The One Portland Island Where Adventure Waits For You Year Round
By Katherine Green
|
Published January 16, 2018
It’s hard not to love Portland’s Sauvie Island. Sitting 10 miles NW of downtown, this notable island is one of the largest river islands in the country, and is bustling with fun year round. Connected to the mainland by bridge, this picturesque island has been a part of Portland history since long before its first bridge opened in 1950.
Most notable for its farms, Sauvie Island is the u-pick headquarters of summer.
Sauvie Island Farms, the Pumpkin Patch, Kruger's, Bella Organic Farms, and Blue Bee Farms are just a few of the farms on the island.
With crops ranging from strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, peaches, tomatoes and pumpkins, there is something to find waiting for you throughout the growing season.
The u-pick season starts with strawberries in late spring and goes up until fall with pumpkins.
Numerous farms have fruit and vegetable stands, and this is the perfect place to stock up on all your favorite produce.
Even if you don't want to pick fruit yourself, it is fun to be on working farms and see the source of the produce you purchase.
In the warmer months, the fun at Sauvie Island is all around.
With few businesses on the island, the fun here is all in the outdoors and beauty around you.
The proximity to water makes the island a great place to spend a hot day cooling off.
You can't beat the mountain views from the island either with all the surrounding mountains visible on a clear day.
The three beaches - Walton Beach, North Unit Beach, and Collins Beach - all provide a nice sandy beach from which to explore.
Collins Beach is clothing optional, so be forewarned if you wander that far down the road.
All these beaches fill up on hot days, so be ready for a crowd and be sure to pack all your food and drinks for the day, as services near the beach are limited.
Because the island has flat, scarcely populated roads, cycling is a big sport here throughout the seasons.
Loaded with nature trails, such as the Oak Island Nature Trail where this shot was taken, hiking at Sauvie Island is great, especially throughout fall and winter months when temperatures are cooler.
The Wapato Access Greenway State Park offers great trails, and the Warrior Point Lighthouse Trail are other standouts on the island.
The area is an important stop on bird migration routes, and is home to numerous species.
Birders will love the diversity here, and winter and fall months bring up to 250 species to the island.
Whether you want to hike, bike, swim, fish or just spend a day in the sun, Sauvie Island is an excellent place to do it.
What is your favorite season to visit Sauvie Island? Let us know in the comments below.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Related Articles