Ecola State Park is one of the crown jewels of the Pacific Northwest, known for its breathtaking coastal views and rugged natural beauty.

This park has some of the most scenic views on the Oregon coast that you won’t want to miss, plus a stunning white sand beach to visit.

Beyond the picturesque coastline, you’ll find a lush forest full of vibrant green moss and ferns with an abundance of spruce and hemlock trees.

This magical landscape offers amazing hikes with both ocean views and serene forests that are suited for people of all fitness levels.

Ecola State Park is not only a wonderful destination for nature lovers, but it’s also an area full of historical significance which we will dive into more later on in this post.

Whether you’re interested in gorgeous ocean views, it’s rich history or family-friendly hiking opportunities, this beautiful Oregon State Park offers something for everyone.

In this post I will be highlighting the most famous features of the park and everything you need to know before visiting.

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Where is Ecola State Park Located?

Ecola State Park is located right between the towns of Seaside and Cannon Beach in Oregon along its northern coast. 

It is only a 1.5 hour drive from Portland and 2.5 hours from Salem, so it makes for an awesome day trip destination for people living in the city. 

When is the Best Time to Visit?

There really isn’t a bad time of year to visit this park as temperatures stay pretty mild year round. You will be treated with a wonderful and unique experience in each season.

But I would say summer is one of the better times to visit Ecola State Park because you’re bound to have the best weather. Temperatures barely reach 70°F this time of year.

Summer also is the driest season and is known to have more sunny days.

I visited in mid July and it was gorgeous. We had sun and warm temps perfect for hiking and relaxing on the beach.

Day Pass Fees for Ecola State Park

Ecola State Park does charge a $5 fee for admission which is charged per vehicle.

This fee is to purchase your day-pass/ day parking permit which can be done at one of the kiosks located in the parking lots.

There is an entrance booth, but when I visited (July 2024) it was closed with a sign that read to self-pay at the kiosks. 

This day-pass is also valid for parking at any Oregon State Park the day you purchase.

If you plan on staying in the state for awhile, consider purchasing an Oregon State Parks Annual Pass for $30. This gives you free and unlimited access to every Oregon State Park for an entire year. You can purchase this permit online here.

Parking

There are only two main parking areas which both fill up quickly by mid morning. 

The first parking lot is near the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse on the southern side of the park. 

The second parking area is next to Indian Beach. There is an overflow parking lot here since this seems to be the more popular place to visit.

Both parking areas have restrooms onsite.

Facts & History

The scenic and dramatic landscapes of the park have earned it as a filming site for many popular movies including Twilight, The Goonies, and Kindergarten Cop. This makes it a popular destination for movie buffs.

Beyond its Hollywood ties, Ecola State Park holds significant historical importance.

This area of the Oregon coast marks one of the final stops of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1806. As they walked along the shores of what is now Indian Beach, they encountered burial canoes of the Tillamook Native American tribe.

Tillamook Rock Lighthouse

The Tillamook Rock Lighthouse is a hauntingly beautiful lighthouse built a mile off the coast on a massive, rugged basalt rock.

This lighthouse was built in 1881 and nicknamed “Terrible Tilly” for its dangerous conditions and isolated location.

Although there is no public access to this lighthouse anymore, there are many trails in the park that lead you to amazing viewpoints of the lighthouse in the distance.

Indian Beach

Indian Beach is a gorgeous white sand beach with picturesque views of the jagged cliffs of the coastline and massive boulders out at sea.

This is one of the most scenic beaches in the Pacific Northwest. It is a must see when visiting the area.

There are many trails that will give beautiful views of the beach, but one of the best viewpoints is right at the end of the parking lot on the north side of the park. Best of all, this is very accessible to people of all ages and abilities.

Best Hikes at Ecola State Park

Below I have outlined a few of my favorite trails I enjoyed when visiting Ecola. There is a hike in the park suited for anyone regardless of hiking experience.

Clatsop Loop Trail via Indian Beach

• 3 miles
• 780 feet elevation gain
• Plan for 2-2.5 hours
• Beautiful walk through the forest, viewpoint of Tillamook Lighthouse at the end

Tillamook Rock Lighthouse Trail

• 0.4 miles
• 50 feet elevation gain
• Expect 15 minutes
• Gorgeous views of the coastline with phenomenal view of the lighthouse

Crescent Beach Trail

• 0.7 miles
• 180 feet elevation gain
• Very limited parking, trailhead is not located at one of the main parking lots
• Leads to Crescent Beach which is much less crowded than Indian Beach

Lewis and Clark Discovery Trail

• 14 miles
• 3,200 feet elevation gain
• Often wet & muddy conditions
• Can be an all day hike or an overnight backpacking trip
• Trail follows the route of the Lewis & Clark Expedition
• Runs along the entire length of the coast in the park 

Can You Camp at Ecola State Park?

No. Ecola State Park does not have established campgrounds.

Overnight parking/ car camping is also not allowed within the parks boundaries.

If you want to camp in the area, I’d recommend first looking on iOverlander to find free campsites. I’ve used this app hundreds of times before to find free places to camp all across the country.

This app is free to use, but it works best for car camping/ van life. Not always good for finding places for tent camping.

If you’d prefer to stay at a campground or to tent camp, I would recommend Wright’s For Camping. Their campsites are just 10 minutes from the park.

RV Resort at Cannon Beach is another great option if you’re traveling in an RV and need to hookup to water, electricity, etc.

Nehalem Bay State Park has an amazing campground also perfect for tent camping. I will talk more about this park at the end of this post.

Things to do Near Ecola State Park

If you’re taking a day trip from Portland or Salem, you might as well check out some other attractions in the area to really get the full experience of the Oregon coast.

Below are a few other attractions less than a 30 minute drive from the park.

Cannon Beach & Haystack Rock

The most notable place to visit in the area is Cannon Beach home to Haystack Rock.

Haystack Rock is a massive sea stack approximately 235 feet tall. A sea stack is a vertical column of rock that forms as a result of wave erosion near a coastline. Haystack Rock is one of the largest on the Pacific Coast.

It sits right along the shore where visitors can walk right up next to it during low tide.

You will also see tidepools form at the base of the rock inviting an abundance of wildlife like crabs and sea stars.

We were pretty lucky to find this little guy hanging onto a rock in a tide pool. 

In spring, puffins are also known to return to Haystack Rock to lay their eggs. You’re most likely to spot them in April-July.

Cannon Beach is a charming little town to walk around and shop, check out a new restaurant, and feel the light coastal breeze coming off the Pacific Ocean.

This is definitely a more touristy area, but it’s worth checking out.

There are plenty of hotels near Cannon Beach. This makes it a perfect place to base your trip to the Oregon coast.

If you’re looking for beachfront lodging this is the place you’ll want to stay. There’s tons of things to do within walking distance and all around a great place to visit.

Gearhart Beach

If you want to spend more time at a beach and avoid the crowds of Cannon Beach, I highly recommend a visit to Gearhart Beach.

This beach is in the nearby town of Seaside which is only 20 minutes north of Ecola.

Seaside is a nice place to explore too, it definitely has a more local vibe. There aren’t many tourist attractions here, but there are some nice beaches.

We went to Gearhart Beach which is known for having sand dollars scattered across it’s shore.

You’ll have the best chances of finding them around low tide.

This area of Oregon is riddled with sand dollars, so while you’re visiting Ecola, you’ll have to set some time aside to visit Gearhart Beach and hunt for sand dollars.

I definitely preferred visiting this beach because of how less crowded it was. I had also never found sand dollars before in my life so it was amazing to see how abundant they were here.

Hug Point State Recreation Site

Hug Point State Recreation Site is a small park area only 10 minutes away. It’s known for its dramatic cliffs and picturesque rock formations.

This park provides easy access to tide pools, caves, and even a seasonal waterfall cascading directly onto the beach and into the ocean.

This is a free place to visit, and it’s a quick stop that you can make as you explore the Oregon coast.

Nehalem Bay State Park

If you don’t have an Oregon State Park Annual Pass, you will need a $5 day-pass for admission to Ecola. So, I’d recommend also stopping by Nehalem Bay State Park to really stretch that $5 and get the most use out of your day-pass.

Nehalem Bay is on the coast just a 25 minute drive south. It’s located on a small peninsula separated from the rest of the state by the bay. It’s near the town of Manzanita.

This park offers a mix of scenic landscapes, from sandy beaches and rolling dunes to peaceful bay waters with forested areas on the shore.

You can easily spend a few hours here exploring and taking in the views, but this park is known for their popular campground. So if you’re looking for a beachfront campsite, this is your spot.

You can click here to make your camping reservation at Nehalem Bay State Park.

I hope you enjoyed my complete guide to Ecola State Park! It is truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to and my favorite state park I’ve visited so far in the USA.

The rugged rocky coastline, scenic views, and fascinating history make this state park a stop you won’t want to miss on your trip through the Pacific Northwest.

The Oregon coast is such a magical place so I hope you got some ideas for other things to do in the areas of Seaside and Cannon Beach. Enjoy your trip and thank you so much for reading!