Grab your inflatable kayak or inner tube and get ready to head down the Sandy River! Or do what I’ve done in the past and jump in an area in the river with a little depth and swim against the current. It’s a great workout! Video
Does the feature photo above look inviting? That’s the public boat launch area at Lewis and Clark State Recreation Site next to Troutdale, OR. There is a large grassy area with shady areas and picnic tables and day use only. For Free Overnight RV Parking you can just go next door where I show in the video below and stay for the day then park overnight on a pullout above the river.
Free parking at the entrance to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
The full ‘float the river route’ that takes anywhere from two to three hours starts at Dabney State Recreational Area and ends at Lewis and Clark State Recreation area on the Lower Sandy River.
Want to enjoy a shorter float? Or just have a chill spot to enjoy the river for a day and picnic? Then park overnight for free?
Then you want to head to the entrance of the Historic Columbia River Highway that is next to Lewis and Clark.
Park overnight by the river or at the Troutdale Travel Center
You can Free Overnight RV Park at the river spot or in Troutdale at the Troutdale Travel Center and Love’s Travel Stop about 10 minutes away. There you can park at the back of McDonald’s or at the back of Shari’s Restaurant or at Love’s. Heads up lots of trucks park here and it can be noisy at night.
Here are the GPS coordinates for this river spot that is nice to know about if traveling through Portland, OR or Mt. Hood area in the summer.
Latitude: 45.5288
Longitude: -122.682
Video of Sandy River Free Overnight RV Parking area
Here’s a video showing the large open pullout above the Sandy River a mile and a half or so past the entrance to the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area. It’s hot out and packed, is a very popular local hangout in the summer.
The short paths down to the river are a little steep but doable for any able-bodied person, just take it slow!
Cell service is good
At this river spot I could work online, watch movies, etc. no problems with my 5G iPhone and Verizon hotspot. You’ll have excellent service if you stay in Troutdale also.