Ahh the sweet Washougal River, so close to Portland, such amazing places to swim, I really hope I get to explore this fine river at least one more time this summer.  From NE Portland it is an easy 30 minute drive to get to this second Washougal River Swimming Hole at Mile marker 4.

I did not see any signage for needing the “Discover Pass” which was needed at Washougal River Mile Marker 3  which costs $11.50 per day or $35 a year as of 2011. This mile marker spot does not have any facilities.  Always pack all your trash out and consider bringing an extra bag to leave any swimming hole you visit better than how you found it (pick up for those less enlightened than your bad ass self).  NEVER BRING GLASS TO THE RIVER.

A really easy way to get down to the Mile Marker 4 swimming hole is just east of the Mile Marker 4 sign.  Pretty easy path down, similar Washougal River Mile Marker 3 once you get parked because there is pretty limited parking if you can get a parking spot it will not feel too overcrowded.

This swimming hole is great, pretty similar feel to Washougal River Mile Marker 3 sans the water fall, but it felt a little more expansive to me.  There are some nice beach areas, some great rocks poking out to sun yourself, a slight current that takes you from the area of the easy path down (we saw another path that was steeper and trickier to get down), west to an area that has a very nice deep area and a ropeswing that you can swing off from a platform that someone built.  I saw a dude swing off it, dive mid stream from the dismount from the rope and nail a perfect landing, beautiful swimming hole moment.

I would recommend this swimming hole if you are on a budget and do not want to spring for a Discover Pass and it is the weekend.  I say this is a good spot for the weekend because believe it or not there are even better places to swim on the Washougal that I imagine would be obscenely crowded on the weekends such as Dougan Falls or Moulton Falls - save those for a “sick day” on a weekday - believe me it is insane enough at these spots during the week as it is.Have fun and be respectful.

The Washougal River is an amazing place to swim.  From NE Portland it is an easy 30 minute drive to get to this first Washougal River Swimming Hole at Mile marker 3.

There are signs posted at Mile Marker 3 that you need to have a “Discover Pass” turns out that it costs $11.50 per day or $35 a year.  Wow, pretty steep.  I suppose the money is for maintaining the really gross toilet on site, incidentally at the time of this post there was also no trash can which seems pretty lame considering the high pass fee.  Always pack all your trash out and consider bringing an extra bag to leave any swimming hole you visit better than how you found it (pick up for those less enlightened than your bad ass self).

So look into picking up a discover pass before you go frolicking on the Washougal, it will allow you to have more fun - you will be relieved of the paranoia of whether or not you get a ticket which no doubt would be expensive based on the high permit fee.

Once you get parked there is this lovely path down to the Washougal River. The nice thing about Mile Marker 3 is that there is pretty limited parking so if you can get a spot it will not feel too overcrowded.

This swimming hole is pretty sweet.  Nice rocky bottom, deep places to swim, a little waterfall off a rock that you can jump in off.  Nice sandy areas on the shore.

Here is a photo of Popina designer Pamela Levenson swimming with her dog Cassis (photos by husband Will).

I would recommend this swimming hole if you have already purchased a Discover Pass and it is the weekend.  There are free places to swim on the Washougal such as Washougal River Mile Marker 4 (also a good weekend spot).  I say this is a good spot for the weekend because believe it or not there are even better places to swim on the Washougal that I imagine would be obscenely crowded on the weekends such as Dougan Falls or Moulton Falls - save those for a “sick day” on a weekday - believe me it is insane enough at these spots during the week as it is.

Have fun and be respectful.

Sunday July 17, 2011 was looking like a day I would just rather forget.  The inaugural launch of THE BIG FLOAT, of which I am the organizer, was only two weeks away and we were having record rainfall in the middle of July.  Things were looking BLEAK, I think all of Portland was unsure if summer was ever going to start.

If you were in Portland that day I think Sunday July 17th was demoralizing for a lot of people.  Outside of my weather related anxiety from THE BIG FLOAT, I had also reserved a KILLER picnic spot two months in advance at Barton Park on the Clackamas River for what I was hoping would be a nice hot summer day to float, swim and BBQ with my friends.

For times like this you really have to go high level with your thinking.

The KILLER picnic spot, I paid $60 for? Sunk cost.

Would anyone join me for a road trip for sun?  Hope so, not sure.

All I knew was that I was not going to let this rainy day defeat my day epic swimming plans, and I needed drastic action.  Summertime is serious business to me and I do not accept defeat easily.  So I cross referenced Google maps to Accuweather to find the warmest spot I could drive to and swim that was over 85 degrees.  I just might have driven to Boise if I had to.  Luckilly for me I found a winner on paper:  Arlington, Oregon 130 miles east of Portland on I-84 on the Columbia River a two hour drive from Portland.

Sight unseen we loaded up our cars and headed east to Arilington, Oregon and Earl Snell Memorial Park.  We were rewarded with a nice hot partly cloudy 86 degree day and a very charming little town to boot with a very well appointed city park.

Dock located on the east side of the park.  The South side of the park has a very nice beach.  Dogs are not permitted on the South side but are permitted on the east side, there is a very nice grassy area there.

Here Popina owner Pamela and homegirl Peggy are setting up for a Picnic on the east side, dog friendly side of the park.

I got in a little hoops game with some local kids.  It was fun to get a little sweat in, plus my team won (and I was wearing flip flops - not too bad for an aging 40+ slacker dude).  After our run we all took a dip off the dock about 50 yards from the hoops court, then fired up the BBQ just on the other side of the hoops court.  We were only able to find one public BBQ, might not be a bad idea to bring your own littler grill as a back up.  The salmon we made was perhaps the tastiest I have ever eaten (just cooked it in tin foil).

Here is our crew who collectively said “NO I will not allow a record rain to ruin my summer vibe!”  Nice job ladies, all sporting Popina, at the time of this writing a few of these ladies are single, inquire within for more details. The beautiful woman in the center wearing the hat, my lover Pamela is taken, sorry fellas.

In closing, Earl Snell Memorial Park in Arlington Oregon is well worth the drive if the weather is not what you want in Portland.  I would suggest this swimming spot for June and September when the temperatures are likely a little lower in Portland and you want your hot fix to start your summer earlier or extend your summer later.  I will be back, hope to see you there.