Rooster Rock State Park is less than a one hour drive from downtown Portland. Located in the Columbia River Gorge, east of Corbett, the park features the first officially designated clothing-optional beach in the United States. The forest views are stunning and wildlife sightings are frequent. The beach gets busy on weekends, so it is best to arrive before 10:00 AM if you expect to find a good spot near the river bank. Weekday visits are recommend for a quieter back to nature experience. There are hiking trails, but many find kayaking and paddle boarding to be the best way to experience Rooster Rock’s clothing optional area because you can always paddle further upstream if the beach gets too crowded, explore harder to reach areas like the east end of Sand Island, and more up close bird watching.
The trailhead at the east end of the parking lot at Rooster Rock State Park marks the entrance boundary of the clothing optional area. The trail forks in multiple directions, but they pretty much all lead to the river bank. The clothing optional area along the river bank extends quite far, and the entirety of Sand Island is clothes free as well. When the water level is low, you can walk or wade to the island. The South facing sand dunes are a the perfect place for sunbathing. At times of higher water levels the Island is only accessible by watercraft. Rooster Rock is ideal for easy kayaking and paddle boarding through most of the summer months, when the water is calm. In spring and fall it gets very windy in the Gorge, so it can get quite rough on the water.
The water level can be unpredictable and greatly impacts how much, if any, sandy shoreline is accessible. Generally, the water is high early in the summer and lower in August and September. However the level is not strictly dependent on weather because it changes considerably with water releases from dams upstream. Water level will change throughout the day, based on releases, and also changes with ocean tides. Keep this in mind if you decide to swim or wade across shallow areas to get to the island. You may have trouble getting back if the water rises. Most who wade to the island follow the sand bars downstream from Sand Island, but they change frequently and will be different each time you visit. Checking the USGS gauging station at Vancouver provides experienced visitors a rough guide of what to expect at Rooster Rock. Typically, when the Vancouver level is below 5 feet, you can expect a decent amount of sandy shoreline and can wade to Sand Island.
Please Do:
- Be respectful of others by keeping noise down. People visit the wilderness to enjoy nature peacefully. If you carry in a boom box, remember that not everyone shares your musical taste.
- PACK OUT YOUR TRASH! If you can carry it in full, you can certainly carry it out empty.
- It is always a good practice to pick up and pack out any trash you find that others have left.
- Carry basic first aid items and plenty of drinking water.
- There is a restroom at the trailhead. Don’t pollute the river with human waste! The water level can rise fifteen feet or more. Anything you bury that is remotely close to the river will end up in the water eventually. The seasonal wetland can extend a mile or more from the river bank.
- Mind your pets. Until recently, no dogs were allowed in the clothing optional area. The State has changed the rules, so now dogs are permitted but must be on a leash at all times. It is best to leave dogs at home, but if you do bring animals, be sure to PICK UP AFTER YOUR DOG.
- No camping is permitted.
- Observe fishing and hunting regulations.
- Unfortunately, power boats and jet skis are permitted. If you feel you must operate gas-powered machinery in the wilderness (please don’t) WATCH OUT for swimmers and people-powered watercraft. Treat the area as a NO WAKE ZONE and operate your vehicle slowly and quietly.
- Be responsible with alcohol! There is a good chance that alcohol will soon be banned at Rooster Rock, as it has at Collins Beach (Sauvie Island). Don’t be an idiot and ruin it for everyone else.
- Bicycles, scooters, and motorized land vehicles are not allowed.
- Nudity is only permitted in the designated area.
- Public nudity is not prohibited by state law, but public sexual activity is illegal. Park Rangers and County Sheriffs do enforce this at Rooster Rock. Remember, for many people, outdoor nude recreation is a family activity.
The Ever Changing Columbia River
The middle photo above shows the start of the trail just beyond the trailhead sign in the first picture. At the bottom of the hill, you can see that the trail is completely under water (click photo to enlarge). This picture was taken in June of 2022, when the Columbia River USGS gauging station at Vancouver was at about 15 fee, almost at flood stage. At that time, it was impossible to walk in. As it turned out, the hiking trail was suitable for kayaking, and one could paddle along the path usually used for walking.
The next two pictures were taken from approximately the same place in the river, and provide an astonishing glimpse of how drastically the river changes with water releases from Bonneville Dam. These were shot a few weeks apart. In the picture on the left, the Vancouver gauge indicated 12 to 13 feet, and about 4 feet for the photo on the right.
When the water drops to the level shown in the picture on the right, you can walk to the sand dune “island” without even getting your feet wet. On those days, Sand Island is is more of a peninsula, with some water remaining between island and the south bank of the river, forming a relatively warm lagoon that is perfect for swimming and quietly floating on inflatables. Low water comes with another advantage; power boats are few and far between, as the water depth makes navigation unsafe.
Wildlife in the Columbia River Gorge
A trip to Rooster Rock affords the opportunity to spot wildlife. Small rodents like mice and voles are common, as are squirrels (don’t feed them!) racoons and rabbits. Reptile sightings include garter and king snakes. Also seen on occasion, are skinks, frogs, and salamanders. If you are lucky, you might see a beaver. On very rare occasions, a cougar is spotted. Here’s what to do if you see a cougar. A sighting was reported in June 2023. It is clear that they are abundant from the evidence they leave. A careful eye reveals many chewed branches. Beavers are elusive. One of our contributors spotted one quickly scurrying from the brush, and slipping into the river. Cougars have been reported, but we know of only one first-hand account. Deer are often seen; foxes more rarely.
Birds are the most notable category. Golden eagles, Bald eagles, hawks, osprey, turkey vultures, egrets, sandhill cranes, blue herons, ducks, geese, and gulls are commonly seen. This is especially true closer to sunset, when insects are skimming the water’s surface. Fish pop out to gobble the bugs and birds swoop down to dive on the fish. On a good day, you’ll get a low-level view of a bird catching a fish from the seat of a kayak while paddling home in the evening.
