Alt spots for Sauvie on weekend?

bobgatpdx · Since 04 Oct 2008 218 Posts Stoked

Sauvie has been really great recently. But on weekends, the beach and parking get really crowded. Are there any good spots further downriver that access the same conditions? Of course there's Jones Beach, but the drive there is a lot longer than SI.
Thanks,
Bob

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1734 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

hey bob ,
I've been riding (by foil) up to sauvies this week. I've been noticing some launch spots on the oregon side and with a slight east in the wind, the launch should be fine. take a look at willow park and just south of there just directly east of blue heron herbary. lower tide makes the beach pretty sizable. not sure if there are any restrictions as I don't know the area. I've merely kited by and noticed some nice launch areas. I would think if there is any west wind it may be significantly shadowed by the trees along the shoreline.

bobgatpdx · Since 04 Oct 2008 218 Posts Stoked

Thanks Stringy, I'll check those spots out. Sauvie wind has had a lot of east in it lately - much stronger on OR than WA side. Also seems like the wind gets lighter just upriver of Sauvie Kite Beach. Amazing what you foilers can make work!

Anybody know of any spots in St Helens or Columbia City area?
I read on some older threads that the park in CC is a tricky launch.
WA side is ok too. Is Martins Bar near where the Lewis River joins the Columbia?
Looking for kite friendly spots with low crowd factor.
- Bob

Jonpnw · Thu Jun 30, 16 3:29 pm **Woodland - Martins Bar**

Bob,

Pretty rough crowd out at Woodland, Martins Bar Very Happy

We can usually spot the Columbia City crew kiting down river of us.

Most weekday evenings there is an empty beach , I would imagine on the holiday weekends there will be some rednecks blowing their mortgage money on pyrotechnics .

Occupied Columbia · Since 12 Nov 2011 376 Posts Columbia City Obsessed

Hey Bob I just got back into town from Oahu today. I had a blast but I miss my usual spot in CC too! Wifey vetoed kiting tonight. I can meet you down there at 7:30 and show you how to launch and give you the basics. It's not that bad of a launch. Worst case drift launch and swim it out a bit then swim it back in if needed. PM for Contact

The launch in kailua is where the people are walking,standing, and sitting and they don't move for you. So, difficulty is all relative.

sromano1995 · Since 22 May 2013 240 Posts Portland Stoked

Hey Bob. I have been cruising the water with a jetski between St Helens and Reeders beach for a couple of years now in the search of possible kite spot and frankly there are no really good alternatives to Reeders beach if you live on the Oregon side. Columbia city (mouth of the Lewis River) is definitely a nice option but on summer weekends it looks like it attracts quite a crowd as well of beach goers, boaters and all. Launching from sand island seems also like a good option but you need a boat / jetski to get to it from St. Helens. The wind is usually good in that area. Willow park (upriver from Reeders is an option too) and many of us have kited there many times on south winds because of the slightly better orientation than Reeders. If you walk down from the entrance there is a sweet spot by navigation marker. But, the wind has never been that great there on south conditions. Never tried on NNE or NE but you will definitely want a strong E component. My suggestion is stick to Reeders beach and walk 200 yards upwind from the main launch spot. It's usually wide and open if you stay upwind of Reeders

bobgatpdx · Since 04 Oct 2008 218 Posts Stoked

Thanks for the tips and suggestions. I've spent some time with Google Maps and came to the same conclusion - not much on OR side between Reeder Beach and Columbia City. Maybe further downriver by Deer Island or Prescott - but that's getting pretty far from PDX.

The biggest problem at Reeder Beach on weekends is parking. Once it fills up, you are kind of screwed. You're correct that the crowds thin out as you go upwind from the last stairs over the dike - if you can find a place to park.

On WA side has anyone tried Knapps Landing? Next stop downriver on WA side appears to be Martin's Bar at the confluence of the Lewis River. A few more potential spots further downriver on that same road.

Fun to explore and find new spots!
- Bob

pauls · Since 20 Jun 2005 564 Posts Northern Portugal Addicted

I explored the WA side across from Sauvie a lot about 10 years ago. My experience was that Woodland area was much better wind quality than Knapp about the same time to get out too from downtown Vancouver. With foils things have changed as far as minimum wind for a session - see Stringy's posts but right at Frenchman's will get really crowded like Sauvie. West of Woodland several areas you can access the river.

Where you are driving from and returning to also makes a big difference I-5 and St Johns bridge bottlenecks add a lot of time for short distance travelled when i get the timing wrong

scottman · Since 08 Jun 2007 150 Posts hillsboro Stoked

I have never tried it, but check out Pixie park in St Helens. Wind is stronger than Sauvie, best in evening.

bobgatpdx · Since 04 Oct 2008 218 Posts Stoked

Pixie Park is in Columbia City - just north of St Helens. That's the launch that Occupied Columbia was referring to.

Wind definitely seems weaker as you go upriver from the main kite beach at Sauvie (I was calling this Reeder Beach, but it's really called Walton Beach). Does anyone ever launch at Collins Beach or North Unit Beach? As long as you don't mind people walking around naked, these would seem like good options. Still the same parking issue as Walton Beach.
- Bob

bobgatpdx · Since 04 Oct 2008 218 Posts Stoked

Here's what I came up with after looking at Google Maps for areas with decent looking beaches that are accessible by car.
- Bob