365PDX#144: Swimming The Sandy River@ Lewis and Clark State Park

Posted July 26, 2010

365 Things to do in Portland: Swimming the Sandy River at Lewis and Clark State Park

If you’re looking for a decent natural swimming hole in Portland, you are out of luck, as there aren’t any.-Fortunately though, just 20 minutes outside Portland in Troutdale, the Sandy River offers many great spots for you to swim in.

The closest and easiest to access is at Lewis and Clark State Park- just head East on I84   and take the Lewis and Clark exit #18. Take a left turn off the exit and park along the road, or at the parking lot of the  State Park Recreation site. There are public bathrooms and plenty of picnic areas here as well.  There are several spots right along the river in that area that offer decent swimming. My favorite spot is just upstream of the bridge, where the water runs swiftly and there is a small rock island you can wade out to. This is a fun spot for a little inner tube ride. . For more inner tubing, drive a few miles up river to Dabney State Park, and float down to Lewis and Clark. It will take a few hours to float down, and there are no rapids.  The river at the Lewis and Clark exit is a very popular place- on a hot day you are likely see other people there, as well as dogs and a few fisherman as well as the occasional beer swilling loud mouths. On hot weekends, the river is packed, so it’s best to go during the week. If it’s too crowded there, you can also drive up stream and find other good swimming holes.

Safety and the Sandy River- First the water is EXTREMELY COLD. if you’ve never swam in the Sandy, you are in for a bit of a shock when you get in the water. Second, the river can flow swiftly at spots, and the combination of cold and fast water can be dangerous. People have died swimming in the Sandy River, so please be careful. Of course if you have children, make sure they are wearing floatation devices and  keep an careful eye on them.