Sauvie Island

It had been a while since I hiked to the north end of Sauvie Island, about 20 miles northwest of home. The south end of this 40-square-mile island is primarily an agricultural area, while the north end is dedicated to wildlife management.

My recent hike took me three miles along sandy beaches and old roads, finally reaching the charming Warrior Rock Lighthouse. The journey itself was rewarding, offering glimpses of shipping traffic on the Columbia River. It’s easy to forget that Portland is a significant deep-water port.

During my trek, I was fortunate enough to spot various species of wildlife. I saw Ospreys, Bald Eagles, Blacktail Deer, and a variety of small songbirds. As an added bonus, a large group of Sandhill Cranes were present in a field near the trailhead.

Warrior Rock Lighthouse

On the sandy beach north of the lighthouse, there was a concrete slab overlooking the water. During WWII, an artillery piece was situated there to protect the inland waterway.

On the hike back to the trailhead, I was treated to a nice view of Mt. St. Helens. All in all, it was a fun outing.