Collins Beach on Sauvie Island

Get lost in a haunted corn maze, go bird watching, cut some flowers, and finally, when the sun decides to stay awhile, get to the beach! Collins Beach on Sauvie Island is the place where you can do all of these things in a single afternoon. 

After crossing onto the island and driving through fields and farms, you’ll find Reeder Road on the eastern edge of the island. Situated against the Columbia, and across from Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Washington, is a stretch of golden sand offering a refreshing river dip. Collins Beach stretches along the shore for 1.6 miles and offers ample room to roam, relax and soak in the Portland summer sun. If you’d prefer not to wear much at all, that is okay too. One well-marked area of the beach is clothing-optional and has been since the 1970s, but if being in the nude isn’t your thing or you would prefer to not share the beach with nudists, you can easily avoid this area.

Make sure to purchase a parking pass at the general store at the base of the bridge ($7.00 per day or $22.00 per year) and display it on your car's dashboard when you park at the beach. Bring your beach ball, football, frisbee, sunglasses, cooler, book, kids, (leashed) dog and get your sun on! The beach is open from dawn until 10:00 p.m. every day.