Straddling The Oregon-Washington Border, Government Island, Oregon Is One Of The Most Unique Places You'll Ever Visit
By Christy Articola|Published April 20, 2023
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Christy Articola
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Christy Articola has lived in Colorado since 2013 and considers herself a Centennial State enthusiast and expert through and through. She's based in Denver metro, but over the past decade, she has traveled to every corner, river, village, park, town, and city in the state and continues to explore it deeper and further whenever she can. Christy simply can't get enough of Colorado, and loves sharing all her adventures with you through Only In Your State! She graduated with a degree in journalism from Fordham University and is thrilled to be working as a full time travel writer for this and other sites - she finally found her perfect niche - and is so grateful for that.
Do you know about Government Island, Oregon? You might, but there are even people who live right near it in Portland who have never heard of it before. This island is in the middle of the Columbia River, so it’s between Washington and Oregon. However, along with two other islands, it’s part of Oregon’s Government Island State Recreation Area. You can visit it, but it’s only accessible by boat! Read on to learn more about Government Island, Oregon, so you can start planning an excursion there today.
Government Island is a 1,760-acre island in the Columbia River just north of Portland. Interstate 205 crosses the island, but there is locked fencing along the highway, so the only way anyone can access the island is by boat.
Historical records tell us that Lewis and Clark stopped here in 1805. Since then, it was used by the U.S. military to grow hay in the 1850s, and a few families farmed and lived there for years after that. In 1999, Oregon Parks and Recreation turned it into a park.
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Government Island has 15 miles of shoreline, and many boaters just pull their boats up onto the mostly sandy shore.
There are lots of things to do on this island. There are hiking trails along the perimeter of the island. The interior, however, is full of protected natural areas that are only accessible with a permit.
Camping is permitted between the water and the tree line around the island, but there are no designated sites. Visitors will find pit toilets and fire pits to use in some places.
There are quite a few animals that live on this island, including some threatened and endangered species. Enjoy animal and birdwatching on Government Island, but don't disturb these creatures.
You'll love the views of Mount Hood from the island.
Visiting Government Island is a fun adventure for any Oregonian or visitor. It's hard to believe that many people don't even know it exists, even though it can be seen from Portland.
This island that’s halfway between Washington and Oregon is a hidden Oregon Gem. If you ever get a chance to visit it, do so. You’ll love exploring this Oregon island!
Believe it or not, Government isn’t the only interesting Oregon island in this area. Do you know about Hayden Island?
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