[2] The park encompasses 9 miles (14 km) of coastline between Cannon Beach and Seaside and includes Tillamook Head.

Multiple archaeological sites located within park boundaries were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

[5][6] The Bald Point Site (Smithsonian trinomial: 35CLT23) features a shell midden and possible house pit, dating to ca.

[7][6] At the Ecola Point Site (Smithsonian trinomial: 35CLT21), several ground depressions have been interpreted by researchers as house pits, indicating the presence of a semipermanent village.

[8] Indian Beach was the filming location for the time-jumping final act of Point Break, and several scenes of Twilight.