Now that we’ve entered summer, we’re doing a run-down of our most accessible local beaches. Most people will just want to hang out, but I’ve included some wildlife possibilities as well. Have fun!
Pixie Park
Pixie Park is at 1816 The Strand, Columbia City. It’s a small beach with nice views of the mountains, islands, and river traffic. There are picnic tables, but not much in the way of natural area.
Pixie Park is visited in winter by serious birders, where they spot many species of ducks, grebes, and loons scooting down the river. Unfortunately, the cool birds hug the Washington side, so you need a powerful scope to see much.
Trestle Beach
Trestle Beach (off of Highway 30 just north of Veterans Park in Columbia City) was once famous for the railway trestle entrance. Around 2014, the railway bed was replaced and now it is just a metal tunnel. That tunnel leads to a pleasant 1/4 mile forest trail. Unfortunately, the proximity of the highway created safety and theft issues, so an alternative larger parking lot was established off Pacific Street. This puts you closer to the beach, though you don’t get the nice trail.
I haven’t seen a great deal of fishing at Trestle Beach (more clamming as a kid), but this guy caught and released three good-sized sturgeon in a day, so there must be something useful there!
Trestle Beach is my favorite beach for wildlife. The bird variety includes nesting ospreys as well as songbirds and wetlands birds. I’ve been able to see frogs, salamanders, snakes, and otters as well.
Prescott Beach
Prescott Beach is ~4 miles south of Rainier. Turn onto Graham Road just north of Trojan Park and then left onto Prescott Beach Drive. Columbia County recently bought the 63-acre property outright and has many plans for it, though for now it is still mostly a salmon fishing and picnic destination with a recently updated playground. As a county park, it costs $5 per vehicle to enter.
Prescott is a nice birding spot with a diversity of waterfowl and a Bald Eagle nest. Graham Road on the way in goes through Carr Slough, a wetland where numerous species stop during winter migrations, especially Tundra and Trumpeter swans.
Dibblee Beach
This beach is tucked away just past the Lewis and Clark Bridge. Approximately 1 mile west of downtown Rainier off Highway 30, turn right onto Rock Crest Street and then left on Dike Road, traveling 1.3 miles until you reach the dirt turnoff. It is a hotspot for horse riders, who I often see using the roads and nearby trails.
Dibblee Beach is one of the most diverse birding destinations in Columbia County, with over 140 species of birds recorded. It’s especially nice for summer songbirds, with warblers, tanagers, grosbeaks, waxwings, and flycatchers found here in ample variety. Columbian White-tailed Deer can be seen in the surrounding fields.
Jones Beach
Jones Beach is found by taking Highway 30 about 6.5 miles west of Clatskanie to Woodson Road, then turning right on River Front Road before reaching the beach less than a mile later. It’s a huge sand bar (created by dredging) that has become both a kite-surfing and fishing destination with picnic tables and nice views of islands and mountains.
Jones Beach has some birding opportunities, especially with ducks and gulls, but even more can be found in the surrounding “Marshland Bottoms”, a major hotspot with 155 species of birds recorded among the dikes and fields. And like Dibblee Beach, Jones Beach is a place to see endangered Columbian White-tailed Deer.
Other spots in the county with river access include Sauvie Island, Coon Island Marina to JJ Collins Marine Park, Chapman Landing off the CZ Trail, Scappoose Bay Marina, Columbia View Park, Grey Cliffs Park, Sand Island Marine Park, Dalton Lake Nature Preserve, Rainier Riverfront Park, Mayger Beach, and the Beaver Boat Ramp and Park.
Have a great summer!
Wild Columbia County 