Things to do in Clatsop County

About two hours’ drive from Portland, Cannon Beach is known for its natural beauty, thriving arts and craft community, and charming village atmosphere maintained through strict limitations on the number of large chain stores and restaurants.

Established during the Civil War, the stronghold in what is now Fort Stevens State Park was one of three that protected the harbors at the outlet of the Columbia River. The fortress operated until after World War II. Visit the remains of military sites and explore the pretty natural setting. Stop at the ranger station, visitor center and museum for additional information.

Spend a day visiting Ecola State Park’s pristine wilderness, where you can combine searching for starfish at low tide with learning about early 19th-century explorations in the area. The interesting coastline wraps around Tillamook Head, offering visitors 9 miles (14 kilometers) of year-round access to rugged seascapes, secluded coves and forested headlands from Seaside to Cannon Beach.

The historic Astoria Riverfront Trolley is more than a century old, but has only been in Astoria since 1999. The Riverfront Trolley Association originally borrowed the 1913 car from the San Antonio Museum, with the city purchasing the trolley outright in 2005. Include a trolley ride in your Astoria itinerary just for fun or for convenience visiting sites along the shoreline.

Visit the Columbia River Maritime Museum for a fascinating look at life, work and nature on and in this mighty river that runs west across Oregon ending just beyond Astoria. View the many photos, artifacts and even a floating ship that bring maritime history alive.

Built in 1926, the tall Astoria Column is a major landmark rising over the city of Astoria. Learn about this impressive structure’s history. Discussion of building something on top of Coxcomb Hill began in 1898. Members of the Astoria community were inspired by the construction of the Eiffel Tower in Paris a decade earlier. After the city’s centennial in 1911, specific plans began to take shape for the tower, including a histogram depicting area events.