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OUTDOOR
past the Three Pools turn-off on Forest Road
2207.
GETTING THERE: From I-5 in Salem,
take exit #253 and go east on RT 22. After
about 22 miles, look for the Little Santiam
Recreation Area sign, and then, across from
the Swiss Village restaurant, turn left onto
Little North Fork Road (Forest Road 2209).
After about 15 miles, FR 2209 turns to gravel,
and about 1.5 miles after that turn right at a
well-signed fork in the road onto Forest Road
2207. Go about 1.5 miles, then go right again
at the marked Three Pools turnoff and park.
About 25 yards beyond the bathrooms, a short
trail of stairs leads to the pools.
NOTE: You’ll need a NW Forest Pass ($5/
fern-laden grottos with plenty of spots to plop
yourself down and catch some sun. Bring a
group of friends, a bunch of snacks and some
reading material to complete the “tropical”
resort hotel feel.
GETTING THERE: Head east on I-84 and
take exit #41 (about a mile past the Bonneville
Dam exit). Turn right at the first stop, going
about a half-mile to the trailhead and park.
About 1.7 miles up the trail, just past Sorenson
Creek, the Lower Punchbowl Trail splits off
down toward the water. Follow this somewhat
steep trail for about a quarter-mile to the rocky
beach between Punchbowl and Lower Punchbowl
Falls, then move up or down the creek to
stake out your spot.
sandy beach, and if you dunk in and out of
the Columbia River fast enough, you probably
won’t grow a pollution-fueled second head.
Like any nude beach (more info at the Oregon
Clothing-Optional Beach Alliance: orcoba.
org/wst_page5.html), Collins has some minor
issues with gawkers, but thanks to a regular
horseback patrol by the Columbia County
Sheriff and a committed core of local “naturists,”
this beach is pretty safe and has a fairly
family-friendly vibe, with volleyball games
(ouch!), barbecues (careful!) and kids of all
ages running about au naturelle. If you just
can’t handle the full monty, Walton Beach is a
clothed beach just before Collins, on the same
stretch of river.
Punchbowl Falls
day, $30/year, naturenw.org/passes-nwpass.
htm) to park your car. Bring good
hiking shoes for the trek to the water.
Swim the Icon
Upper and Lower Punchbowl Falls
Sure, the Eagle Creek Trail (fs.fed.us/r6/
Columbia/trails/trail_440.htm) is one of the
most popular hikes in the
Gorge, and the cascades of
Upper and Lower Punchbowl
Falls are iconic Northwest
nature landmarks, but
on a scorching summer day
the “bowls” at the bottom
of these falls offer up some
of the yummiest swimming
anywhere near Portland.
Reminiscent of some grand
Hawaiian resort pool (only much more beautiful),
water scenically spills off the falls and
into deep, blue-green pools framed by lush,
NOTE: As at Three Pools, you’ll need a
NW Forest Pass to park your car, and good
hiking shoes are a must for the walk to the
bowls.
Dare to go Bare
Collins Beach, Sauvie Island
Okay, so it’s not technically a swimming
hole, but Collins Beach is a fantastic place
On a scorching summer day the
‘bowls’ at the bottom of Punchbowl
Falls offer up some of the
yummiest swimming anywhere
near Portland.
to let it all hang out—literally—and banish
your tan lines. This “official” clothing-optional
spot has an inviting stretch of clean,
GETTING THERE: Take Highway 30 west
from Portland, then turn right and cross the
Sauvie Island Bridge. After picking up your
parking permit (see below), turn left out of the
store parking lot onto NW Sauvie Island Road,
then turn right onto NW Reeder Road. After
about a quarter-mile Reeder Road becomes
gravel and you’ll see a sign on your right:
“Entering Clothing-Optional Area.” Foot trails
leading to the beach are on the right.
NOTE: You’ll need a parking permit
($3.50/day, $11/year), which you can pick up at
the Cracker Barrel Grocery (15005 NW Sauvie
Island Rd, 621-2960) at the base of the bridge
on the island.
Whether you decide to lounge in the
Santiam’s refreshing natural pools, frolick in
the Punch Bowl waterfall basins or relax in
your birthday suit on Sauvie Island, you’ll be
happy you got out of town to beat the August
heat. In a region where we get more than
enough moisture in the winter, it’s refreshing
to know that we have bountiful water sources
when we really need it.
August 2006 / PDXmagazine.com 59