At low tide, Haystack is accessible and a lot of fun for tidepool viewing. But the main part of the rock is a bird refuge, so make sure you pay attention to the signs telling where not to go.

An odd bit of local lore here that some like to tell to uninitiated newcomers is that Haystack was manmade. Usually, this weirdo tale is told by drunks - so watch for that tale if you’re hanging out at the local bars.

The Needles are, by the way, remnants of other parts of Haystack Rock. Its origin story is a bit odd, geologically: it was a kind of "re-eruption" of lava flowing here 14 million years ago. The Needles are simply parts of a greater whole that eroded away. How Cannon Beach's Haystack Rock Was Created / Formed: Fiery Oregon Coast Tale - Geology of Haystack Rock

Below, more of the Needles and tidepool sights around Haystack Rock - an extreme close-up of a barnacle.

Did you know tidepools can talk? Barnacles sometimes make a chattering noise, and it's a startling but wondrous little experience. See the video, more

Finds Near Cannon Beach Include Chattering Creatures, the Whimsical and 18-Million-Year-Old Oregon Coast