Key facts
| Country | United States (Sauvie Island, Columbia County, Oregon) |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Portland International (PDX), roughly 40 minutes by road |
| Best time | July to September, when the river is warm enough and the weather is dry |
| Type | River beach in the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area |
| Adults only | No — a public beach |
| Clothing | Clothing-optional in the designated part of the beach |
| Parking | Wildlife Area parking permit; special beach permit on summer weekends and holidays |
| Best months | June–September |
Collins Beach is a sandy beach about a mile long on the Columbia River shore of Sauvie Island, a large, rural island of farms and wetlands just north of Portland. Part of the beach is one of the two official clothing-optional beaches in Oregon, alongside the beach at Rooster Rock State Park in the Columbia River Gorge. It has been popular for nude recreation since at least the 1970s and is administered by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in cooperation with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. The beach is surrounded by the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area, a reserve of about 12,000 acres.
Who it suits
- Naturists in the Portland area who want a relaxed, legal nude beach close to the city.
- Visitors to Portland on a summer trip who want a laid-back river day.
- Couples and friends looking for a sunny spot to swim, read and watch the ships go by.
It is a public beach, not a lifestyle venue.
Parking permits: plan ahead
Parking rules at Sauvie Island's beaches have become stricter because of summer crowding:
- A Sauvie Island Wildlife Area parking permit is required to park at the beaches.
- On summer weekends and certain holidays, roughly from mid-June to Labor Day, ODFW requires a separate Sauvie Island Beaches Parking Permit, with a check station on the access road at busy times. Daily and seasonal permits are sold in limited numbers, and seasonal permits can sell out.
The exact dates, prices and rules change each year, so check the ODFW website before you go. Without the right permit you may be turned away or ticketed.
Best time to go
The beach is at its best from July to September, when Portland's summer is dry and warm and the river is comfortable enough for a dip. Spring can bring high water that covers much of the beach. Weekdays are far less crowded than weekends. Hours are posted at the beach; Wikipedia lists them as 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Getting there
From Portland, take US Highway 30 north-west and cross the Sauvie Island Bridge, then follow Reeder Road north to the beach; the last stretch is gravel. The drive takes around 30 to 40 minutes from downtown. Portland International Airport (PDX) is roughly 40 minutes away. There is no public transport to the beach itself.
Safety on the river
- Currents are strong in the Columbia, even when the surface looks calm. Stay close to shore and never swim alone.
- Watch for ship wakes. Large ocean-going vessels use the shipping channel, and their wakes can surge up the beach unexpectedly. Keep children, belongings and yourself back from the waterline when a ship passes.
- The water is cold for most of the year.
- Bring shade, water and sunscreen; there are few trees on the sand.
Etiquette and rules
- Stay within the clothing-optional area while nude; the posted signs mark the section.
- No photography of other people.
- No sexual behaviour. The sheriff's office patrols the area, and lewd conduct is illegal.
- Respect the wildlife area. Follow rules on dogs, fires and alcohol posted by ODFW, and take all rubbish with you.
Nearby
Sauvie Island is known for its u-pick farms, lavender fields and pumpkin patches, and for birdwatching in the wildlife area. For more clothing-optional beaches on the Pacific coast, compare Wreck Beach in Vancouver and Baker Beach in San Francisco. Browse members in the United States.