Sauvie Island

Natural playgrounds don’t come much bigger than Sauvie Island — at 24,000 acres (9,712 ha), the Manhattan-size isle is one of the largest river islands in the country. It sits at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers just 10 miles (16.1 km) northwest of downtown Portland. And from one end to the other, families can find an entire day’s worth of adventures; it’s a hot spot for fruits and veggies, as well as a paradise for bird-watchers, beach-goers, bicyclists and kayakers.

Sauvie Island Beaches

On the north and east coast of the island, sandy beaches beckon swimmers and sunbathers. Willow Bar Beach is the first one you’ll reach — it’s a 2-mile (3.2 km) stretch offering serene, sandy shores and mountain views. Enjoy a picnic on the sand or wade in the gradual, waist-deep waters of the Columbia River. Sauvie Island’s most popular beach, nearby Walton Beach, is a tranquil, kid-friendly spot that’s perfect for swimming, sunbathing or flying a kite (beware that parking here can be difficult, especially when the weather’s nice).

Farther out, Collins Beach is another popular spot offering swimming and sunbathing. The “Collins Beach UFO,” an abandoned 1970s boat now covered in graffiti, lends a little local color. (Note that a portion of Collins Beach is clothing optional and has been a popular nude destination for decades.) The island’s farthest-out beaches are the North Unit and Warrior Point beaches. North Unit Beach is several miles long and more rugged than the others, with plenty of brush and cliffs. Reaching Warrior Point Beach requires a walk of several miles, but if you make it you’ll be rewarded with a serene setting — this is the least crowded Sauvie Island beach— and getting to see Warrior Rock Lighthouse, Oregon’s smallest lighthouse.

Sauvie Island Farms & U-Pick

Getting lost is just part of the fun at the Pumpkin Patch. Open from June through the first week of November, the farm boasts one of the area’s largest corn mazes, while a barnyard petting zoo, charming shops and fields of U-pick fun make for sweet memories. Other great options for pumpkins and other autumn crops include Sauvie Island Farms, Douglas Farm and Bella Organic Farm (which also has an awesome haunted corn maze).

No island visit is complete without a trip to Topaz Farm, which hosts a summer concert series, several annual festivals and hayrides into the pumpkin fields. Browse their fresh produce stand, or sit back with a glass of local wine, cider or beer as you enjoy life on the farm. If you’re hungry and want to enjoy the bounty of local farm-to-table food, Topaz hosts Farm to Plate dinner events for foodie farm dining al fresco.

1 of 3

Credit: Clayton Cotterell for Travel Oregon

2 of 3

3 of 3

In the summer, grab a basket and head out into the berry fields for a pick-your-own adventure at one of Sauvie Island’s many berry farms (including most of those mentioned above). Choose from rows of strawberries, blueberries and blackberries, or discover the Northwest’s tasty hybrid varieties like loganberry and Marionberry.

Wapato Island Farms on Sauvie Island has been in Jennifer Rose Marie Serna’s family for 20 years, harvesting herbs and fungi for medicines, tinctures and teas. The team provides an array of workshops, events, skill-sharing and even an Indiginous ancestral herbalism education course.

Wine Tasting

After a sunny day in the berry fields, head to Bella Organic farm for a tasting of their unique fruit-forward wines and hard ciders. Rhubarb and cherry wines share the shelf with classic varieties like pinot noir and chardonnay, all of which can be combined into gift baskets with organic chocolates, hazelnuts and jams — a perfect souvenir for friends and family (or yourself).

Credit: better. for Travel Portland

Sauvie Island Hiking

For a quick nature excursion, take the Wapato Access Greenway State Park Trail, an easy 2-mile (3.2 km) loop that tours a seasonal lake. Among mammoth big-leaf maples and Douglas firs, you’re likely to spot at least half a dozen kinds of birds, including bald eagles and blue herons. At the northeast end of the island, the 7-mile (11.3 km) round-trip Warrior Rock Lighthouse Trail leads to a sandy beach with views of Oregon’s smallest lighthouse.

The Oak Island Nature Trail is another delightful walk that takes you off the beaten path and into the tall island grasses. Winding through the fields near Sturgeon Lake and Steelman Lake, this 2.4-mile (3.8 km) loop is dotted with Oregon white oaks, which can live to be 500 years old and serve as critical habitat for dozens of bird species found in the area, including the black-capped chickadee and northern flicker woodpecker.

March through June, the island lakes — Sturgeon Lake, Steelman Lake and Mud Lake — provide warm water fishing of perch, crappie and catfish, depending on water levels. Keep up to date with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations, which update seasonally.

Nature on Sauvie Island & Beyond

Find more fun outdoor activities on Sauvie Island and elsewhere in Portland.

More Outdoors

The Corn Maize on Sauvie Island

The Corn Maize, located on Sauvie Island north of Portland, offers visitors eight acres of physical and mental challenges in a cornfield.

Pumpkin Patches in and Near Portland

Get swept up in that autumnal feeling at these friendly farms just outside of Portland with U-pick pumpkin patches and fun family activities like hayrides, corn mazes, petting zoos and festive autumn food and drink.

Apple and Berry Picking Near Portland

If you find yourself in Portland during harvest season June-November, enjoy the Pacific Northwest’s sweet bounty and visit local farms for U-pick berries, apples, fruit, vegetables and flowers.