Coldwater Lake Toutle Lake Elk Blast Hiking Bigfoot Climb St. Helens Fishing Mtn. Funny Names Waterfront Parks Park Fees Columbia Co. Astoria Films Coastal Festivals Cannon Beach Seaside Beach Splash away hot summer days at waterfront parks For a region with lots of rivers, finding public access is harder than expected.
Most riverfront property is private, either industrial or residential.
However, there are several places to enjoy fishing, boating, or having a leisurely picnic along a sandy stretch of beach on the Cowlitz and Columbia rivers. They beckon during hot, lazy summer afternoons. There's paved parking, restrooms, picnic tables, horseshoe pits, basketball hoops, a sand volleyball court, and playground equipment. A paved, three-lane boat launch at the north end of the park helps boaters launch smaller crafts. Sandbars offshore can be a problem for regular boats, though it's a popular spot for personal watercraft.