Finding a good swimming hole on a river near Portland is like knowing where to pick chanterelle mushrooms: find your own and share it with only a few of your favorite people. Unfortunately, if you read about it on the internet, there’s a good chance you won’t be able to park – let alone find a place to put a towel – during a heat wave. Of course, if you like to take dips in the river on milder days or are an early riser, you may still find a spot at Dougan Falls, but for most of us, we need a few more options. My suggestion is to go on hikes year-round in areas you enjoy where it is safe and you are permitted to enter the water, and when you locate a beach you might want to return to on the next 100° day, mark that spot on a mapping app.
These recommendations are based on my personal experiences and my personal level of swimming comfort. Water activities have an inherent level of danger, especially in a natural setting where rocks and logs may shift. Please be safe: Don’t turn your back on the ocean, be mindful of currents, never swim intoxicated, swim vests are sexy.
Recommended
Merwin Park on Lake Merwin
Lake Merwin is a reservoir, but sitting between tall evergreens, it’s still quite scenic. It has plenty of picnic tables, a big lawn for games, public restrooms/changing rooms and a beach with a section that boats can’t enter. You’ll feel like you’re out in nature, yet it’s not too far from Portland and Vancouver, and there’s not too much of a stress of getting one of only a few good spots on the shore because the lawn is so large. On a peak summer weekend, plan to get there a bit before the hottest part of the day to avoid a packed parking lot. (Page cover photo)
Rooster Rock State Park
Rooster Rock is a clothing optional beach not far from town. A bit of a walk from the giant parking lot takes you to the shores of the Columbia River. First there is a busy beach, and then more private pockets of beach. There’s usually a party scene, so prepare yourself for loud music and tipsy strangers bearing it all. At the east end of the park, there is a Sand Island that you can get to by boat/swimming/walking, depending on the season. The restrooms are by the parking lot, which is a bit of a walk from the beach.
Lost Lake
A beautiful and clear, but very chilly lake on Mt. Hood. Since it’s snow runoff and at higher elevation, this lake is only recommended for the hottest of days and even then, enter with caution and have a warm-up plan. It’s a bit of a drive, so I would recommend spending the night at the campground, although there is also a day use area. My favorite way to swim in this lake is to use an inflatable or boat to get out beyond some of the forest debris and then launch from that. Park at Lost Lake Resort.
The Oregon Coast
The coast is a paradoxical place to cool off in the water, largely because by the time you’ve reached the Oregon coast on a hot day, you’ve likely hit a fog bank and may not feel like getting into the cold water. Swimming off the Oregon coast is not like swimming in California or Florida – it is usually uncomfortably cold. But when all else fails, there’s always a sandy beach there that you don’t have to compete for a spot on, and hey, that fog bank technically means you’ve beat the heat. The roads do get clogged on hot weekends, though, so bring an audiobook for the drive. For swimming, I would recommend a smooth sandy beach such as Manzanita, Oceanside, Cannon Beach, or Seaside. The Oregon Coast has riptides, so if you’re planning on going past your ankles, it’s best if you’re a strong swimmer.
Dougan Falls
Dougan Falls, a swimming hole on the Washougal River, is lovely but popular. On a hot weekend day, the banks will be layered in blankets and towels, and sadly it won’t be the relaxing oasis it appears to be in photos. However, if you are visiting midweek, check this place out!
Ape Caves
While this doesn’t involve water (although you could easily stop by Lake Merwin on the way there or back to Portland), it’s still a great way to cool off, since the underground tunnels maintain their chilly temperature (42°F/5.6°C) year-round. We last hiked the caves during the 2021 heat dome when Portland had highs of 114°F/45.6°C, and still needed a winter coat, gloves and hat in the lava tube. The section downhill from the main entry stairs is a gentle walk (although sturdy shoes and a headlamp or flashlight are still needed); the uphill section from the entry stairs is quite a bit slower going as there are debris mounds to climb and a few tricky spots that require scrambling, including an 8ft wall that supposedly has a rope to assist the climb, but didn’t in our case. I recommend hiking sticks and a going with a group if you’re planning to complete the trickier of the two sections. At least during the pandemic, reservations were required, so check the site before you go.
Why I don’t recommend these oft-recommended spots:
Willamette River in/near Portland (Poet’s Beach)
Can you swim in the Willamette River in Portland? Yes, it’s possible and permitted to swim in some sections of the Willamette River within Portland most of the year. Some locations (for example off of piers and at the waterfront) are not permitted for swimming, but you can get in at other spots such as Poet’s Beach. Yet while the location is convenient, it’s not my go-to as 1) there are lots of boats on the water, especially at the height of summer, and I wouldn’t want to get in their way (plus I just don’t love the whirr of speedboats when I’m in a body of water); 2) I wouldn’t go barefoot in the middle of the city, beach or no; and 3) while city says it’s cleaner than in decades (it was supposedly at one point the inspiration for the Blinky, the three-eyed fish in The Simpsons) and is now typically safe to enter, it’s still surrounded by a city, busy freeways, and lies downstream from agricultural areas and a few superfund sites. However, if this is the only practical body of water for you, do check the weekly water quality testing website (https://www.portland.gov/bes/check-rec), and be extra wary in the rainier times of the year, since dislodged debris and the occasional “big pipe overflow” are nothing to be trifled with.
Sauvie Island Beaches
See above (Willamette River) – I have the same concerns about pollution and larger vessels on Sauvie Island beaches as I do on the Willamette within Portland, plus the rocky shore just doesn’t appeal to me for swimming. Collins Beach on the northern section of the island is another clothing optional beach.
The Sandy River
a.k.a. Glenn Otto Community Park/Dabney State Recreation Area/Oxbow Regional Park
Can you swim in the Sandy River? You caaaan, but I wouldn’t. Growing up in Oregon, I was taught to respect the Sandy River. I even went to a summer camp right on its banks as a tween and we never once touched the water. The camp made it very clear to never get in the water there – the current is strong, the water is cold, and there are lots of rocks and other obstacles that can hold you down. I kayaked this river recently and was on edge the whole time, muttering “respect the Sandy” repeatedly under my breath at my husband (yes, I was a treat). Two people drowned at the place we took our kayaks out the following weekend. The Sandy River is relatively shallow at some of these parks, but the current is still strong, which tricks you into going further into the river to immerse yourself, potentially losing control over the situation. I feel like I hear more horror stories about this river than any other in the area, although it may be my confirmation bias. Many people do go, even with kids, and most fare fine. But since this is my recommendation list, I’m sticking to my instincts and would say it’s only for very strong (and very sober) swimmers and even then only with a swim vest.
I admit the Sandy is quite scenic. But please respect the power under that seemingly calm surface.
Henry Hagg Lake
Hike around it. Picnic near it. But unless you want a mud bath, I wouldn’t recommend diving in. It is a muddy, goopy, unappealing body of water to swim in.
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