9 Fun Things to Do on Sauvie Island

Equal parts nature preserve and farmland, Sauvie Island is an easy and relaxing getaway from the bustle of the city that is fun year-round. Located just northwest of Portland, Oregon, you barely need to leave town to feel like you are worlds away. A recent visit reminded me how much there is to do on this giant island where the Willamette meets the Columbia River. Here are the best things to do on Sauvie Island.

Know before you go:

Many of the parks and trails on Sauvie Island require the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area Permit. It is $10 for a day pass or $30 for an annual pass. You can buy a pass online here or from one of the shops on Sauvie Island. There is a convenience store just over the Sauvie Island Bridge that sells them. Find the list of vendors here.
If you are only planning on visiting the farms, you do not need to buy a permit.
Alcohol is not allowed in the wildlife areas from May 1st until September 30th, which includes the beaches.
To reach Sauvie Island from Portland, take Highway 30 West and cross at the Sauvie Island Bridge. It is about 20 minutes from downtown Portland.

Hike the trails

With miles of trails to explore, hiking is undeniably one of the best things to do on Sauvie Island. Since the island is so flat, the trails tend to be easy and you may want to hit more than one during your visit.

Wapato State Greenway is an easy, 2.2-mile loop around seasonal Lake Virginia, which becomes wetlands and grassy meadows in summer and fall. Most of the trail is shaded with ash, cottonwood, maple, and oak trees. It’s a good place to see fall color as well as critters like frogs, birds, and banana slugs. There aren’t any showstopping views, but it is peaceful, scenic, and family-friendly throughout. No pass is needed to park at the trailhead and leashed dogs are allowed on the trail.
Oak Island Nature Trail is an easy, 2.8-mile loop that is open seasonally from April 16th - September 30th. Oak Island is a peninsula surrounded by Sturgeon Lake in the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area. It’s a good place for birdwatching, including sandhill cranes in the morning and late afternoon. On a clear day, you can also catch a glimpse of Mt. Saint Helens. Leashed dogs are allowed on the trail. The parking requires the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area Permit ($10).
Warrior Rock Lighthouse Trail is a rewarding, 7-mile out-and-back trail that will take you out to Oregon’s smallest lighthouse at the northern tip of Sauvie Island. Although this trail is the longest on the list, it is still flat throughout and family-friendly. Watch for birds including bald eagles and sandhill cranes. In the river, keep an eye out for sea lions. The highlight of the trail is at the end when you reach the lighthouse and unobstructed river views. Leashed dogs are allowed on the trail. The parking area requires the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area Permit ($10).

2. Go to the beach

Sauvie Island has miles of beautiful sandy beaches along the Columbia River. In good weather, lounging on the beach is one of the best things to do on Sauvie Island. Dogs are allowed on the beaches as long as they’re on a leash. Parking at the beaches requires the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area Permit ($10).

For those concerned about tan lines, Collins Beach is a clothing-optional beach on the north end of Sauvie Island. This beach has a long tradition of nude swimming and sunbathing stretching back to the 1970s. It’s also where you can find the UFO boat (see below).
Walton Beach tends to be the most popular beach on Sauvie Island and gets crowded on summer weekends. There is lots of sand and good shallow water there for wading. Consider arriving early on summer weekend days.
Willow Bar is a peaceful sandy strip on the Columbia River. It is picturesque, calm, and tends to be less crowded than other beaches on Sauvie Island.
Warrior Point Beach is a secluded beach accessible only by boat or by hiking out 3.5 miles on the Warrior Rock Lighthouse trail. Although hardest to reach, this beach will be your best bet to escape the crowds in the summer.

3. See the UFO boat

One of Sauvie Island’s stranger attractions is the abandoned UFO-shaped boat tucked back in the trees on Collins Beach. Nature is slowly reclaiming the heavily graffitied metal boat, which has moss hanging from its edges and vines growing into its hull.

A wooden ramp behind the boat allows for easy climbing into and on top of it. Proceed with caution and wear shoes if you choose to climb on the boat. The frame is not in great shape. Also note that if river water levels are high, they may reach the boat.

To find the UFO boat, look for the Collins Beach parking area with the number 3 on the parking lot sign. Take the short trail down to the beach and head a couple of hundred feet south near the tree line. You will need to get pretty close to the boat to see it. If you reach the trail that heads to parking area #2, you’ve gone too far.

Parking at the beach requires the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area Permit ($10).

4. See the wildlife

With so many forests and wetlands, it comes as no surprise that seeing wildlife is one of the best things to do on Sauvie Island. You can find many animals here, both on the farms and in the woods. After crossing the Sauvie Island Bridge, you’ll start to see huge bird nests adorning many of the telephone poles along the roads. Songbird calls fill the air on the hiking trails.

The Wildlife Areas are the best places to spot the animals of Sauvie Island. Look for tiny green Pacific chorus frogs, black-tailed deer, enormous slugs, bald eagles, osprey, ducks, swans, geese, and coyotes. Winter is the best time to see migratory birds and January - March is the best time to look for bald eagles.

5. Visit a U-pick farm

*U-pick pumpkins and gourds at Bella Organic Farms*

During summer and fall, getting fresh produce from U-pick farms and farm stands is one of the best things to do on Sauvie Island. The season begins in June with strawberries and ends in December with Christmas trees. Depending on the season, you can find a wide variety of fruits and veggies including berries, peaches, apples, pears, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, corn, cabbage, herbs, and flowers. Make sure to check farm websites before heading out if you’re looking for something specific.

Now in October, pumpkins are the hot ticket items. Farms are selling pumpkins and gourds of all shapes and sizes to make the perfect jack-o-lantern.

Note that dogs are not allowed in the U-pick areas of the farms.

6. Corn mazes, games, and hayrides

*Finishing the corn maze at Bella Organic Farms*

If you visit during the fall, the farms of Sauvie Island are set up for a day of activities with the family. Before you pick out your pumpkin, trying out the games and attractions is one of the best things to do on Sauvie Island. Here are a few ideas:

Wander through a corn maze. The giant maze at Bella Organic Farms is open through the end of October and has nearly 3 miles of paths through the corn. Visit at night to try out the haunted corn maze. Topaz Farms has both a corn maze and a sunflower maze in late summer.
Take a hayride down to the pumpkin patch. Choose the perfect pumpkin for your Halloween jack-o-lantern either from the U-pick or pre-picked pumpkin patches. You can find everything from perfectly round orange pumpkins to warty misshapen gourds. At Bella Organic Farms, you can walk down to the pumpkin patch or take a hayride for free through the end of October.
Try out the games. I suspect the smaller members of your group will enjoy the cow trains, hay pyramids, playgrounds, and duck races you can find on the farms.
See the farm animals. Look for cows, chickens, donkeys, goats, and horses.

7. Have a patio drink

As fun as the farms are on Sauvie Island, there’s no denying that they get crowded on beautiful weekend days. Escape the crowds and wind down at the Island Cove Market near the beaches. On a sunny day, having a cold drink on the patio is one of the best things to do on Sauvie Island. I was pleased to get a beer here for $3 (versus $10 at the farm). You can also stock up on snacks on your way to the beaches just down the road.

8. Listen for sandhill cranes

*Greater sandhill cranes seen from Raccoon Point*

Chances are you will be able to hear the calls of Greater sandhill cranes before you see them. During fall and winter, the distinctive gurgling sounds of sandhill cranes, Oregon’s tallest bird, are a common occurrence on Sauvie Island. The wetlands there are important habitats for the cranes during their winter migration and they come to the island in great numbers starting in the fall. From September - March, looking for cranes is one of the best things to do on Sauvie Island.

Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to see and hear sandhill cranes. My friends and I saw a large group from the overlook at Raccoon Point in the late afternoon. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get very close and my picture is resultingly terrible. Still, even from a distance, the birds are an impressive sight. They are quite large and have a red crown to distinguish them.

9. Take a boat onto the river

With around 50 miles of waterways surrounding the island, there’s no doubt that taking a boat out is one of the best things to do on Sauvie Island. There are three boat launches on the island:

Sauvie Island Boat Ramp
Hadley’s Landing near Wapato State Greenway
Cove Marina near Willow Point

There is also a boat ramp on Sturgeon Lake, where the calm waters are good options for families and anyone looking to have a relaxing paddle. Sturgeon Lake is more popular with paddlers than motorboats, so makes for a tranquil retreat without large boat wakes. The lake is also a good place to look for waterfowl.

Cunningham Slough has four miles of calm waters for kayaking or paddle boarding from around April - July when the water levels are high enough to allow for it. The slough meanders through forested areas of the northern end of Sauvie Island with ample wildlife-viewing potential.

The Multnomah Channel on the Oregon side of Sauvie Island offers year-round paddling and boating through over 20 miles of waterways. It is one of the most popular places for boating and branches off into more secluded waterways for additional exploration.

In summary, the best things to do on Sauvie Island are:

Hike the trails
Go to the beach
See the UFO boat
Look for wildlife
Visit a U-pick farm
Corn mazes, games, and hayrides
Have a patio drink
Listen for sandhill cranes
Boating on the river

Enjoy your day on Sauvie Island!

With love,

Emma

Looking for more things to do around Portland?

Check out the International Rose Test Garden.
Explore Washington Park and Pittock Mansion.
Try out the best hikes within an hour of Portland.
See the views at Vista House.
Visit the best wine bars in Portland.

For more U-pick farms, check out the Hood River Fruit Loop.

Know before you go:

Hike the trails