Arch Cape, Oregon
“There is one spot that guarantees solitude and serenity from the crowds and craziness: The lovely little beach interlude known as Arch Cape.” — Beach Connection
Arch Cape, named for the natural basalt rock arches found in the area, is a small residential community nestled between Hug Point State Recreation Site to the north and Oswald West State Park to the south.
People seeking the solitude of the Oregon Coast and the splendor of the beaches have flocked to this small town for generations.
It's also a haven for storm watchers, who love the relentless forces of nature. Approximately 225 people live year-round in Arch Cape, which is just five miles south of Cannon Beach.
At low tide, our stony beaches give way to soft sand, which offers miles and miles of walking, beachcombing, and exploring.
Beach access is just one-block west (350 feet, to be exact!) from the Inn at Arch Cape: Walk left from the Inn along the rustic residential Ocean Lane and follow the sign directing visitors to the beach.
Three small, local creeks — Arch Cape Creek, Short Sands Creek, and Necarney Creek — flow from the coastal range to the sea, where pounding ocean waves break on the monolithic rock formations.
Cannon Beach, Oregon
Just 5 minutes north of Arch Cape
Charming Cannon Beach is less than 10 minutes north of the Inn at Arch Cape. The best known beach community on the North Oregon Coast, Cannon Beach is internationally recognized for its artist community, restaurants, and the amazing Haystack Rock.
Located 80 miles west of Portland and 25 miles south of Astoria, Cannon Beach is surrounded by the rugged natural beauty of forests, ocean beaches, and rivers. Only four miles in length, and with a year-round population of approximately 1,700 people, Cannon Beach is a popular and picturesque resort area, playing host to an estimated 750,000+ visitors annually.
Cannon Beach was named after an 1846 incident when the Shark, a US Navy schooner, wrecked while trying to leave the Columbia River. A piece of the ship's deck washed ashore near Haystack Rock with its cannon still attached.
The Pacific strand running along Cannon Beach’s 3 1/2 miles is a luminous stage, framed on the north end by the “Bird Rocks” and to the south by the monoliths of Silver Point. A walk along the beach is always a visual treat, with its vistas of ocean, mountains and rugged coastal outcroppings.
The beauty and serenity of the shores along Cannon Beach have not gone unnoticed. Featured in Stephen Leatherman’s book, America’s Best Beaches, the margin of sand bordering Cannon Beach from Ecola State Park to Silver Point was rated by Leatherman as the “Best Overall Beach” in the state of Oregon.
Manzanita, Oregon
Just 10 minutes south of Arch Cape
The town of Manzanita is located just 10 minutes south of the Inn at Arch Cape on the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway, US Highway 101.
This small and charming village was platted in 1912. Today the year-round population is just under 700 residents.
The center of the commercial district is approximately four blocks from the ocean on the road that runs from the beach to Highway 101 at mile 43 (43 miles from Astoria).
The word "Manzanita" means “little apple” in Spanish, and the town is named for the trees and bushes that grow in the area.
Manzanita lies at the foot of 1,631 foot high Neah-kah-nie Mountain. According to native legend, buried treasure lies somewhere on the mountain. The bounty is believed to be from a Spanish galleon that wrecked on the beach over a century ago. That tale, along with ancient rock carvings on the beach, has lured treasure hunters who are still searching for the elusive lost treasure today.