How to Find Crescent Beach on the Oregon Coast

2.5 miles

400 ft gain

Moderate

Pass required

Crescent Beach gets few visitors despite sitting between two of the Oregon Coast’s most popular destinations, Cannon Beach and Ecola Point. It’s only accessible on foot, and the sign at the trailhead saying “experienced hikers only” is less than encouraging. The trail is a bit rough, but I’d say the biggest challenge is avoiding one wrong turn around the halfway point that confuses everyone. Once you make it to the beach, you’ll have a secluded and dramatic stretch of the Oregon Coast (almost) to yourself. At low tide, look for tidepools and hidden caves. O, ye experienced hikers, here is how to find Crescent Beach.

View of Crescent Beach from sea cave — *You can find sea caves on Crescent Beach when the tide is low enough*

Know before you go

Parking at Ecola State Park requires an Oregon State Park Pass ($10/day or $30/year). You can buy a day pass with a credit card at the machine by the parking lot.
Restrooms are next to the trailhead. Picnic tables with ocean views are on the other side of the parking lot.
Leashed dogs are welcome on the trail to Crescent Beach.
A sign at the Crescent Beach Trailhead warns that it’s for “experienced hikers only.” Let’s break that down. The trail isn’t dangerous or unusually challenging. It is very uneven, with lots of mud, tree roots, and irregular steps. Directions can also be confusing. Bring an offline map with you. I’ll point out the major problem spot in my directions below.
The trail is rough and gets muddy. Wear hiking boots, not sneakers.
The Crescent Beach Trail is not great for younger kids because of the uneven terrain. Older kids would be fine.
Stay on the trail and away from the drop-offs. Ecola State Park is a place of active landslides.
Check a tide table before heading to Crescent Beach. You can walk on the beach at any tide. Be careful exploring the rocks and caves at the north end. An incoming tide could block your way back.

Orange and purple sea stars — *Sea stars on Crescent Beach*

On the trail to Crescent Beach

Distance: 2.5 miles out and back

Elevation gain: 400 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Pass required: Oregon State Park Pass ($10/day)

Dog friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome in the park.

ADA access: No, not past Ecola Point.

Season: All year

The details

After parking at Ecola Point, stop by the viewpoint to have a look at the coastline of Cannon Beach and its many sea stacks. This overlook is one of the most stunning and memorable on the Oregon Coast. The beach closest to you is Crescent Beach, your destination.

*View of Crescent Beach from Ecola Point*

When you’re ready to start the hike, head to the restroom building. The trailhead is next to it. A sign warns you about the difficult trail conditions. Since you’re prepared enough to look up a trail guide, I’m going to go ahead and say you’ll be fine.

Warning sign at trailhead — *Crescent Beach Trailhead*

The trail enters a forest of Sitka spruce, salal, and large sword ferns. You’ll climb up some stairs, which can be slick and muddy.

Ferns surround stairs in the woods — *Start here*

In about 0.1 miles, you’ll reach the road that brought you to Ecola Point. Walk along the gravel shoulder for about 100 yards.

Ecola State Park Road — *Walk along the road here*

The trail splits off from the road and starts looking like it might be headed to a beach. A signpost lets you know you’re on the Oregon Coast Trail. You’ll see encouraging glimpses of the ocean through the trees.

Trail branches off from the road — *Keep right*

The terrain is rough throughout the hike. The trail is not so much a dirt path as a latticework of tree roots with some mud puddles.

Tree roots and mud on the Crescent Beach trail — *Typical trail conditions*

One of the challenges of the Crescent Beach Trail is avoiding wrong turns on the informal trails people have made to get a better look at the ocean. Ecola State Park is an area of active landslides. You don’t want to get too close to the edge of the bluff. Mostly, the informal trails don’t get you anywhere better than the main trail. The one exception is toward the beginning, about 0.2 miles into the hike. A spur to the right about 50 feet long leads to a cool view looking out toward the end of Ecola Point.

Ecola Point from the Crescent Beach Trail — *View from the spur*

You’ll also see Chapman Point and Haystack Rock to the south. Proceed with caution and don’t get to close to the drop-off. The ground may not be stable.

Cannon Beach from the Crescent Beach Trail — *Chapman Point and Cannon Beach*

Back on the main trail, you’ll continue through the forest, roughly parallel to Crescent Beach. We’re about to reach the confusing point in the hike. A little before halfway, the trail splits. The branch to the right leads to a short staircase. To the left is a dirt trail without stairs. Keep left here. Everyone wants to go right because it’s closer to the beach and has a staircase. Resist the urge. The trail to the right peters out and becomes bushwhacking in about a quarter mile.

Crescent Beach Trail branches into two — *Keep left*

From here, you’ll continue through a forest of lovely old-growth Sitka spruce trees. The trail starts heading away from the beach. That’s okay. You’re going the right way.

Ferns and sitka spruce on the Crescent Beach Trail — *The Crescent Beach Trail is through an old-growth forest*

When you reach the stream crossing, you’re a little over halfway to Crescent Beach. A plank bridge helps with the crossing.

Plank bridge over a stream — *Cross here*

After crossing the stream, the trail makes a reassuring turn back toward the ocean.

Many tree roots on a fern-lined trail — *Yep, more tree roots*

In about a quarter mile from the stream, you’ll reach a trail junction. This one is clear. Follow the sign down the hill toward Crescent Beach.

Sign on the Crescent Beach Trail at junction — *Follow the sign to Crescent Beach*

The end of the hike is straightforward. You’ll head down a few switchbacks leading to Crescent Beach.

View of Crescent Beach through the trees — *Almost there*

Once you reach the staircase, you’ve made it!

Crescent Beach

If you turn around at the beach, the Crescent Beach Trail is 2.5 miles out and back. Once you’re there, you have about a mile of beach to explore.

To the south are Chapman Point and the Bird Rocks sea stacks. Looking past them, you’ll see the sea stacks of Cannon Beach, including the famous Haystack Rock. At a very low tide, you can walk around Chapman Point to Cannon Beach, but I’d say the game isn’t worth the candle. It would be easy to get stuck on the wrong side of the headland when the tide comes in.

Large sea stacks on Crescent Beach — *Chapman Point and Haystack Rock*

The north end of Crescent Beach is, I think, the more interesting direction. You’ll see Ecola Point jutting out into the ocean, surrounded by its mess of sea stacks. From some angles, you’ll get a glimpse of Tillamook Rock Lighthouse.

Small lighthouse behind sea stacks — *Tillamook Rock Lighthouse looking tiny*

Heading north, you’ll see a little waterfall tumbling onto Crescent Beach.

From here, the exploration potential depends on the tide. At low tide, you can find critters like anemones, sea stars, limpets, crabs, and mussels on some of the rocks. Don’t worry about clambering over too many boulders to see them. I saw the most intertidal life on the easier-to-reach rocks and sea stacks than those closer to the end of Ecola Point, which surprised me.

One memorable sea star was so long that I was captivated. The ocean broke my reverie when it lapped onto the rock I was standing on and soaked my boots. Beware. These creatures are extremely interesting, and it’s unpleasant to have wet feet for the rest of the day.

Sea stars and anemones on rocky surface — *The fascinating sea star. So long!*

One of the coolest things about Crescent Beach is the sea caves beneath Ecola Point. If the tide is low enough, you can explore the base of the headland to find hidden recesses in the cliff and small pocket beaches. Make sure to visit on a calm day when the tide is falling to keep from getting trapped by the ocean. I went when the tide was between zero and +1. I found three little caves before the tide started rising. The first is pretty easy to reach at low tide. The others required some clambering over the rocks.

View from inside a sea cave — *Sea cave on Crescent Beach*

Besides the sea caves, the pocket beaches beneath Ecola Point have good rock-hunting potential. I found a big ol’ piece of quartz and an agate with an incidental glance at my feet. Proceed with caution and keep in mind tide charts are only predictions. I checked three before visiting Crescent Beach but noticed the tide rising before any of them predicted.

Enjoy your day at Crescent Beach and Ecola State Park!

With love,

Emma

Getting there

From Highway 101, take the exit toward City Center/Ecola State Park. In 0.3 miles, take a right onto 5th St. Then, take a right onto Ecola State Park Rd. Follow it for 1.5 miles. The road is paved but narrow. Drive slowly, especially around tight corners. Take a left at the toll booth to reach the Ecola Point parking area. Look for the Crescent Beach Trailhead next to the restroom building.

The drive from Portland to Ecola State Park takes about 90 minutes.