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Geographic region: Willamette Valley farmland, Sauvie Island
Municipality/town: Portland
Route configuration: out-and-back with a loop
Distance: 18.4 miles
Min/max elevation: 16’/29’
Total ascent: 222’
Max grade: <1% up/<1% down
Surface: gravel/dirt path/road (with <¼ mile of paved road)
Bikes allowed: yes (mountain bike recommended)
Obstacles: At 1.1 miles and at 3.5 miles, there are gates that need to be unlatched to cross (this is allowed during April 16-September 30).
Best months: The southern portion of the route, the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area is open to the public from May 1-September 30 (closed from October 1 to April 30, for the protection of migratory birds and for waterfowl hunting). Some paths/roads are covered in water or are quite muddy during the spring. July-September are best months to ensure passable roads/paths.
Permits: Parking permits required for all wildlife areas ($10 daily/$30 annually). These can be purchased online (https://odfw.huntfishoregon.com/customer/catalog), the Linnton, OR -11, The Cracker Barrel Store on Sauvie Island, or Reeder Beach RV Country Store on Sauvie Island.
Traffic: none to very light
Feels safe to go alone (my personal comfort level): yes
Driving distance from downtown Portland: 20 miles
[Click on buttons above to get route links on Gaia GPS or Ride with GPS]
To get to the start: Locate Sauvie Island Wildlife Viewing Area (eastside viewing platform). From Portland, head north on Hwy 30 toward Sauvie Island. Turn R on NW Sauvie Island Rd – go 0.3 mi. Take first L to wrap around to NW Gilham Rd – go 6.1 mi. Turn R on NW Reeder Rd – go 2.8 mi. Park at the Sauvie Island Wildlife Viewing Area. A permit is required to park in the wildlife areas (see route details for more information).
Head north on NW Reeder Rd – go 0.1 mi
@0.1 mi: L on unnamed road – go 0.2 mi
@0.3 mi: R on unnamed road – go 0.7 mi
@1.0 mi: L at Y on unnamed road – go 0.1 mi
@1.1 mi: L (northwest) on faint path on grass – go 280’
@1.1+ mi: unlatch the gate (or climb over) and immediately turn R (north) on unnamed road – go 1.0 mi
@2.1 mi: stay L on unnamed road (NW Rentenaar Rd is to the R) – go 1.9 mi
@2.2 mi: stay R at Y
@3.0 mi: stay R at Y
@4.0 mi: L on NW Reeder Rd – go 2.3 mi
@6.3 mi: at Warrior Rock Lighthouse Trailhead (north end of the parking lot), head north on Warrior Rock Lighthouse Tr – go 3.0 mi
@6.5 mi: R at Y to stay on Warrior Rock Lighthouse Tr
@6.7 mi: either way at Y (reconnects in less than 0.2 mi)
@9.0 mi: either way at Y (reconnects in less than 0.2 mi)
@9.3 mi: turn around at the lighthouse and head back on the Warrior Rock Lighthouse Tr – go 3.0 mi
@12.3 mi: continue straight on NW Reeder Rd – go 2.3 mi
@14.6 mi: sharp R on unnamed road – go 0.4 mi
@15.0 mi: L on unnamed road (unlatch the gate or climb over) – go 2.4 mi
@16.2 mi: stay straight at 4-way intersection
@17.4 mi: R on unnamed road – go 0.7 mi
@18.1 mi: L on unnamed road – go 0.2 mi
@18.3 mi: R on NW Reeder Rd – go 0.1 mi
End @18.4 mi
This route combines trails and roads in the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area with the trail to Warrior Rock Lighthouse. The combination of the two areas makes for a scenic longer flat route, all off paved road. Starting at a wildlife viewing area just off NW Reeder Road, this route heads north into the wildlife area which includes extensive wetlands and farms on dirt roads and paths.
Around the 1.1-mile point, you will need to veer off to the left on a grass patch that takes you to a latched fence. You can unlatch or climb over the fence. You are not trespassing (unless you are going in the off-season)! The fences are in place to keep mostly free-range cattle from venturing too far. Immediately after crossing the gait, turn right (north) on a scruffy path. This path at times looks a little unclear through this section, and at about 1.5 miles, you will pass through a bit of pasture with no trail. Continue heading north/northwest through this pasture till the 1.7-mile mark, where you will rejoin a more proper dirt path. Then again at 1.9 miles, veer left to connect to a dirt road.
Because some of the roads and paths after this point are covered in water for half the year, when they do show up, they can appear faint in spots. Don’t be surprised if you see some cattle in your path. In addition to seeing cattle roaming around, you should be able to see several species of birds in the area, including bald eagles, great blue herons, white pelicans, egrets, sandhill cranes, osprey, and more.
You will eventually make your way back to NW Reeder Road, at which point you will head north along the Columbia River. You will pass along public beaches hidden by patches of trees, including the well-known clothing-optional Collins Beach. This is a great spot to visit after your run on a warm summer day to take a dip to rinse off all that sweat.
At 6.3 miles, you will be at the Warrior Rock Lighthouse Trailhead. The trail continues to follow along the Columbia, though it’s mostly sheltered by cottonwood trees with sporadic views of the river. The trail ends at Warrior Rock Lighthouse, a small but cool-looking lighthouse with a beautiful bird painted on it. You will need to loop around the lighthouse to see the bird, but it’s worth it.
After heading back down NW Reeder Road, you will turn back into the wildlife area the way you came. At 15 miles, you will turn left onto a road that has another gate that will need to be unlatched or climbed over. The next 2.3 miles pass by lush wetlands with some sporadic crop fields to take you to the finish.
Geographic region: Western Lowlands of Washington
Municipality/town: Vancouver, WA
Route configuration: loop
Distance: 12.2 miles
Min/max elevation: 14’/31’
Total ascent: 150’
Max grade: <1% up/<1% down
Surface: ~3 miles paved road, ~ 4 miles dirt/grass road and path, ~5 miles paved path, small amount of sandy beach if desired
Bikes allowed: yes (mountain or gravel bike recommended)
Obstacles: gates (closed to automobile traffic but allows pedestrians and bikers to cross):
gate at 3.2 miles at the right turn off the paved road onto the dirt road
gate at 6.3 miles before getting on the path after crossing NW Erwin O’Reiger Memorial Hwy
gate at 8.5 miles, just before crossing NW Erwin O’Reiger Memorial Hwy
Best months: February through August (waterfowl hunting occurs September through January in the non-paved northeastern portion of the route)
Permits: parking permits ($3) required, which can be purchased at fee booth or self-pay station in parking lot
Traffic: very light to light
Feels safe to go alone (my personal comfort level): yes
Driving distance from downtown Portland: 16 miles
[Click on buttons above to get route links on Gaia GPS or Ride with GPS]
To get to the start: Locate Frenchmans Bar Regional Park in Vancouver, WA for directions. Purchase a parking permit and park in one of the parking lots.
Head east on the park entrance road toward NW Old Lower River Rd – go 0.3 mi
@0.3 mi: L on NW Lower River Rd – go 2.9 mi
@3.2 mi: R on unnamed dirt/grass road – go 3.0 mi
@6.2 mi: L at T on unnamed dirt road – go 0.1 mi
@6.3 mi: cross paved road (NW Erwin O’Reiger Memorial Hwy) and go straight on a path – go 2.2 mi. This path follows along the west side of Vancouver Lake, through Vancouver Lake Regional Park and back to NW Erwin O’Reiger Memorial Hwy.
@6.5 mi: R on path (straight is a dead-end)
@7.5 mi: L at Y
@8.5 mi: cross NW Erwin O’Reiger Memorial Hwy and continue on the path that follows along NW Lower River Rd – go 2.2 mi
@10.7 mi: head south on the park paths and loop around, then head north on the park paths and loop back to the parking area.
End @~12.2 mi
Though this route is outside of Oregon, I’m including it because it’s another option for a flatter route which are scarce in this route guide, and it’s quite close to Portland. And while the majority of the course is paved, it’s fairly peaceful with some interesting scenery.
The route starts at Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park on the Washington side of the Columbia River. It heads north on NW Lower River Road, with farmlands to the right and the Columbia River to the left. Views of the river from NW Lower River Road are scant, however, due to trees and berms.
At the 3.2-mile mark, you will turn right on an unnamed gravel road. There is a gate here, but it’s typically open. You will follow along the unnamed dirt roads bordering farms and wetlands for the next three miles.
At 6.2 miles, you will cross NW Erwin O’Rieger Memorial Highway to join the paths of Vancouver Lake Regional Park. These paths wind through deciduous woods and eventually open up to views of the lake.
The path continues on from Vancouver Lake Regional Park, connecting back up with Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park. Once you are back here, you can enjoy looping around the park on the trails and onto the sandy beach, where you can watch large, colorful freighters pass by on the Columbia River.
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