Sauvie Island, Warrior Rock Lighthouse Trail

This little hike on an unmarked trail on Sauvie Island, just beyond Collins Beach, is great for watching ships pass on the Columbia River, picking blackberries in September and foraging for mushrooms. You can access the trail in one of two ways: step over the fence gate on the west side of the cul-de-sac and follow the overgrown four-wheel drive road north through the pasture, or walk north along the beach until it turns into a single-track pedestrian trail.  Be extremely careful as the beach access can be washed out.

The hike takes you through a black cottonwood forest that remains in the lowland.  You’ll want to wear pants to protect your legs from stinging nettle, and boots may also be a good idea because the trail is often extremely muddy and is sometimes flooded until summer (this portion of the island isn't protected by levies).  You will encounter numerous intersecting paths and dirt roads that lead to various ponds and shoreline points.  To get to the Warrior Rock Lighthouse and the small, secluded beach at the very northern shore, stay your course and continue straight.