Dabney State Recreation Area

Open — Open year-round for day use only. No overnight camping permitted. Park hours are 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. June through August, and 7:00 a.m. to dusk September through May. Day-use parking fee is $5 per vehicle or valid Oregon State Parks pass required.

About

Dabney State Recreation Area spans 138 acres along a scenic bend of the Sandy River just east of the Stark Street Bridge on the Historic Columbia River Highway. For over five decades, this park has served as a popular escape for Portland-area residents seeking riverside recreation. The Sandy River provides opportunities for swimming, fishing, boating, rafting, and tubing, with beach areas for sunbathing. The park features a disc golf course winding through forest terrain, picnic areas with tables and grills, and a covered reservable picnic shelter. Nature trails meander through distinctive plantings including tall bamboo, horsetail, cottonwoods, and alders. The park offers a peaceful retreat for families and outdoor enthusiasts looking for active or passive recreation near the metro area. Richard Dabney, an enthusiastic promoter of the Columbia River Highway, proposed a large hotel at Crown Point in the early 1900s. While the hotel never materialized, the Dabney family maintained a summer house at this site until Richard's death in 1916. Today the park preserves this riverside location as public recreation space, combining natural beauty with modern amenities.

Directions

From I-84, take exit 18 and head east on the Historic Columbia River Highway for approximately 3.4 miles. The park entrance is on the right, just past the Stark Street Bridge.

Nearby Campgrounds