1. The old Hug Point beach road: In addition to its natural beauty, Hug Point features a primitive man-made roadway. According to a 1975 issue of The Ore Bin, “In the late 1800's, a stagecoach road was blasted out of the sea cliff to make passage along the beach possible during high tide.” (State of Oregon, Department of Geology & Mineral Industries) Prior to the road, travelers by car or wagon would have to wait until low tide to “hug” around the point when heading south toward Arch Cape. In the winter, Look carefully and you’ll find the old steps that were carved into the basalt and sandstone so travelers could reach the ledge from which they’d walk to access the southern part of the beach. You’ll also see the deep ruts cut by wagon wheels into the primitive roadbed.
2. Parking: Hug Point can get busy — really busy — during the summer months. Finding a parking spot can be tricky as the main parking lot (which is on a steep incline) fills up by late morning and cars begin to park along Highway 101 (which is precarious at best and perilous at worst). Plan on arriving early to ensure you get a close-in, safe parking spot and a nice spot on the beach.
3. Waterfall: As pictured above, Fall Creek empties out onto the beach at Hug Point, creating a small, but lovely waterfall.
4. Head North or South: Once you’ve made your way down to the beach, take a walk north or south. Head south for two miles, and you’ll arrive at Arch Cape Creek, which runs along the base of the Arch Cape headland. At low tide, you can make your way around the cape to see the arch. Head north (toward Cannon Beach) for two miles, and check out Silver Point with its wonderful tidepools and Jockey Cap rock.
For more information about Hug Point or other scenic parks or trails near Arch Cape and Cannon Beach, feel free to call us here at The Inn at Arch Cape, (503) 436-2082.