In all honesty, my primary reason for coming to Kelley Point Park this weekend was two-fold: spend…read moresome 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.