We don’t mean to brag, but the view around here kind of rocks.
Formed by lava flows and perhaps as old as 17 million years, this 235 foot tall basalt beauty is one of the largest sea stacks on the Pacific Coast – and possibly the world – and it lures up to 200,000 visitors a year. Not surprisingly, it’s rumored to be among the world’s most photographed rocks.
Countless painters, photographers, sculptors and passersby can’t resist this ever-changing monolith. For Haystack Rock serves a purpose far grander than mere spectacle – it’s a protected National Wildlife Refuge and a Marine Garden, and is home to countless species of nesting birds, including gulls and tufted puffins. The monolith is also a prized feeding spot for bald eagles, and the area at the rock's base houses a menagerie of marine creatures, including sea anemones, urchins and crabs.
To help welcome school groups as well as hordes of visitors regardless of the weather or season, Haystack Rock Awareness Program volunteers are often on the beach to help ensure the protection of wildlife and to educate curious visitors.
Come, look, learn, but alas, no climbing!