Hug Point Falls

Hug Point Falls is found in Hug Point State Park, which is found a little less than 5 1/2 miles south of Cannon Beach and the turn off for Ecola State Park. From the parking area, follow the stairs down to the beach, then head right towards the headland jutting into the crashing tide. If the tide is high, the ocean will lap up against the headland, preventing access to the falls. When the tide is low, simply walk around the headland to the falls.Hug Point Falls is a small but pretty waterfall that drops from Fall Creek over a weathered sandstone bluff of about 15 feet directly onto sandy Arcadia Beach and flows immediately into the Pacific Ocean. During strong winter storms, waves might even pound against and even up and over the falls. The waterfall itself is not at all impressive, but it is quite photogenic, surrounded by potholes in the contorted rocks, several deep alcoves in the adjacent cliffs and a perfect sandy beach. The only problem with Hug Point Falls is that its difficult - if not impossible - to reach the falls at high tide.Hug Point was named for the prominent headland to the north of Fall Creek, where wagon trains had to literally "hug" the cliff to avoid getting swept out to sea. The waterfall has no official name but is commonly referred to as Hug Point Falls.