Astoria is the oldest city in the state of Oregon and served as the filming location for the 1985 movie, “The Goonies”. The city and the surrounding area are filled with history, natural beauty, and fun! There’s a bunch of fun things to do in Astoria, Oregon so if you are visiting or planning a trip to the area and want some of the highlights, this is for you.
Table of Contents
- Wreck of the Peter Iredale
- Fort Clatsop – Lewis and Clark National Historical Park
- The Astoria Column
- Seaside, Oregon
- Hug Point State Recreation Site
- Cannon Beach
- Fort Stevens State Park
- Devils Cauldron
- Neahkahnie Viewpoint
- Bridgewater Bistro
- High Life Adventures
- Winery at Manzanita
- Hit the Cannon Beach Escape Room
1. Wreck of the Peter Iredale
The Peter Iredale was a large sailing ship that wrecked on the Oregon coast on October 25, 1906, while trying to reach the Columbia River. This shipwreck survived the Japanese shelling of the Oregon coast during WWII when a submarine opened fire on Fort Stevens the night of June 21, 1942. The shipwreck is now a popular tourist attraction and photo stop. You can explore the beach and surrounding area which is in close proximity to public parking.
2. Fort Clatsop – Lewis and Clark National Historical Park
Fort Clatsop is part of the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park and is the end of the Lewis & Clark expedition. During the winter of 1805–1806 the Lewis and Clark Expedition camped at Fort Clatsop in the Oregon Country close to the mouth of the Columbia River. After the winter, they began their journey back to St. Louis.
Today you can explore the Visitor Center museum and find out more about the Lewis and Clark expedition’s 8,000-mile journey to the Pacific Northwest. You can also walk through a reconstruction of the Fort Clatsop that sits of the same site as the original and is yards away from the museum. Fort Clatsop was faithfully reproduced using vivid details from William Clark’s journal entries, and historians are sure that the current replica is within a few feet of the original.
It’s also dog friendly and there’s a number of paths and trails you can stroll through in the area as well. The most popular ones are:
- Kwis Kwis Loop Hike
- South Clatsop Slough Loop Hike
- Netul River Hike
- Clay Pit Pond Trail
- Fort to Sea Hike
Some things to know before you go:
- Cost: $10 entrance fee per adult or free with America the Beautiful Pass
- Hours: Open 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Dog friendly: Dogs are welcome when leashed
- Amenities: Restrooms & picnic tables
3. The Astoria Column
The Astoria Column is a 125-foot tall memorial to the natural splendor of the Pacific Northwest and the people who lived and settled there. The outside of the column is a mural that depicts 18 historical scenes from the area as well as 14 major early Oregonian events, such as Captain Gray’s discovery of the Columbia River in 1792 and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It’s perched a top Coxcomb Hill so it gives you a tremendous view of Astoria including the edge of both Oregon and Washington states.
The column has a spiral staircase which allows you to walk to the top where you can survey the landscape from the observation deck. The deck gives you a 360 degree view and is definitely worth the 164 steps!
- Cost: $5 parking fee–cash or credit card
- Hours: Open 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Dog friendly: Dogs are welcome when leashed
- Amenities: Restrooms, Vending machines, and gift shop
4. Seaside, Oregon
If you are visiting Astoria, it’s well worth checking out nearby beach town of Seaside, Oregon. It’s smaller than cannon beach and often less crowded. It also has a lot of character and features the Historic Seaside Promenade, also known as the Prom. The ocean side walk way extends from Avenue U (on the south end of town) to 12th Avenue (on the north end of town) and is one and a half miles long.
There’s also the seaside aquarium where you can feed seals, an inverted room experience, and the Hop & Vine Bottle Shop & Tap Room. Additionally, there’s some really cute places to stay like the Drifthaven at Gearheart.
Side note: The area between cannon and seaside is teeming with elk so there’s a good chance of seeing some.
5. Hug Point State Recreation Site
This quick stop along Highway 101 is located approximately 5 miles south of Cannon Beach and features a wonderful sandy cove right off the parking lot. A short walk north shows a seasonal waterfall, caverns carved into sandstone cliffs, and tide pools accessible during low tide. The area is situated between Arcadia Beach to the north and Austin Point to the south.
To reach the Hug Point waterfall you’ll need to walk a 1/4 mile. From the parking lot head right (north) alone the beach. You’ll pass by tidal pools and sea caves as you make your way around the cliff that surrounds this section of the beach.
Make sure to plan this stop around low tide, as the waterfall becomes unaccessible once the tide comes in. There’s also caves that you can explore at low tide around the waterfall that aren’t accessible at high tide. There’s also caves that you can explore at low tide around the waterfall that aren’t accessible at high tide.
Additionally, as a little PSA from us to you, consider visiting this stop on the off season (we tried to visit over the summer and the parking lot was completely full by 9am, however during our trip here in mid-October the parking lot was completely empty!)
6. Cannon Beach
Cannon Beach is amongst one of the most popular beachside towns along the Oregon Coast, and for good reason. If you are staying in Astoria, take the 30-minute drive south to Cannon Beach and explore for an afternoon or evening.
Cannon Beach is known for its expansive sandy shore. Haystack Rock, which protrudes from the ocean, serves as a temporary sanctuary for tufted puffins. Trails in Ecola State Park include panoramic views of the ocean, you can also find many bays and a lighthouse in this stunning State Park. Arcadia Beach, which has a picnic area and tide pools, is to the south. The downtown area is dotted with shops, galleries and lots of tasty restaurants too.
Must Try Restaurants In Cannon Beach:
- MacGregor’s Whiskey Bar of Cannon Beach: One of two locations along the Oregon Coast, this spunky Whiskey Bar has all of the seaside vibes you are looking for. Located in the historic Cannon Beach hotel the charm of this place is off the wall (not to mention the amazing selection of Whiskey and tasting sampling platers as well).
- The Wayfarer Restaurant and Lounge: If you are looking for ocean views, this is your place! Located just behind MacGregor’s this restaurant features tasty local seafood and amazing seaside views of Haystack rock.
- Gatsby’s Oceanside Speakeasy and Steak House: This reservations only restaurant is perfect for your next anniversary or date night in Cannon Beach. Although a little on the pricey side, this restaurant has some delicious steak and a fun 20’s theme that makes for a romantic and unique atmosphere.
- Bistro: Located in North Cannon Beach Bistro was a highlight of trip, serving up local foods and scrumptious desserts. Come for the great food or live music, either way you will leave happy!
*NOTE: we visited Cannon Beach & Astoria in October of 2022 and were AMAZED by how many wild Elk we saw walking around the towns and hanging out on the side of the road. If you are an animal lover, make sure to plan your trip in the fall when the Elk are their most active!
7. Fort Stevens State Park
If you are looking for a multi-activity stop on your Astoria itinerary then you have to check out For Stevens State Park. Fort Stevens is a 4,300-acre park offering an assortment of recreation adventures, including camping, beaching, a freshwater lake, lots of nature trails, wildlife viewing, and historic forts & batteries (and it’s dog friendly!)
The Historic Fort Stevens site and batteries saw service for 84 years, from the Civil War to World War II. In fact, it’s the only Civil war fort on the West Coast and the site of the only attack on mainland US during WWII by the Japanese.
Now-a-days, it hosts year round camping that includes:
- 15 yurts (7 pet-friendly)
- 11 deluxe cabins (5 pet-friendly)
- 6 tent sites
- 9 walk-in tent sites with parking nearby
- 174 full-hookup sites (36 pull-through)
- Hot showers / Flush toilets
- RV Dump station
Our favorite: You can venture out to the very tip of Oregon in Fort Stevens at the Columbia River South Jetty Observation tower. From there you’ll get a remarkable view of the sea when it meets the Columbia river.
There’s also a Wildlife Viewing blind for bird and nature watching on the opposite side of the jetty about a 1/4 mile away.
Also located inside of the park is:
- Coffenbury Lake which is home to a beautiful 2-mile trail circling the lake.
- Columbia Shore Disc Golf Course
- 15 miles of multi-use trails
- Adult and youth bike rentals (CLOSED for the winter season)
- Fort Stevens marks the northern-most trailhead for the Oregon Coast Trail
And for our history buffs you can enjoy year-round military display. Plus explore the many turn-of-the-century, concrete artillery gun batteries dating back to the early 1900s. Furthermore, they give underground tours (during the summer) of the gun battery that served as a World War II command center.
8. Devils Cauldron
The Devil’s Cauldron trail is a 0.5-mile out-and-back hike is just 25-minutes south of Astoria. It usually takes just 15 minutes to finish and is regarded as a relatively easy hike (note there is a bit of elevation gain and the trail is sided by thorn bushes so tread carefully). The hike is best done from May – November and is leashed-dog friendly.
If you want a bit more of a moderate hike and some great coastal views you can do the whole Elk Flats Trail hike which passes Devil’s Cauldron. This trail is a 2.9 miles out-and-back that parallels the coast going north and has the same parking and starting point.
The Cape Falcon Trail is another popular trail with similar views just north of the Elk flats trail & Devil’s cauldron near short sand beach. It’s even more challenging at 5.2 miles long with an elevation gain of 597 ft. Beware that is parking area can get packed due to it’s popularity.
Make sure to take the time to look for Smugglers Cove in this distance. This Cover is a historical site that is noted as being having been a hotbed for illegal activity in the 19th & 20th centuries and is linked to the notorious Shanghai Tunnels (LINK HERE).
9. Neahkahnie Viewpoint
The Neahkahnie Viewpoint and South Neahkahnie Viewpoint are really spectacular places to take in the oregon coast line right off route 101. Native Americans gave the mountain its name, which translates as “place of supreme deity,” because they thought the vista was suited for the gods.
If you are feeling adventurous you can also go for a hike up the mountain for an even better view. It is well known for the legends of Spanish treasures that are purported to be hidden on the mountain’s slopes or at its base.
The 2.5-mile circular trail is close to Nehalem, Oregon and it takes about an 1 hour, 38 minutes to accomplish this trip, which is generally thought of as difficult. Since hiking is highly popular in this region, you can run into other hikers while doing your exploration.
Dog friendly: Dogs are permitted, but they must be leashed.
10. Bridgewater Bistro
If you are looking for a great lunch or dinner spot you should check out the Bridgewater Bristo. For one, they serve great New American style-food but they also have incredible views of the columbia river and the astoria-megler bridge. As an added bonus they are dog friendly!
11. High Life Adventures
This zipline adventure is fun for the whole fam. High life adventures offers a guided tour of eight zip lines!
Enjoy the breathtaking scenery, which includes evergreen trees, ponds, and a seven-acre lake, as you soar into the skies with the help of our professionally trained guides.
The size of the group can affect the length of the tour so they say to plan on 2.5 hours, while the length of the trip may vary depending on the number of visitors.
If ziplines (or heights) aren’t your thing they also have axe throwing.
12. Winery at Manzanita
This winery’s tasting room serves small-batch local Oregon wines. They building has cedar shingles, a courtyard, red Adirondack chairs, fire pits, an ocean view terrace, and glass roll-up garage doors. They serve flights, glasses and bottle service starting at noon and have truffle popcorn, cheeses, and s’mores. Additionally, they sell craft Oregon and Washington beer and cider.
- Hours: 12 PM – 8 PM
- (super) Dog friendly: Dogs are allowed
13. Hit the Cannon Beach Escape Room
The Cannon Beach Escape Room is a fun group activity or date night entertainment that is sure to keep things interesting. 2-10 people are trapped in one of the themed rooms, and they have 60 minutes to locate the key to escape by finding hidden objects, gathering information, and solving riddles.
There’s two major themes to pick from:
- Escape from One-eyed Jack
- See if you have what it takes to escape from this pirate-themed chamber by gathering your mateys.
- Escape from Camp Haystack
- Discover whether you have the cunning necessary to get away from Marge Hemlock, the most strict camp director in Camp Haystack history, or whether you’ll have to trek home.
So as not to spoil the clues I won’t say too much about each room but they are a ton of fun if you like puzzles, riddles, and word games.
Hours:
- Sun – Fri 12:00 PM – 6:30 PM
- Sat – Sat 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
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