Tolovana Beach
State Recreation Site

Near Seaside, Oregon, United States

Tolovana State Recreation Site is conveniently located on the ocean front of one of Oregon's most scenic beaches, Cannon Beach.  Situated at the south end of Cannon Beach, Tolovana offers a place to play, fly a kite, build a sand castle, picnic or take in a sunset.  Less than a mile away to the north you won't miss Haystack Rock, the icon of Cannon Beach.  Haystack Rock is a towering 235 foot basalt sea stack that is home to tidepool creatures and nesting seabirds, such as the Tufted Puffin.  Enjoy this protected area with care.  Cannon Beach is known for its miles of sandy shoreline and breathtaking scenery.  Don't miss the town's boutiques and local eateries, found in the nearby areas of Tolovana Park and Cannon Beach's midtown and downtown.  In addition to providing access to the ocean shore, Tolovana State Recreation Site has a playground located on the north side of the parking lot. 

mdi-alert-outline General Advisory
mdi-white-balance-sunny Open for day use year round mdi-cellphone Call for info: 800-551-6949
Call park: 503-812-0650
Current Conditions Directions Feedback

Amenities & Features

Questions

mdi-help-circle-outline About Camping

I heard I can park and stay in my vehicle overnight at Tolovana—is this true?

No. Tolovana Beach State Recreation Site is a day-use only park. Camping or parking overnight within the park is strictly prohibited.

mdi-help-circle-outline What's Allowed

Are drones allowed?

Drones are not allowed to protect nesting shorebirds. 

mdi-help-circle-outline Animals

Must I leash my dog on the ocean shore?

The short answer is no, but the handler of any domestic animal on the ocean shore does have responsibilities. Please refer to an excerpt from our ocean shore rules, below:

(2) The handler of any domestic animal must be responsible for the animal's behavior and must exercise direct control over the animal while in the ocean shore state recreation area.

(a) “Direct control” means that the animal is within the unobstructed sight of the handler and responds to voice commands or other methods of control.

(b) Domestic animal handlers must carry a leash or restraining device at all times while in the ocean shore state recreation area.

(c) Domestic animal handlers must promptly leash animals at the request or order of a park employee.

(d) Handlers must prevent their animals from harassing people, wildlife and other domestic animals.

(e) Animals may not be hitched or confined in a manner that may cause damage to any natural resources on the ocean shore.

(f) Handlers are responsible for the removal of the animal's waste while in the ocean shore state recreation area.

mdi-help-circle-outline Day use/Special Events

I want to reserve part of the park or beach for an event, commercial filming, construction, or other special use. What do I need to do?

Special events and nontraditional activities require a special use permit.

OPRD does not issue special use permits at this park for events that take place between the Friday before Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day.

For more questions, review our statewide FAQ

History

Lands were obtained by purchase from private owners between 1967 and 1969. North of the wayside, at a location overlooking Haystack Rock, Governor Oswald West built his family's vacation retreat, a massive log bungalow. In action now widely recognized as a signal event in the state's conservation movement, Governor West encouraged the legislative designation of Oregon beaches as public highways in 1913, thus ensuring the public's right of access to them long into the future. The subdivision known as Tolovana Park was the historic setting of a rustic ocean side hostelry of the early days known as the Warren Hotel.  The first guest to sign-in was Oswald West, a friend fo the Warrens'.  Owner Mark Warren and his brother Will spent time in Alaska before settling and farming Tolovana Park.  The Warren family mapped and surveyed all of Tolovana Park, labeling all the streets after Native American named rivers of Alaska.  Tolovana means "river of sticks". 

Brochures and Maps

mdi-file-pdf-box 2024 North Coast Tide Tables

Photos