Swimming & Sunbathing in Portland

Swimming and sunbathing season in Portland is brief: in summer temperatures are never too hot for too long, while most of the waters—including lakes, rivers, and the Pacific Ocean—remain cold. On those few hot and sunny days, though, locals and visitors flock to these watering holes to cool off and splash around.

Blue Lake Regional Park (20500 N.E. Marine Dr., Troutdale. 503/797-1850) has a swimming beach that's packed on hot summer days. You can also fish and rent small boats here. This is a great place for a hike on the surrounding trails or for a picnic.

If you feel like tanning au naturel, drive about a half hour northwest of downtown to Sauvie Island, a wildlife refuge with a secluded beachfront that's popular with (and legal for) nude sunbathers. If the sky is clear, you'll get a spectacular view from the riverbank of three Cascade mountains—Hood, St. Helens, and Adams. Huge oceangoing vessels cruise by on their way to and from the Port of Portland. To get here, take U.S. 30 north to Sauvie Island bridge, turn right, and follow Reeder Road until you hit gravel. Look for the Collins Beach signs. There's plenty of parking, but a permit is required. You can buy it ($3.50 for a one-day permit, $11 for an annual permit) at the Cracker Barrel country store just over the bridge on the left side of the road.