Pacific City Webcam – Haystack Rock and the Oregon Surf

The Pacific City Webcam looks west from the dune grass at the back of the beach near Cape Kiwanda, straight out to Haystack Rock, the basalt sea stack that rises from the ocean off this small town on the Oregon Coast. Golden beach grass and a rope fence fill the foreground, then a wide, flat beach runs down to the white water where the waves break. Surfers often wait just beyond the shore break, and walkers wander along the wet sand at the water’s edge. The camera belongs to Moment Surf Co., a surf shop on Cape Kiwanda Drive, so it doubles as a quick check of the waves before anyone paddles out. On a clear afternoon the sun sits ahead of the lens and turns the rock into a dark silhouette against the sky.

About Pacific City

Pacific City is a small community in Tillamook County on the northern Oregon Coast, home to 1,109 people at the 2020 census. The town sits about 2 meters (7 feet) above sea level and spans the Nestucca River, with roughly half of its area lying behind Nestucca Bay. U.S. Route 101 passes 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) inland.

Haystack Rock is the landmark in the middle of the frame. It stands about 100 meters (327 feet) above the sea, and a lidar survey by state geologists put its height at 103.8 meters (340.6 feet). The rock is made of Columbia River basalt, laid down by ancient lava flows, and it is protected as a wildlife refuge. It lies about 0.8 kilometers (half a mile) southwest of the tip of Cape Kiwanda. Cannon Beach, farther up the coast, has a better-known Haystack Rock of its own, but the Pacific City rock is nearly 30 meters (100 feet) taller.

Cape Kiwanda itself is a headland of sandstone from the Astoria Formation, with a towering sand dune that walkers climb to reach the top. It is one of the three capes on the Three Capes Scenic Route, together with Cape Lookout and Cape Meares, and it shelters the beach on the camera, which makes this stretch a favorite for surfing and fishing. Pacific City is also known for its surf-launched dories, fishing boats that head out straight through the waves from the sand. Only a few recreational fishermen still keep that tradition going.

Weather and Climate in Pacific City

Pacific City has a mild, wet marine climate. Winter days usually reach about 10 C (50 F), and nights drop to around 4 to 5 C (39 to 41 F). The town gets roughly 1,960 millimeters (77 inches) of precipitation a year, and most of it falls between October and March, so the winter view is often grey, with low cloud hanging over the rock and rain sweeping in off the ocean. Spring warms slowly, with April afternoons near 12 C (54 F) and the showers easing through May.

Summer is the dry season. July and August usually see less than 25 millimeters (1 inch) of rain each, and afternoon highs sit around 20 to 21 C (68 to 70 F), the warmest weather of the year. September stays mild at about 19 C (66 F) before the rain returns in October. Because the camera faces the open ocean to the west, clear evenings bring the sunset down over the water in front of it.

Things to Do Near Pacific City

Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area is right beside the beach on the camera. The climb up the big dune leads to the top of the cape, with views of the surf crashing against the sandstone below. Moment Surf Co., the shop behind the camera, has been run by local surfers since 2010. It rents surfboards and wetsuits, teaches surf lessons and presents the Cape Kiwanda Longboard Classic. Pelican Brewing Company also has a pub in Pacific City.

Bob Straub State Park sits next to town, beside the sand spit between the ocean and Nestucca Bay. Driving the Three Capes Scenic Route leads on to Cape Lookout and Cape Meares, and Sand Lake Recreation Area is also close to town. Fishing is a big part of life here: guides such as Pacific City Fly Fishing & Guide Service and Kiwanda Fishing run trips, and Green Acres Beach & Trail Rides offers guided rides along the shore.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

More views of the Pacific Northwest coast to watch next:

• Lincoln City Webcam
• Cox Bay Webcam
• Seaside Osprey Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Pacific City located?

Pacific City is in Tillamook County on the northern Oregon Coast, in the United States. It spans the Nestucca River beside Nestucca Bay, about 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) from U.S. Route 101, and the camera looks out from the beach near Cape Kiwanda at the north end of town.

What can you see on the Pacific City Webcam?

The camera faces west over beach grass, a rope fence and a wide sandy beach to the breaking waves and Haystack Rock offshore. Surfers, walkers and changing light on the rock are the main action. The sandstone headland of Cape Kiwanda and the town itself are outside the frame, and after dark the unlit beach fades to black.

Is the Haystack Rock on this webcam the one at Cannon Beach?

No. Oregon has more than one Haystack Rock. The rock on this camera is the one off Pacific City and Cape Kiwanda, in Tillamook County. The better-known Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach is farther up the coast and nearly 30 meters (100 feet) shorter.

How tall is Haystack Rock in Pacific City?

It stands about 100 meters (327 feet) above the sea, and a lidar survey by state geologists measured it at 103.8 meters (340.6 feet). It lies about 0.8 kilometers (half a mile) southwest of the tip of Cape Kiwanda and is protected as a wildlife refuge.

Can you check the surf on the Pacific City Webcam?

Yes. The camera is run by Moment Surf Co., a local surf shop, and it looks straight at the break in front of the beach, so the size of the sets and the number of surfers in the water are easy to judge. Cape Kiwanda shelters this beach, which is why surfers favor it.

Is this the Pelican Brewing webcam in Pacific City?

No. This is the Moment Surf Co. camera. Pelican Brewing Company has a pub in Pacific City, but the brewery building is not in this view, which looks out to sea at Haystack Rock.

Does the webcam show Pacific City State Airport?

No. The camera points west over the ocean. Pacific City State Airport, a small field with a runway 572 meters (1,875 feet) long, is in town and out of view.

What is the weather like in Pacific City?

Mild and wet. Winter highs are about 10 C (50 F), summer highs reach about 20 to 21 C (68 to 70 F), and most of the roughly 1,960 millimeters (77 inches) of yearly rain falls from October to March.

Source: Moment Surf Co.