Surf: General: The nine or so miles from Ecola Creek south to Falcon Cove (including Tolovana Beach and Cannon Beach proper) is basically all beachbreak, thus surfable only when small and clean. The mouth of Ecola Creek occasionally has a good bar. Just south of Cape Falcon, most North Coast denizens choose Oswald West State Park, aka Short Sands Beach, as their premier spot due to its wind protection and sand bottom. The surf can either be peaky and hollow or soft and mushy, depending on the tide and swell factor. It's a horseshoe cove, so the place is safe from all but W winds. Nonetheless, Short Sands is hardly a substantial spot -- more like a retreat from the wind than a good place to log tube time. Tides: Incoming Size: Head high-2X overhead Wind: NW at Long Sands, S at Short Sands Swell: NW, N or big S Bottom: Sand Paddling: Not too bad. Spot Rating: Fun. Access: Easy, but Short Sands is off limits in summer. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Moderate, depending on swell. Local Vibe: Mellow. Environment: Minimal and nothing really to worry about. Hazards: Freezing water temps in Winter. Season: September-February