Continent |
North America |
Country |
Washington (USA) |
Next Big City |
Portland |
Next Town |
Kalama |
|
Type: |
River |
Rider Ability: |
Intermediate, Expert |
Features: |
Toilet, Parking |
Water
Type: |
Flat, Chop |
Hazards: |
Ships, Stakes |
Quality: |
Cloudy |
Best Tide: |
Falling tide |
Columbia River in North/South direction, tidal effect more prevalent. Best on North wind and outgoing tide (add 1+ hr to tide chart). Conditions are generally butter flat to very small chop.
Beach
Type: |
Grass, Sand |
Size: |
Small |
Hazards: |
Rocks, Other |
Beach Users: |
None |
Sand beach with driftwood debris and some rock, it is an industrial area so not a family picnic spot. Wood pilings well downwind due require awareness on windy days. You can park close and launch safely. Self launch requires swimming out a little due to narrow beach. Spring and fall this beach is over crowded with fisherman so late spring through summer is best.
Weather
Spring:
|
Normal |
Summer:
|
Shorts, Shorty |
Fall:
|
Normal |
Winter:
|
Thick |
4/3 wetsuit late spring, shorty to board shorts in late June through July and August. Water temp 50°F late spring to upper 60's°F in August (tide will effect this more than in Gorge). Air temps 50's to 70°F in spring and 70's to 90's°F in summer.
Wind
Best Months: |
May, June, July, August, September |
Wind Type: |
Thermal |
Best Direction: |
N |
Main Direction: |
E, W |
Best on North wind and outgoing tide.
How to get there
Transport |
Car |
Access
|
Short walk |
Interstate 5 north from Portland about 38 miles to Todd Rd/Kalama exit. Take a left at stop sign and follow road around to right and straight past gravel facility on left. Beach with parking lot will come into view on the left.
Extra information
Just be respectful of beach fisherman, they are super friendly as long as you give them room.
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