More on Hug Point Closure: Damage at the N. Oregon Coast Legend, Possible Timeline

Published 11/28/25 at 5:55 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Cannon Beach, Oregon) – Even though some on social media try to insist otherwise, Oregon State Parks has closed Hug Point State Recreation Site due to major erosion and dangers to the public. The stairs on the beach access have been partially taken out, parts of the cliffs are gone and a trail that was temporarily used by some has been washed away, according to OPRD.

The famed north Oregon coast spot has been shut down until further notice – although at least OPRD is now using the word “temporary.”

Meanwhile, a handful of other Oregon coast parks have some amount of downtime as well.

Mike Baden, a spokesman for OPRD, said king tides washed out a temporary trail that people were using after the stairway gave out. All the high surf lately along with heavy rains created multiple problems, with runoff causing issues that went deeper than mere beach accesses.

“We ask that visitors check out other nearby beaches and not enter the park until safe access is re-established,” Baden said.

Plain and simple: the beach access at Hug Point has eroded, and Baden called it “no longer safe to use.”

Photograph  Seaside Aquarium: storms get right up and over those stairs sometimes

“The access failed due to significant drainage from the parking area, which caused severe erosion,” Baden said. “That drainage problem must be addressed before any reconstruction can begin. This will require engineering work, permits, funding, and a significant amount of time.”

While that closure may be frustrating – especially as the public sees no work being done – there is plenty going on behind the scenes. This is a project that likely can't be started until storm season subsides.

The access at Hug Point as it looked in 2004: rebuilt a few times since

“OPRD project managers have already visited the site and are pursuing an interagency agreement to begin the necessary engineering and hydrology work,” Baden said. “We don’t have a firm reopening timeline yet, but we’re hopeful for late spring.”

Previously, OPRD wasn't even able to issue a possible re-opening date. The prospect of that maybe happening before summer shines a little light.

Yet it's a complex issue.

Hug Point Geolgic Oddities - Take the Walking Tour -- Cannon Beach Weather

“The access failed due to significant drainage from the parking area, which caused severe erosion,” Baden told Oregon Coast Beach Connection. “That drainage problem must be addressed before any reconstruction can begin. This will require engineering work, permits, funding, and a significant amount of time.”

That stairway at Hug Point has been ripped out by tides and rebuilt several times over the last 25 years. During major wave events, the small beach can fill up at times, looking not unlike the Devil's Punchbowl farther south on the central Oregon coast.

Photo Steven Bash: Hug Point filled to the brim with storm waves

Nearby Arcadia Beach was shut down for several weeks in the early 2000s due to major erosion there.

The public has asked Oregon Coast Beach Connection about maybe obtaining volunteers (not unlike the trail rebuild lately at Short Beach by Oceanside). That won't be possible – at least for now.

“While volunteers may be able to assist with a future rebuild, the primary issue isn’t the stairs themselves,” he said.

Other coastal state parks are experiencing closures as well in Manzanita, Lincoln City, and Oceanside. Current or upcoming closures include Cape Lookout State Park near Oceanside, which is scheduled to close in mid-February 2026 for improvement projects funded through Oregon’s General Obligation Bonds. Work is expected to continue through spring and summer. Campsites for February 2026 are being held and may be released once construction timelines are confirmed. Visitors should check the GO Bond page for Cape Lookout for the latest updates.

At Devil’s Lake State Recreation Area in Lincoln City, the campground will close for the winter season starting November 15, 2025. Weather permitting, part of the campground is expected to reopen on May 1, 2026.

In Manzanita, the Classic Street Connection Project began November 3, 2025. Detours are posted near Classic Street, and visitors to Nehalem Bay State Park are advised to use Necarney City Road from Highway 101 for access.

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