Name: Columbia River Beach Walk: Willow Bar, Sauvie Island
Start: 2025-12-03T13:00:00-08:00
End: 2025-12-03T16:00:00-08:00

**(LOCATION DIRECTIONS AT BOTTOM)**

Sauvie Island has a long, sleepy beach tucked away in a spot most people have never heard about. Hidden from the mainland by a thicket of golden cottonwoods and Big Leaf maple, Willow Bar Beach stretches 3 miles along the Columbia River like pale grey velvet. Its alternating forest and open space is frequented by beaver, otter, and deer--I saw all three of their tracks in the sand on one hike!

The view is expansive, on a clear day you can see four volcanoes. There is waterfowl in the river, woodpeckers and eagles in the trees, and massive cargo ships of all kinds lumbering by every few minutes when the tide is right. The size of these vessels is jaw-dropping, they heave a series of perfect waves onto the shore that sound like the ocean.

We'll meet at the Willow Bar Trailhead and hike very slowly 0.4 mi. along a forest road next to the beach, then another 0.8 mi. along the sand, returning the same way. The sand is hard packed but at a slight angle and we'll be traversing a couple small steep spots, so hiking poles recommended. We will pause at a couple nice sittin' logs to rest and reflect on the view but note that they are usually wet, so bring a plastic bag or something to sit on. Restroom at trailhead. Parking fee, see below.

There used to be a trail up to the top of the bar at the end so you could look down into the marina but blackberries have encroached a little bit. Totally optional, but if you have a hand pruner and leather gardening gloves, please bring them and join me for 15 minutes of trail-finding. If we do this enough times over the course of a year, there will be a trail again.

Afterwards, those who would like to do some more birding (the snow geese are back!) and watch the sunset from the Eastside Wildlife Viewing Platform just 0.2 mi. further up Reeder Road may join me there for about an hour. It will get chilly, bring the fuzzy hat. Restroom on site.

Bring **$10 cash**, your parking permit if you're driving, water/snacks, binoculars/spotting scope, camera, plastic bag/something to sit on, hand pruners and leather garden gloves, trekking poles, and [WEATHER](https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/us/or/portland/KORPORTL2216) appropriate clothing (bring the warm stuff if you're going to linger for the sunset). Adults only, please, and no pets, thanks.

**DIRECTIONS: From the Wapato Bridge that crosses on Sauvie Island, stay left to curve around under the bridge onto NW Gillihan Road. Follow it all the way around the right (east) side of the island for about 6.2 mi. and turn right on NW Reeder Road. Go 2.5 mi. and turn right onto a gravel access road. Go 0.3 mi. and park in the large gravel lot. Look for my deep blue Honda CRV. Seasonal restroom on site. Parking fee, see below. *Get there early because we will start hiking at 1 PM.***

**PARKING FEE:** You'll need an [ODFW Wildlife Area Parking Permit ($10)](https://myodfw.com/articles/buying-odfw-wildlife-area-parking-permit). Lots of [stores carry them](https://myodfw.com/articles/where-find-odfw-license-agentsvendors), too.

Anna

Contemplative Hiking Society

Travel & Outdoor

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Columbia River Beach Walk: Willow Bar, Sauvie Island

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Columbia River Beach Walk: Willow Bar, Sauvie Island

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