The low headland of Silver Point, and its group of offshore sea stacks, form a southern boundary along the shore of Cannon Beach.

At a pair of viewpoints near milepost 32 on U.S. Highway 101, look west to see two of the point’s large formations, the rounded Jockey Cap Rock and, just north, the slightly more angular Silver Point Rock. Take a closer look at the latter to spot a sizable sea cave.

Sea otters, black oystercatcher nests and even a 10-foot clubhook squid have been spotted near the rocks. Both are part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, an area preserved for seabirds and marine mammals that spans hundreds of similar areas along the Oregon Coast.

The beach below is narrow and a hike in, either from Arcadia Beach or Tolovana Park, but is accessible at all but the highest tides.

During low tide weeks ago, I took a hike from the waterfall at Hug Point north to Silver Point and back. Aside from the headlands, the beach is flat-packed with sand and sometimes a place to find a nice sand dollar.

It’s also a popular area for surfers, said to have abrupt drop-offs, reefs near the surface and abundant wildlife.