail map straight from the Oregon State Parks website. 

After that is visiting one or both of their beaches.  Crescent Beach and Indian Beach are both beautiful beaches to be enjoyed. You can hike down to either beach, or you can park right near Indian Beach.  Whether you want to relax in the sand, go surfing, or observe tidepools, there’s something for every beach goer. 

And finally we have birding.  There are dozens of bird species that nest here each year.  From Bald Eagles, to Common Murres, to a Hermit Warbler, the variety is wide and beautiful.  And if you head down to Cannon Beach between April and July, you might be able to observe some Tufted Puffins!

As a bonus, there is also wildlife to be seen and observed.  Deer and Elk are common here, and if you visit in the Spring or the Fall, you might even be able to spot whales migrating through the area.  

But what about camping?  Many of Oregon’s State Parks offer camping.  

Is There Camping at Ecola State Park?

Unfortunately, there is no camping in Ecola State Park. The park offers plenty of things to do, but camping is not one of them.  So come for the day, and then plan on spending the night elsewhere.

About an hour away is Cape Lookout State Park that has a great campground.  You can set up a tent, park a camper, rent a yurt or a cabin here.  Yes, it’s a bit further away, but it will probably be better priced than places in Cannon Beach.  

Weather

One final note to consider when visiting Ecola State Park is the ever-changing weather along the Oregon coast.  You might be greeted with a beautiful sunny day, or be completely socked in with clouds.  

Generally the temperature is fairly cool here.  Even in the dead of summer, the high temperatures rarely get above 70 degrees.  The winter is much cooler, but rarely below 35 degrees.  Either way, you’ll want to be prepared with a jacket and layers if you’re visiting outside of summer.

Things to do in the Area

Outside of the state park, there are quite a few awesome things to do and see. The most obvious is paying a visit to Cannon Beach.  This beach is iconic for a reason and both sunrises and sunsets are gorgeous!

As for collecting Sand Dollars, right at Seaside Beach and Gearhart Beach there are hundreds waiting to be collected at low tide.  

And if you’re up for a bit of a drive, you’ll love visiting Tunnel Beach and the Cape Meares Lighthouse that is close by.  Both of these places are worth seeing and a great way to see more of the Oregon coast.  

Conclusion

Ecola State Park is home to some iconic views of the Oregon coast. So iconic, movies have been filmed here!  And whether you’re here to just quickly see the views or spend a day lounging on the beach, Ecola State Park is a great place to see the beauty of the coast.

As always, feel free to email me at averagewildexperience@gmail.com with any questions and I’ll do my best to answer.

-Happy Exploring!