Haystack Rock Tidepools part of National Wildlife Refuge
Exploring the tide pools around nearby Haystack Rock is an inviting summer activity for guests of Tolovana Inn at Cannon Beach.
An iconic natural landmark, Haystack Rock is actually designated a protected Marine Garde
n and National Wildlife Refuge. And, the Haystack Rock Awareness Program (HRAP) provides both staff and volunteers daily throughout the summer to guide beachcombers and answer questions about the natural world.
HRPA is actually a stewardship and environmental education program whose mission is to protect Haystack Rock, and the intertidal and bird ecology surround it. Each day, members set up an extensive interpretive program including signs and educational brochures, bird stations with spotting scopes and often times, microscopes too.
To be a good s
teward, visitors are reminded that the intertidal areas around Haystack Rock are fragile ecosystems. Guests are encouraged to tread lightly around the tide pools and stay on sand or small bare rock to avoid stepping on vulnerable animals like anemones and barnacles. Be gentle as you observe wildlife in its natural state, being sure to leave the natural environment undisturbed.
Since its inception im1985, the HRPA has educated hundreds of thousand adults and children about this amazing island and the marine-related life around it, protecting it each day, and for generations to come.
Perfect place for exploring tidepools