In all honesty, my primary reason for coming to Kelley Point Park this weekend was two-fold: spend some time in the water on a warm, sunny day, and scout out how hard it would be to row a boat over to Sauvie Island, to bypass the crazy long lines that queue up for the Haunted Corn Maze at Bella Organic Farms in October. While the latter was *immediately* eliminated as an option, after seeing the breadth and turbulence of the waters here, at the confluence of the Columbia and Willamette rivers, a day relaxing on a sandy, semi-rocky beach went...well, swimmingly! Well, sort of. Apparently, swimming is dangerous here. There are multiple signs warning people to stay out of the water, targeting all modes of recreation: swimming, floating and boating. That didn't stop some people, at least those further down shore from the northwestern apex of the park, and personally, it's dumb rule, in my opinion. There is a lot of shipping traffic along this stretch of river, but most people aren't going to get anywhere near these massive vessels, and the tide and depth don't seem particularly more dangerous than anywhere else. Exercise caution and wisdom, and you should be fine. The water was warm enough, once you adjust to it, for a late May day. The beach is mostly soft sand, with a mixture of gravel in bands farther up the shore from the water. Large logs and cement blocks, the remains of old docks and the like, litter the shore. Depending on the time of day, large swaths of the beaches are shaded by the tree line, so it can be a bit cooler than the rest of the park. There are miles of paved paths for walking, riding, skating, etc, as well as several large picnic areas (including tables), open fields, and ample parking. And, of course, dog friendly, although be sure to clean up after your poopers! So maybe it won't serve as a back door to Sauvie Island, but Kelley Point Park is a great place to spend a sunny afternoon, provided you don't like swimming...or don't mind giving the government the finger and doing it anyway. read more

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There is a joke in Oregon. How do we pronounce "beach"? We say, "coast". That's because the coast here, while breathtaking in it's natural beauty, is not a beach where one goes to recline in soft sand and catch some sun. But we do have a beach!! At this park! Only it's on the river, and it's a convergence of rivers so the current is really dangerous, like kill a person dangerous, so you do not dare swim in it. But still .... it's a beautiful beach where you can put out your blanky and spend a gorgeous day relaxing by the water. The rest of the park is also beautiful. I know a bit of the history of this land, and this was not always a park. For a while in its history it was a dump. True story. Then it got cleaned up and nature was encouraged to take it back, and now it is a peaceful, lush refuge full of life. Tall trees, flower covered meadow, shade covered trails. Ample parking is available. There have been some remarks that the park has a seedy side, but that has been overstated. As a single woman, often alone except for my dog, I find it safe enough. Park in a spot that has a lot of visibility, don't leave valuables in your car. Be aware of your surroundings and eyeball the other people near you. Walk with confidence. I always nod (but not smile) and acknowledge other people around me. I keep my resting b face in place. It says, "I see you" and let's them know I'm not going to be an easy target. People with bad intentions look for distracted, shy or mild mannered targets. Sure, it kinda sucks to have to be on guard, but my confident demeanor has deterred bad things, I'm sure of it. In any event, I have never seen anyone here who was sketchy enough for my spider sense to tingle. read more

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Honestly, the park was kind of scary honestly, definitely disappointing compared to its big sister cathedral park. There was white flowers EVERYWHERE it looked like spider webs there were so many. there was a homeless women looking at us from the bathroom and locked herself in. People were arguing there. Just VERY VERY creepy. Very disappointed. Honestly I'm hoping it was just a bad first impression that's why I gave it a two star. ‍ read more

At night this park is used for sex, I was eating My dinner and a man started beating off next to my car. I give this park 5 stars because it was funny to watch .someone please come get their Grandpa . read more

Kelley Point Park - Happy Ending - Parks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This is a lovely spot to take a walk. Stroller friendly and plenty of shade. Not at all crowded... we saw very few people along the way and nice scenery along the way read more

Dapple shaded paths on a hot July weekend with easy access to sandy beaches for swimming in the Willamette or Columbia Rivers makes this an outstanding summer into late fall respite from the afternoon heat. There's generous picnicking areas, although when it's crowded you'll more likely need a blanket for the grass areas because there are less than 50 tables here. Today the beaches were clean from the recent high waters of spring. I've been here in August when the beaches are dotted with litter and dog feces. Take two stars off if you're here at the end of the season, assuming visitors don't clean up after themselves. From the paved, flat trail, you can view river traffic, osprey nests, bald eagles and stunning views of Mt Hood with the Columbia in the foreground. The trails aren't extensive, but we got two miles in by looping exploring the mini loops. You won't get lost here--it's a small park. Parking was plentiful today and on my previous visits, but I can imagine it gets packed as summer gets hotter. This park is another reason to love Portland!. read more

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Very nice park. Love the osprey family that lives there. Also love the diversity of experience you can get here - water, trees, industry, picnic, etc. easy place to spend some time outside. read more

Easy to get to and there are not normally a ton of people to deal with. I rather head to Sauvie Island, but on a Friday afternoon when traffic is horrendous this beach does the trick. Bonus points for the tower! The water is deep enough for jumping into the river from the top. Fun Times!! read more

Kelley Point Park - Sunset! - Parks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I love this park. Easy to get to, plenty of space to walk around, lay on the beach, have a picnic and you DON'T have to pay for parking. They have multiple lots to park at and it's never been full when I'm here. It gets pretty busy during fishing season but it's still a great place to go, especially if you have a lot of things to drag along with you. Paved trails help! My dogs love coming here. You usually only get the people who also have great dogs off leash. Never experienced anything negative. read more

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This park has pretty views of the river and an asphalt trail which makes walking and riding your bike very easy, but beware of glass and syringes. I took my pet here and at first let him run around in one of the more wide open field spaces, but quickly leashed him when I realize the abundance of broken glass and then saw a syringe on the shoreline. If you don't have pets or kids and are wearing close toed shoes, this is a nice park to see 360 views of the river. It's cool to see the boat traffic and different barges from the peninsula that the park is on, but I wouldn't necessarily advise walking without looking what's in front of you. It's a shame that people treat parks like garbage cans and even more sad when leaving used syringe is on the ground could endanger an unsuspecting visitor. However, the park has a pretty decent trail to walk or bike on and has a pretty good view of Mount Hood, so I'm definitely willing to come back and try it again. If it still trashy and generally kind of gross, I'll just have to find a different park with good views by room by a river. read more

Kelley Point Park - Parks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

While in the St. John's neighborhood, I meandered out to the park so the dog I'm taking care of could get his wirehaired toes wet. I'd never heard of the "beach" , being tucked away at the farthest outskirts of Portland. This is somewhat of a hideaway for St. Johners, so I feel slightly guilty reviewing it, but I'll commence forth anyhow. First off, the drive is disheartening. I drove through what seemed like an eternity of corporate America buildings. They made me cringe. Even my copilot, Barkely, was moaning in agony at the scenery (that, or he really had to pee). When I finally arrived at the park, the parking lot was startlingly creeping. Some type of tree unbeknownst to me had covered the trail, parking lot, and surrounding flora with a cotton-like substance. It looked like dirty snow. And since the ground was covered in debris, I guess people found that as justification for leaving their chip bags, soda and beer cans, and doggie poop bags laying helter skelter on the ground. For the love of god, why would you pick up your dog's skat, put it in a plastic bag, then leave the plastic bag on the ground on the trail?? Really? I followed the signs along the trail that read "kayak and canoe launch", wondering what a canoe launch looks like. Apparently it looks like a beach. When I emerged from the wooded creepy-treed trail onto the sand, I had a moment of serenity as I glimpsed the Columbia Slough (a small offshoot of the river) and two canoers. Ah, nature. But just beyond that small strip of water, towering like doomsday metallic giants, were several factories that I'm assuming are waste plants. Romantic... Barkley and I travelled along the beach at the water's edge for about twenty minutes before coming to the better side of the beach: waters that are clean and shallow enough to swim in. This is the location where the Columbia and Willamette rivers split in different directions, which I thought was pretty spiffy. The beach was surprisingly unoccupied. I saw maybe fifty or sixty people, but they're spread out along about twenty minutes of beach, so everyone had room for "privacy". There were a few families having picnics, some fishermen, and several people swimming with their dogs. These things are good. But aside from that, I can't say I had a very extraordinary experience here. read more

Kelley Point Park - Kelly Point Park beach, where the Columbia and Willamette rivers split. - Parks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I am sitting on a beach in Portland. I have wonderful views of Mount Hood and there are lots of birds using the remnants of a breakwater from which to fish. Perched on the top of a shipping navigation sign is an abandoned nest from some large bird. Where am I? The answer would be Kelley Point Park . This park is a peninsula that sits at the confluence of the Columbia and the Willamette rivers. Across the way is Sauvie Island and Hayden Island is just a little ways upstream. This piece of land used to be an island itself, but was joined to the mainland by dredging operations for the Port of Portland. Just upstream is one of the marine terminals. It got its name from a new Englander - Hall Jackson Kelley, who thought he could build a city here to rival Portland. Needless to say he was not successful. Full review and photos in my blog: http://www.brianbailey.us/blog/?p=739 read more

Kelley Point Park - http://www.brianbailey.us/blog/?p=739 - Parks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I have visited this park many times. It is usually not too busy and has a sandy beach, unusual. The beach is not necessarily scenic. It is across from the Port of Vancouver unloading ships for cars from Japan. So you might on the beach face a huge ocean ship. From the car park, there are a series of trails to the beach. If the parking is crowded, you will see people on the beach and vice versa. If you would like to swim in the Willamette - Columbia confluence you can, with no lifeguards, so bring personal floatation devices for all. And be prepared to be a lifesaver. read more

As visitors from CA who have dogs used to the beach, this served as a really good substitute. Highly recommend for those nice weather days, with a good amount of beach to go space out and enjoy. read more

Pretty good park; parking is free, plentiful and it's right on the water. There is some beach front, but don't go in the water (it's forbidden, and has been attributed to several deaths over the years due to the river's confluence.) Lots of grassy areas, overall clean. I'd recommend locking your car door though; it's pretty safe, but I've seen some less-than-savory activity on occasion. read more

There are sandy beaches in Portland, ya'll. Kelley Point is a long stretch of sand (SAND!) in North Portland on the Oregon side of the Columbia river. Every spot you could grab has an equally amazing view. You can show up at 1pm when everyone else does and not have to hunt for a good place to throw your towel down. The water is the perfect temperature in the summer. Dive right in. Drinking-in-public friendly, so bring your cooler full of tequila and beer. Spend the day here. AND THEY HAVE RESTROOMS SO YOU DONT HAVE TO PEE IN THE WOODS read more

Kelley Point Park - Summer is alive and well at Kelley Point. - Parks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I'm giving this park one star with the hopes that I go back in the fall or winter for a revised review. I could give it two, maybe, but the "Eek! Methinks not" advisory caption that correlates with one is just too enticing. In a word...mosquitoes. Need I say more? They eat me like it's nobody's business. And right now--in July--this place is INFESTED with them. It started out as a relaxing evening picnic. It ended in bloodsucking terror! The sad thing is that this place is gorgeous, built on a landfill or not...laden with decomposing murdered bodies in the underbrush, or not (I have a feeling they died of mosquito bites). But because there's water nearby...it just breeds mosquitoes. Which means that after we were there for a few moments, discovered that it would only get worse, I now have multiple bites on my arms, legs, and FACE. Yes, on my face. If you see me within the next few days, I DO NOT have a bad breakout. It was those li'l mofos that did it to me! I swear! So until it's cold and dry...Eek! Methinks not!! read more

Kelley Point is a great place to go with your dog and take a swim. It's got paved bike trails that weave through the mosquito laden woods. Take a jump off the crow's nest that's about 50 feet off shore. Make sure to take a good shower after swimming and bring a trash bag to pick up everybody else's litter and things will be great! I've seen some excellent bro-mance out there in the form of 6-8 dudes carrying a gigantic log down the beach only to plunge into the river with it and ride it like a boat!!! There is also some kind hearted juggalos drinking Bush, fisher people, and a whole cast of lovable characters to share the beach with. read more

Not the best beach in the area, but some of the best fishing---especially if it's Sturgeon you're after. This is where the Willamette empties into the Columbia, w/the eastern-most point of Sauvie Island on the other side. Lots of great memories at Kelley Point Park. As a kid I spent one summer gathering empty soda and beer cans (Gov. McCall had just helped pas the Oregon Bottle Bill, for the surcharge on certain beverages, to encourage recycling), as I was saving up to buy a catcher's mitt for little league. I was way better at catching/finding stinging nettles than I was at retrieving empties from deep in the brush, but I finally did scrape together enough for that mitt. Thanks for the pointed memories, KP Park! read more

Went here yesterday for a day in the sun with friends! The park is easy to find and lots of little nooks where you can be in the sun or find shade. It's a bit of a walk from the parking lot so be prepared when you have heavy things! My boyfriend swears he saw a sea lion while my friend and I were in the bathroom..... We also saw a bunny and lots of birds. Gorgeous sunset and view of Mt Hood. Will def come back soon! read more

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Nice and traffic-free drive to the park, past some HUGE cranes. Parking is ample, if not maybe safe for any lowered vehicle. (Some potholes) Trail around is paved, with little random footpaths off toward the beaches. The water gets VERY DEEP, VERY FAST. My dog found this out, and also learned she's a decent swimmer. Nettles abound, going off-trail not a good idea. Nice place for walks, picnics and/or wasting time in nature. read more

We've been taking our 2 dogs here for years. They love to go swimming here. Two paws up!

For a huge city park nestled between two busy ports it's as good as it gets. Last summer we would sit there all day reading and watching the giant ships travel through the confluence. Between the shipping traffic, sail boats, jet skis and fisherman it's really neat to see a different side to international commerce and Oregon. The beaches are soft and wide and the paths through the wooded section of the park are fun to wander. Black cottonwoods cover everything in a dreamlike fluff and ruins from mid-20th century maritime commerce (including a lighthouse foundation) are scattered around the park and water front. It's dog friendly and everybody there is interested in hanging out enjoying the slower pace of time. Overall, it has a very nice vibe. The only reason it got 4 stars instead of 5 was the trash everywhere. We were concerned with broken glass and I wouldn't recommend walking bare foot unless you are right next to the water. But, outside the parks in affluent neighborhoods of Portland, trash everywhere seems to be par for any popular natural destination in NW Oregon. I made a time lapse video of the Willamette/Columbia confluence if you are interested - http://www.aaronschultz.com/2011/08/kelly-point-time-laspe-photography.html read more

Good: Sandy beach just minutes from North or NE Portland, trees for shade, not super crowded on the beach for the most part. Bad: Dog poop all over the place, over-flowing garbage, over-flowing parking lots on hot days, A-holes in speed boats blasting up and down the river at full throttle at deafening race track volumes. Tug boats and shipping boats also detract a bit from the scenery. Mixed blessings: It's also a good 5-10 minute walk to the beach from parking. I don't mind this, but maybe don't go if you're looking to jump out of your car and walk onto the beach or if you plan on carrying a big load of gear. read more

Ventured here with my dog a couple of weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised considering how many reviews remarked that it would be dirty and full of trash. We came here on a Thursday afternoon and parking was plentiful. The beach was quite busy though and it took a bit to find a good spot. My dog LOVES other dogs but sometimes can be a bit too much for them so I try to keep him separated as much as I can. Once we found a spot, we hung out for a couple of hours enjoying the sun and river. I noticed that the river entry was clean and easy to navigate - there were no rocks or steep drop offs. We truly enjoyed ourselves and I've been telling friends about it every since. It's definitely a drive for most, but well worth the trek! read more

This is a nice quiet park to take the dog to. It has a beach on both the Columbia and the Willamette Rivers. The Columbia beach is a little cleaner , and the water is for sure. But it doesn't get the late after noon sun. The Willamette side has a view of Sauvie Island, so its much nicer. I love to watch the Barges and tug boats do their dance, while sipping on a cold one. We left before the it got buggy, so I couldn't tell you how bad it gets. A little tip: The speed limit is 45 on Marine Drive, and there is one sign right before the right turn into the park. If your going 45 and try and make the turn, it could be Hollywood worthy. read more

This is a nice and secret little destination on the very tip of PDX. Really, you can't go no more unless you wanna swim the channel to Washington. And who wants to go there? The park itself is rather pretty. Can't exactly say the same for the eastern beach which looks like a scene out of the The Road or Van Damme's 1989 classic, Cyborg. But the sand is soft and Beth Willie was off afloating in his inflatable boat. Very clean bathroom but the toilet is ear-deafening loud. My ear rang a little from it. But perhaps that's why it's so clean. read more

I give it four stars because I have been coming here for years with my dogs and always have a good experience. It is really great to walk along the water, starting at the end near the bathrooms and then looping around to the Willamette side. A slow walk can take about 40 minutes and my dog, who loves chasing the waves here, gets a good run in. Sure there are factories, boats and a little bit of garbage; but that stuff doesn't bother me. The birch trees smell wonderful and I love the cotton wood that others have described as "creepy". I haven't had any run ins with mosquitos. read more

I am sad to annouce that the adventure mine field aka N Kelley Point Road has been paved over. It is now a smooth ride all the way to the end of the road. No more bumps or craters to avoid to avoid or swerve around. read more

Nice park. Far flung. Distribution plants in the distance mar the view a bit. Blackberry bushes line the paths and as of August 9th there are flowering cotton trees that have filled the air and blanketed the park in a wispy snow. A good excuse to drive the St. Johns bridge. Pretty enough beaches. No soap in the bathrooms, as husband realized after forming raw chicken patties with his bare hands for the grill. Salmonella watch, Day One. read more

If you like fishing this is a decent spot. You can go over to the slough part at the canoe launch, and drop some worms out on the bottom and get plenty of bullhead catfish ranging from 8-15 inches most of the time. My wife says they're good eatin. The bluegill/punkinseed fish get decent sized about a pound or so, and the perch fill flock to your worm scented with uncle mikes garlic scent. However if you go to the back of the park, and head toewards the bathrooms there is a little trail goes right down to the river. Head down there with just worms and sometimes garlic anywhere from 3 to 48 inches from the bottom any distance out will net you peamouth chub, northern pikeminnow, and TONS of perch. We can routinely catch 200 perch in a few hours on 24 nightcrawlers. Pitch out some herring, smelt or squid with a 6 ounce weight about 20 feet past the pilings in sturgeon season can provide some good fight. There have also been many a 20+ pound carp caught here as well as the occasional flounder. The fish here are reasonably safe to eat for adults, as long as you are not pregnant and don't eat too much of it. There is no immediate danger but increases the risk of cancer further down the line, at least for the species that live here. The species that travel and can be caught such as salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon(all of which can be caught right here) don't stick around enough to get contaminated and ODFW and many other agencies have tested them and deemed them safe for all. The only real downsides are the huge amount of cottonwood trees, which get on everything, but that's ok. Also there are the RUDE hippies and environmentalists with their dogs out there, scoffing at fisherman and most others. They let their dogs run free with no corrections or reprieve. I've had one lift it's leg and urinate on a very nice salmon rod of mine to which the owner just laughed. Then the dog knocked my childen over and spilled my tackle box which caused the owner even more fits of uncontrollable mirth. These types of people are all too common out here, and these degenerates almost made me give this place a 1 star rating. People come here to learn to fish too, I've helped quite a few people. The fishermen here usually get along well and are willing to help each other out. I've even made some friends out here, and we fish together alot. read more

Beautiful park! Great for a warm summer day, there is plenty of shade under the trees. Great for kids, dogs, and family in general. Plenty of picnic benches, grassy areas and paved trails for bikes and elders. The only thing that could be better is the barges make the view off the river a bit unenjoyable. Overall a good place to spend a sunny day at the river. read more

Kelley Point Park - Warm sunny day in the shade. - Parks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Sure, it's beautiful. Sure, it feels like you took a short cut to the beach and sank your feet in the sand. Sure, it's peaceful..... .....for that small millisecond before someone's dog decides to sniff through your belongings or take a shit on your child's favorite beach toy. #dontdoit read more

I come here on occasion for many years since 1971 for a keg party the first time when I was single as I now recollect? In later years with my metal detector and picnic on the Beach with family. These days now it's just my wife and I ! I Still bring along the metal detector though! through the years have found watches, coins even a old rusted WW11 G.I. Helmet once buried down almost 3 feet deep in the sand? What on Earth ? I give it 5 stars***** ! "Thank you for the memories Kelly point park? Larry H from La Center Washington 98629. read more

So I took my dog to the beach last weekend to play in the water. This park is disgustingly dirty. You can find everything from empty beer bottles/cans, leftover food garbage, to piles of human waste and toilet paper. I have been to this park maybe three or four times and it is like this every time....gross. It is like the parks department doesn't clean up or take care of the beach at all. read more

Very nice park. Would have given it 5 stars if there was an if leash dog area. Parking was good, and it's a nice walk around, as well as beach areas. I plan on bringing my dogs back for exercise and a good swim. read more

I'm not sure what planet these other reviewers are from. This park has a lot going for it: beaches, woods, clearings for picnics, paved and unpaved trails, and some great views at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers. I often bike here and the path is very pleasant, more so on weekends when there is less industrial traffic. read more

Everything is lovely, save for the crowds and HORRENDOUS parking! Ain't nobody got time for that!

Out of all the beaches I've been to in Portland, this is so far my favorite. I like the trees around the beach and how easy it is to find shade if wanted. It's quite a little walk to actually get to the beach but once there, its beautiful. There are flushing bathrooms which is a super plus. read more

Was there this morning (8-22-17) and saw signs telling people to stay out of the water. The folks I met on the beach said someone had drowned there. I gather that the signs are permanent. Cheaper to keep people from swimming at the only beach in town than to hire some lifeguards. read more