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Collins Beach is the official clothing-optional beach on Sauvie Island, located on the Columbia River just north of Portland. It is administered by the State Dept. of Fish and Wildlife in cooperation with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. It is widely popular with families and individuals, with a long stretch of open sand on which to find one's spot for sunning. Warm weekends often see hundreds of users, but with plenty of room for everyone. Approximately 75% of the users go nude or topless, the rest choosing to wear suits. The south end of the beach features volleyball courts, where a group of regulars often meet for a day of spirited games. This area is popular for families and social nudists, as the crowd of friendly people creates a true community atmosphere. Stretching further north along the beach for a few hundred yards, the beach offers many spots to choose from, and those seeking a bit more seclusion may choose to check out the northern end.
Typical scene at Collins Beach on a summer weekend. This view was taken from the volleyball court area, looking north. This particular section of beach is popular for families and regulars. Boaters often tie up along the length of the beach for the day. A shipping channel runs through this section of the Columbia River, with the occasional container ship passing through.
The beach area is easily accessible from the parking lot, which runs adjacent to most of the length of the beach, separated and screened by a thick stand of cottonwoods, willow brush and redtwig dogwoods. There are several entrance trails to the beach from the parking area, marked #1 - 6. The area in the photograph is located between #2 and 3. The parking lot has several portable toilets, but there are no other services at the beach itself. The parking lot is situated along a gravel road, and dust can be a problem during the dry summer days, so be sure to roll those windows up! The lot is patrolled regularly by the Fish & Wildlife/Columbia County Sheriff officers.
A relatively new sight on Collins Beach in 2004: Mounted patrols from the Columbia County Sheriff. Teams of two or three horse-mounted officers make their way up and down the beach throughout the day.
Funny...the gawkers seemed to mysteriously disappear whenever the patrols showed up.
Hey...speaking of gawking...what the heck is that horse staring at???
Click here for a 360-degree view of Collins Beach Requires Quicktime Media Player to view; download here. Thanks to Dan & Wanda for providing this view for us!
By car, take Highway 30 north from Portland, or south from St. Helens. North of the town of Linnton, watch for a sign, "Sauvie Island Bridge" at a traffic-light-controlled intersection. Turn onto the bridge. Note: If you have not already purchased a daily or yearly parking permit, you will need to do so. They are available at the general store at the base of the bridge as you cross the river channel. A daily pass is $3.50; an annual permit is $11.00. Be sure to place this on your dash when you park at the beach.
You have two choices as to routes to Collins Beach: One is to take GIllihan road, which runs from the general store underneath the bridge, and follow it for several miles to the intersection with Reeder Road, turning right onto Reeder Road. Or, take Sauvie Island Road north from the store (turn left out of the store parking lot), and turn right onto Reeder Road a few miles up. Continue on Reeder Road after it intersects with Gillihan Road.
Whichever route you choose, follow Reeder Road, which will become a bit narrower and rougher as it crosses into Columbia County. Stay on Reeder Road, passing Reeder Beach, a small RV park and marina, and a few farms. Stay on Reeder until the road turns to gravel (the beach parking lot along the paved portion is a clothed beach, known as Walton Beach). Once you reach the gravel portion, you will see a sign: Entering Clothing-Optional Area. Parking is along the left-hand side of the road; foot trails to the beach are on the right, marked 1 through 6.
Map of Sauvie Island, showing roads to Collins Beach (beach marked in red at top of map).
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DIRECTIONS TO COLLINS BEACH: 
