Location: 10 miles northwest of Portland, it’s the largest island in the Columbia River.

Access: Take Hwy. 30 north from Portland and cross Sauvie Island Bridge east.

Lowdown: The size of Manhattan, Sauvie Island has several beach areas and a world of outdoor fun to offer. The main swimming beaches are described below. All are nice but can get crowded on sunny days.

NOTE: you’ll need a parking permit, which you can get at the Country Store or Cracker Barrel just after crossing the Sauvie Island Bridge. Don’t forget to get one! Once you cross the bridge, it’s still about 9 miles to get to the beaches on the north/east side of the island. Beaches are generally open from dawn to 10:00pm and closed to overnight use and camping.

Read on for Sauvie Island Beaches