Cannon Beach, located 8 miles of Seaside, is a small resort town known for its scenic beach, with views to the iconic Haystack Rock. The running highlights here are the beach and some nearby trails in Ecola State Park.
Beach Run. Cannon Beach is a wide, 3-mile long beach with pounding surf and great views of Haystack Rock. The beach itself is very runnable, with firm sand near the water.
Town Run. Enjoy a run on the fun side streets of Cannon Beach. There are quiet residential streets, and near the center, festive streets with boutiques and galleries.
Wikimedia Commons. Joe Mabel
Ecola State Park. Just north of Cannon Beach, Ecola State Park offers 7+ miles of dramatic trail running options. Options include the 4-mile Tillamook Head Trail and the 1.25-mile Crescent Beach Trail. The 2.7-mile Clatsop Loop Trail is an easy-to-moderate trail run. Indian Beach is also lovely for running. You can also run on the Ecola Park Rd., which runs for 4.5 miles between Cannon Beach and Indian Beach (850 foot elevation gain, south to north). This trail map has good information on distance and elevation profiles.
Coast Highway. It’s possible to run on the main road, Highway 101 (Oregon Coast Highway). It’s a busy two-lane road, but from Cannon Beach headed south, there’s a decent shoulder. There are lots of ups and downs, as the road alternates between higher viewpoints and sections closer to the water. There are some sections with good views and others where the road turns inland.Go early to beat the traffic!
Cannon Beach, located 8 miles of Seaside, is a small resort town known for its scenic beach, with views to the iconic Haystack Rock. The running highlights here are the beach and some nearby trails in Ecola State Park.
Beach Run. Cannon Beach is a wide, 3-mile long beach with pounding surf and great views of Haystack Rock. The beach itself is very runnable, with firm sand near the water.
Town Run. Enjoy a run on the fun side streets of Cannon Beach. There are quiet residential streets, and near the center, festive streets with boutiques and galleries.
Wikimedia Commons. Joe Mabel
Ecola State Park. Just north of Cannon Beach, Ecola State Park offers 7+ miles of dramatic trail running options. Options include the 4-mile Tillamook Head Trail and the 1.25-mile Crescent Beach Trail. The 2.7-mile Clatsop Loop Trail is an easy-to-moderate trail run. Indian Beach is also lovely for running. You can also run on the Ecola Park Rd., which runs for 4.5 miles between Cannon Beach and Indian Beach (850 foot elevation gain, south to north). This trail map has good information on distance and elevation profiles.
Coast Highway. It’s possible to run on the main road, Highway 101 (Oregon Coast Highway). It’s a busy two-lane road, but from Cannon Beach headed south, there’s a decent shoulder. There are lots of ups and downs, as the road alternates between higher viewpoints and sections closer to the water. There are some sections with good views and others where the road turns inland.Go early to beat the traffic!
The Long Beach Peninsula stretches for more than 20 miles and includes six state parks, gorgeous beach, and scenic rain forest. Running highlights include the 7+ mile Discovery Trail, trails at Cape Discovery State Park, and miles of gorgeous beach running.
The 20-mile stretch between Seaside and Fort Stevens State Park features an excellent variety of scenic running options: a Boardwalk, miles of fantastic beach running, paved bike trails in Fort Stevens State Park, and some excellent trail running.
The highlight of running in the Nahalem Bay Area is the several miles of gorgeous beach, featuring firm, packed sand. In Nehalem Bay State Park, there's a 2-mile bike trail, and some quiet roads for running in the coastal town of Manzanita.
Fantastic running options in this area. Favorites include some waterside roads on the Bayocean Peninsula and along Tillamook Bay, the 5-mile coastal trail on the beach to the end of Netarts Bay, and some trail running in Cape Lookout State Park.
Two great beach running options on Kiwanda Beach. Up to 3.2 miles at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area, with views to Haystack Rock, including a unique sand dune hill that can be run up & down. Just south, nice beach running between Porter Point and Neskowin.
In Newport, fantastic beach running along Beverly Beach at the popular Devil's Punchbowl area. Just south at Yaquina Head, get some hill work in on paved surface with a jaunt to the lighthouse or some of the hill trails. Fantastic views!
Share your feedback on this route and see that of other Great Runs users. Click on the image icon to upload a photo. And please let us know if there are notes or changes we should incorporate!
Review or Comment on This Route/Share a Photo!
Share your feedback on this route and see that of other Great Runs users. Click on the image icon to upload a photo. And please let us know if there are notes or changes we should incorporate!