You are here

Pets allowed
Allowed
Guided tours
No
Backcountry camping
No
Lodging
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Located on the Oregon Coast between Cannon Beach and Manzanita, Hug Point State Recreation Site is an easy-to-access location just off of Highway 101. This is a great place to visit for either a beach day with the family or for a quick stop while traveling along the coast.

At Hug Point's parking lot you will find restrooms, forested picnic areas, and a very short trail to access the beachfront. The recreation site can be a worthwhile stop at any time, but it is an exceptionally enjoyable experience at low tide. When the tide is low, you can reach the beach cove enclosed by cliffs vegetated with ferns, Sitka spruce and salal. There are numerous caves carved out of these same sandstone cliffs, lending themselves to short-but-fun explorations or some respite from the weather on rainy days. Low tide is also when you can access the exceptional tide pools at Hug Point, full of sea anemones, starfish and an array of other small sea creatures.

Hug Point received its name because early pioneers literally had to “hug” the point of land while traveling along the coast via stagecoach. Before a highway existed along the coast, the beach was the only way to travel by stagecoach, and you can still see the wheel ruts from the original stagecoach road dug into the rocks as you explore the northern point of the recreation site. As the name suggests, be cautious of the tide—you can be stranded at high tide if you spend too much time exploring the point.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

Moderate

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Exceptional tide pools. Waterfalls. Caves.

Cons

Minimal access to tidepools, caves and waterfalls during high tide.

Features

Flushing toilets
Picnic tables
Waterfalls

Location

Nearby Adventures

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Comments

Have updates, photos, alerts, or just want to leave a comment?
Sign In and share them.

A profound concept originally envisioned by governor Oswald West, in 1967 the Oregon legislature ultimately realized his vision of making the entire Oregon Coast forever open to the public in a piece of landmark legislation titled the Oregon Beach Bill, officially making all 363 miles public land. "The People's Coast" is truly a one-of-a-kind coastline, a unique blend of mountains and rocky stacks, towering old growth forests, marine sanctuaries, tide pools and kelp forests, charming towns, historic fishing communities, world-class golfing, breweries, and simply jaw-dropping scenic beaches. We encourage you to plan your next trip at visittheoregoncoast.com or by calling (541) 574-2679.

More content from The People's Coast